Banned Sydney Real Estate Agent Josh Tesolin Flaunts Wealth and Mocks Regulators on Social Media
Disgraced Sydney real estate agent Josh Tesolin has openly mocked NSW Fair Trading after being banned from working in the industry for ten years due to what authorities describe as 'serious and deliberate misconduct'. The former top-earning agent, who once earned up to $9 million annually in commissions, was found to have engaged in sustained unlawful, improper, and dishonest conduct that impacted more than 100 property sales and exposed consumers to significant financial risks.
Systematic Misconduct and Regulatory Action
Following a three-year investigation, NSW Fair Trading imposed a decade-long ban on Tesolin, citing a pattern of breaches under the Property and Stock Agents Act 2002. The regulator alleged a wide range of offences, including underquoting selling prices for over 100 residential properties, engaging in dummy bidding at auctions, producing false documents for regulators, and employing high-pressure sales tactics that violated industry rules. Authorities emphasized that this was not isolated misconduct but part of a repeated and deliberate scheme.
Under NSW law, real estate agents must provide vendors with reasonable price estimates, and advertised price ranges cannot exceed a 10% variance. Investigators found Tesolin systematically underquoted properties by advertising homes below their estimated selling prices, misleading both buyers and sellers. Additionally, he directed employees to falsify documents submitted to regulators and failed to properly supervise business operations, exacerbating consumer risks.
Social Media Provocation and Luxury Displays
In a brazen response to his ban, Tesolin has taken to social media to flaunt his wealth and insult NSW Fair Trading officials. He posted a series of images tagging and mentioning investigators, accompanied by mocking captions. One post featured a close-up of a diamond-encrusted Rolex Datejust, valued at up to $30,000, with the tag @nswfairtrading. Another showed a $60,000 gold Rolex Yacht-Master, where Tesolin referred to regulators as 'mall cops' and called them 'broke and woke'.
Further posts displayed an $80,000 gold Rolex Day-Date with the caption '@nswoftdogs', a $100,000 gold Audemars Piguet watch, and a $300,000 Patek Philippe, all while taunting lead investigators Bishop and Myers. Tesolin also shared a photo of a white $500,000 Porsche 911 GT3 sports car, joking that it was 'the only licence I still have' and labeling NSW Fair Trading as 'PIGS AT FT'. These actions have drawn criticism for their blatant disregard of regulatory authority and consumer protection efforts.
Substantial Assets and Legal Fallout
Tesolin and his wife, Sophia, are known for their extensive property portfolio and luxury assets, estimated to be worth over $15 million. Their holdings include a four-bedroom home in Bella Vista, purchased for $2.3 million in 2021, and a five-bedroom property in Rozelle, sold for $2.2 million in 2024. The couple also owns high-end vehicles such as a Bentley Bentayga and a Range Rover Velar, reflecting the wealth accumulated during Tesolin's career.
Despite the ban, Tesolin's legal representatives have described the social media posts as 'playful banter' and noted a 'cordial relationship' with investigators, including personal interactions at local cafes. They have indicated that an appeal against the ban is under consideration, citing Tesolin's right to challenge the determination. However, NSW Fair Trading Minister Anoulack Chanthivong defended the regulatory action, stating, 'We make no apology for cracking down on illegal and unprofessional behaviour in the real estate industry,' and emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing.
Consumer Impact and Industry Implications
The case highlights significant concerns within the real estate sector regarding consumer protection and ethical practices. Angry househunters and sellers accused Tesolin of artificially inflating his fees, manipulating prices, and deliberately under-quoting to buyers, practices that undermine trust in the industry. NSW Fair Trading's response, including $33,000 in fines—$11,000 personally against Tesolin and $22,000 against his company—aims to deter similar misconduct.
As the situation develops, the confrontation between Tesolin and regulators continues to unfold on social media, raising questions about accountability and the enforcement of professional standards in high-stakes industries. The ongoing investigation and potential appeal will likely shape future regulatory approaches to misconduct in real estate across New South Wales and beyond.
