Carmela Dimasi

Founder & Managing Director

About me

After 25 years of running real estate franchises in state and national agencies plus an award winning café in Hawthorn, Carmela Dimasi reached a turning point. While the experience was invaluable, she wanted something more meaningful — the ability to provide genuine, personalised service without the restrictions often associated with large corporate brands.

In 2017, that vision became reality with the launch of CD Realty. Built from the ground up, the business was founded on the belief that property management should be personal, transparent, and focused entirely on people. Over the following years, Carmela established a reputation for honest advice, exceptional service, and long-lasting client relationships.

As the business grew, so did the vision. In 2022, CD Realty evolved into The Neighbourhood Property Collective — a brand that better reflected the values of the team and the community they had built together.

One of Carmela’s guiding philosophies in both life and business is simple: put people first. This belief underpins every aspect of The Neighbourhood. Honesty, integrity, accountability, and always doing the right thing are not just business principles; they are personal values that have shaped Carmela’s career and the culture of the company. It is an authentic approach that resonates with clients, many of whom have remained with her for years and continue to entrust their homes and investments to the team.

These values are shared across the entire business, which is why Carmela made the conscious decision to move away from a company bearing her name. The goal was never to create a business centred on one person, but rather to build something larger — a collective of like-minded professionals who genuinely care about the communities they serve. A neighbourhood.

As a proudly family-owned and independent business, The Neighbourhood Property Collective has the freedom to remain agile, responsive, and client-focused. Without franchise fees, corporate directives, or hidden costs, the team can focus entirely on what matters most — delivering exceptional property management services and genuine value for money.

Today, The Neighbourhood Property Collective specialises in property management, allowing the team to dedicate their expertise, systems, and energy to protecting clients' investments and supporting renters and owners alike.

The vision remains as simple today as it was when the journey began: to help every Australian love where they live. One home, one relationship, and one neighbourhood at a time.

Testimonials

The Neighbourhood Property Collective have hands down been the best agents I've ever had. They are consistent, kind, professional and proactive. It never feels uncomfortable raising a concern as a tenant - communication is straightforward and incredibly friendly. Any services they arrange, whether it’s repairs, inspections, or gardening, are always handled promptly and to a really high standard. It’s clear they pay close attention to detail and genuinely care about the quality of their work. Thank you Carmela and Chris especially for all the great work you do! Special shoutout for Chris Gialis for always approaching communications with a positive energy it radiates through the screen!!

Carmela, Wilson, and her team are absolutely fabulous. They have been managing our property for nearly two years, and throughout this time they have consistently demonstrated professionalism, efficiency, and excellent attention to detail. They are always responsive, proactive, and incredibly helpful, making the entire property management process smooth and stress-free. We truly appreciate their dedication and outstanding service.

We’ve been with The Neighbourhood Collective for almost two years now, managing our South Yarra apartments, and the experience has been excellent. After switching from another agency due to ongoing issues, the difference was immediate. Carmela and Chris are consistently professional, responsive, and accurate in every interaction. Their communication and attention to detail have given us complete confidence that our properties are in capable hands. Highly recommended.

Carmela & Chris have professionally managed my property over the years & have selected tenants well. They are well informed about multiple issues to do with rental properties & keep me updated at all times. I thank them for their ongoing committment & responsible approach with regards to my property. I highly recommend doing business with their office. Thank you again!

Carmela and Chris have managed our property for several years now and we are very happy with their professionalism and level of service. We live overseas and rest easy knowing they’re able to handle things as they come up. They’ve also been able to attract some great tenants! Highly recommended.