Star Sydney agent Tim Foote on faith, fine wine and how he maintains his integrity in real estate

When the weather turns frosty, you’ll find Tim Foote of Belle Property donning skis and heading flat-chat down the nearest black-diamond run, always looking for the next slope to test his skill.

A real estate agent for the past 17 years, he also studied architecture before realising he wasn’t cut out to wear black turtleneck sweaters. Tim is married with four children, and a dog called Bear.

Why skiing?

I love the feeling of working with nature. You go down a mogul run and you have to work with the mountain to succeed. It’s awesome.

Tell us about your upbringing?

I grew up on the upper north shore. My father was a doctor and mum was a physiotherapist. I come from a long line of medicos, but they never pressured me to follow in their footsteps. Dad said whatever you do, do it to the best of your ability.

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Foote studied architecture at Sydney University but soon realised his skills were more in business than design. Photo: Steven Woodburn

What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?

Continuing to be hopeful after my mum died when I was 11. I lost my faith and didn’t regain it until I was 27.

How did you get into real estate?

I studied architecture at Sydney University and academically I did well, but the creative side didn’t come naturally. Following a stint at Lendlease in their property graduate program, I realised my skills were more in business than design.

While I was at Lendlease I became a Christian, then quit and went to Bible college for a year. After that, a mate from Belle Property suggested I become a real estate agent. “You’re kidding?” I said, but I started in the Mosman office and came to love it. I bought the business in 2006 and opened another office in Neutral Bay.

Foote sold this Alex Popov-designed property overlooking Balmoral Beach for around $17.5 million. Photo: Supplied

Your most memorable sale?

I got a call one morning from a lady who told me she woke up at three in the morning and had this feeling she had to call me. I went around to see her that day, got the listing, and within 48 hours, I’d sold her house for $17.5 million. It was a very cool house, designed by Alex Popov looking over Balmoral Beach.

Does your Christianity affect the way you do business?

It is fundamental to what I do in business. I’m not perfect, and I don’t get things right all the time, but my faith absolutely informs what I do. Part of that is around integrity but part is also around thinking about how to do the right thing for everybody, rather than just the right thing for me.

Foote says his guilty pleasure is “collecting good wine that I don’t necessarily drink”.
 Photo: Jessica Hromas

Does your architectural training help you when assessing listings?

When I got into real estate I quickly realised there’s no correlation between having lots of money and having spatial awareness.

What do you consider your greatest achievement (outside of property)?

Being involved in, starting and growing two churches: one in Mosman, and one in Darlinghurst.

Name your guilty pleasure?

Collecting good wine that I don’t necessarily drink.

If he could live anywhere, it would be in Berry (pictured), or the Swiss Alps. Photo: Katie Rivers

If you could live anywhere, where would that be?

One of two places: either a farm on the south coast at Berry, or in the Swiss Alps, because it’s breathtaking in both summer and winter.

What is your defining characteristic?

I’m focused. I know what I need to do and I keep on doing it.