Bidding blind

Series

Bidding blind Sydney

In this 18-month special investigation,we lift the lid on an open secret in Australia’s property market that’s costing potential home buyers in Sydney millions of dollars a year and making many sellers uneasy.

5 stories
Star agent Josh Tesolin pictured leaving his Bella Vista home on Friday,the same day his licence was suspended.

Underquoting,dummy bidding,false documents:Why ‘Teflon’ Sydney agent was suspended

Josh Tesolin earned his nickname “Teflon” for his seeming ability to skirt close to breaching the rules of real estate without ever coming unstuck by them. That ended on Saturday.

  • Lucy Macken
Underquoting NSW

What makes Sydney the underquoting capital of Australia

Almost half the time,Sydney property buyers are wasting their time pursuing places they can’t afford,an exclusive data mining project reveals.

  • Aisha Dow,Nigel Gladstone,Lucy Macken andThe Visual Stories Team
How we revealed the truth about property auction guides

How we revealed the truth about property auction guides

Why a lack of price transparency,hidden listings and elusive sales data in NSW and Victoria ensure the property market remains heavily skewed in favour of real estate agents.

  • Nigel Gladstone
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Horrified:Melissa Chan.
  • Investigation

The home appeared to be a bargain. Melissa knew the listed price was ‘complete BS’

Herald analysis reveals how home buyers almost always pay more than the listed price.

  • Nigel Gladstone,Aisha Dow,Lucy Macken andThe Visual Stories Team
Sydney underquoting map
  • Exclusive

Sydney’s the property underquoting capital:How does your suburb compare?

Search our interactive guide to every auction sale in Sydney over the past 18 months with a published guide price.

  • Nigel Gladstone andThe Visual Stories Team

Other series

Comedians Tarang Hardikar,Takashi Wakasugi,Anisa Nandaula and Sez.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2026

This year’s laugh fest has kicked off,with more than 2000 performers stepping up to the mic. Here,our writers take a closer look

  • 17stories
Top earners:Oscar Piastri,Pat Cummins and Mary Fowler.

Top earners:Australia’s richest athletes

We’ve spent months researching the salaries,prizemoney and sponsorships of Australia’s highest-paid athletes for a five-part series on sport’s biggest earners.

  • 5stories