Real Estate Agency

<html><body>
Many businesses with high overheads, in particularly franchises, may close down due to an uncertain property market, according to the chief executive officer of One Agency Real Estate Group.
Speaking at the group's head office in Sydney, Paul Davies predicted that high overhead businesses will struggle in a slowing property market, where the rate of price growth for residential properties has declined in recent months, there is less turnover of properties, and pressure mounts on maintaining agents fee levels as competition to survive increases.
“Franchise offices in particular have added overheads, and may have difficulty maintaining the narrow profit margins, creating added stress to meet their high overheads” he said.
“I believe that many offices will close. The first will be ones with the slimmest profit margins, gradually followed by many others. I would go as far as to suggest, some franchises groups, that struggle to provide a fair exchange for fees, where their franchisees cannot justify the costs, will become irrelevant and cease to exist.”
He said the global trend is for better and cheaper products and services, and this applies to the real estate franchise environment as well.
One Agency helps real estate agents to establish their own agency for an establishment fee and a monthly fee. It claims it's not a franchise operation.
</body></html>

prateek24-ezbwHMbNAk

Real estate franchises with high overheads may close as market slows: One Agency CEO

<html><body>
The boutique real estate group, Belle Property International has opened an office in Melbourne's Docklands.
The founder and principal of Verve Real Estate, John Wong, has made the move to Belle Property.
“We’re excited to open Belle Property International Melbourne and have John Wong leading the team. He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to Belle Property and he reinforces our commitment to developing strong relationships within the Asian market,” said Peter Hanscomb, CEO of Belle Property.
Starting out in the finance sector, John has been in real estate for the past decade.
He opened his own agency in Melbourne, Verve Real Estate and then expanded into the Asian market, securing a Hong Kong office and channel partners throughout South East Asia.
“John’s unique approach to project marketing was a natural fit for the Belle Property International network,” says Stephen Ivanusa, Director and Co-Founder of Belle Property International.
Melbourne is now a strategic location for the Belle Property group, which operates only in premium lifestyle metro, regional and coastal locations.
With a new office opening in Hong Kong during January 2017, Belle Property International aims to further concrete its presence in South East Asia with further offices opening in 2017.
Belle Property International Melbourne is located at 420-422 Docklands Drive, Docklands Victoria.
</body></html>

jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Belle Property opens first office in Melbourne 

<html><body>
Maitland’s Tony Cant Real Estate will join the real estate group, Starr Partners, and rebrand as Starr Partners Maitland from 1 March 2017.
Having established itself in the Maitland area over the past 40 years, Andrew Cant says the change will take Tony Cant Real Estate’s already thriving business to the next level, and clients and customers can rest assured the team will remain intact.
“The industry is changing, but so is how people are looking to buy and sell property.
The move to join Starr Partners means we can keep up with the industry and continue to excel in what we do,” says Andrew.
“Starr Partners was a natural choice.
"When Tony Cant Real Estate started, the internet didn’t exist.
"Forty-odd years later, it has become the single most important marketing tool for properties and for agents’ profiles, we can’t ignore it.
"It’s no longer just as simple as having a website and advertising a property online in the traditional way, marketing is quickly crossing over into social media and other online channels.
“Our staff will have access to referrals from other offices in the Starr Partners network in addition to high calibre training programs, technology and marketing materials.”
Starr Partners won REB’s 2016 award for boutique network of the year and CEO Douglas Driscoll won thought leader of the year.
Similarly, Tony Cant Real Estate has been the recipient of seven community choice awards for ‘Most Outstanding Real Estate Agency’ in the Hunter region.
“We are delighted to partner with Andrew and the team in extending Starr Partners’ award-winning service to the Hunter region,” says Starr Partners’ CEO Douglas Driscoll.
“The Tony Cant Real Estate team are of the highest pedigree, having a proven track record and many years of experience in the Maitland area.
“Currently, about 60 percent of enquiries are coming from Sydney, and as more and more people are priced out of the Sydney market, we will continue to see both investors and owner occupies looking to buy in our area and it’s not only price, rental returns in Maitland can be double what is being achieved in Sydney,” says Mr Cant.
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Established Maitland real estate agency to join forces with Starr Partners

<html><body>
March 2017 marks a significant milestone for real estate group Harcourts Group Australia as the company celebrates its 20th anniversary.
The iconic real estate brand, originally established in New Zealand and named Harcourt &amp; Co, was established in 1888 by John Bateman Harcourt and has since become an international brand.
Over the past 20 years, Harcourts has experienced astonishing growth, with over 400 offices throughout Australia, and now ranking amongst the country’s top three real estate companies.
Harcourts has also expanded across the globe and now boasts operations in 10 countries including Australia, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates, China, Fiji, Hong Kong, Indonesia, South Africa, Canada and the USA.
In the past 12 years, Harcourts has also launched its own registered training organisation in Australia, The Harcourts Academy, which was recognised in 2016 as the Training and Education Program of the Year by REB.
In 2008, Harcourts launched its own charitable arm, The Harcourts Foundation which provides financial support that helps, grows and enriches local communities.
Since its establishment, the Foundation has raised over $4.5 million in charitable grants.
Harcourts is also the exclusive member of Luxury Property Selection - a unique international marketing programme for luxury real estate.
“As a company, we are incredibly proud of what we have achieved in Australia over the past 20 years and attribute Harcourts’ success to our values – people first, doing the right thing, being courageous, and fun and laughter,” said Mike Green, Managing Director of Harcourts International.
“We are a family owned business, and our culture is a critical element of our growth and while we have continued to expand internationally, we have maintained our focus on our values, purpose and strengthening that culture,” said Mr Green.
</body></html>

Harcourts Group Australia celebrates 20 years

<html><body>
Real estate disruptor, the ASX-listed DIY platform buyMyplace.com.au recently hit a milestone of 4000 properties sold over the past decade.
They were worth a combined $2.1 billion since launching in 2007.
The commission free real estate company advised they continue to experience strong growth, despite market activity declines.
The company has also conﬁrmed the appointment of Linda Dillon to the role of Head of Acquisitions and Integration to spearhead its proactive acquisi-tion and partnership strategy.
A quarter of their sales have occurred in the past year with buyMyplace chief executive Paul Heath say the concept appealed to people with the time, confidence and desire to do it themselves.
BuyMyplace charges fees starting from $700 for a basic selling package plus $900 if vendors take their home to auction.
It claims to save over $15,000 in agent commissions and marketing fees on a $500,000 home.
Another DIY selling platform, forsalebyowner.com.au, claims to have sold over 7000 properties worth more than $3 billion since beginning operations in 2011.
</body></html>

Real estate disruptors gain market share

<html><body>
A Doncaster East estate agent will have her licence suspended and, with her company, pay a total fine of $5,000 to the Victorian Property Fund, after she and the company both accepted that they had knowingly employed a disqualified person as an agent’s representative.
Danielle Talia, 34, of Doncaster East, was the sole director and secretary of Bond’s Real Estate Sales Pty Ltd (ACN: 050 139 305), which formerly traded as Stockdale and Leggo Doncaster – Templestowe.
Danielle Talia was present at a 2010 hearing at which her father, John Michael Talia, was made permanently ineligible to hold an estate agent’s licence or act as an agent’s representative.
Despite knowing about her father’s disqualification, Ms Talia employed him in September 2012.
In late 2015 and early 2016, John Michael Talia was present at three auctions, where he acted in a manner consistent with an agent’s representative. He also held a company credit card and remained as a signatory on the company accounts.
In February this year, he was found guilty of contempt of the orders made against him in 2010.
Danielle Talia and Bond’s Real Estate Sales accepted that they had failed to comply with Victoria’s estate agent laws by employing Mr Talia following his permanent disqualification.
Ms Talia’s licence will be suspended for 12 months from when Bond’s Real Estate Sales surrenders its licence. Prior to the suspension commencing, she must:
<ul>
<li>not act as a licensed estate agent or agent’s representative for a period of 12 months following from when Bond's Real Estate Sales surrenders its licence</li>
<li>complete a Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) course relating to the identification of legal and ethical requirements of property sales to complete work.</li>
</ul>
Bond’s Real Estate Sales has agreed to hand in its licence once all outstanding settlements have been finalised, or before 31 December 2017, whichever is earlier.
In February this year at a hearing at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) John Michael Talia, 62, of Heidelberg West, was found:
<ul>
<li>to have engaged in unlicensed trading, and </li>
<li>guilty of failing to comply with a previous VCAT ruling banning him from holding an estate agent’s licence or acting as an agent’s representative. </li>
</ul>
In 2008, Mr Talia received a three-year jail term for obtaining property by deception, following a conviction at the County Court of Victoria.
In 2010, VCAT permanently disqualified Mr Talia from being an estate agent’s representative or holding an estate agent’s licence, ruling that he was not of good character and not a fit and proper person to do so. 
In September 2015, Consumer Affairs Victoria staff visited the office of Bond's Real Estate Sales Pty Ltd (ACN: 050 139 305) – trading as Stockdale &amp; Leggo Doncaster Templestowe – as part of a routine inspection, where they established that Mr Talia was present at the premises. 
Our inspectors also covertly attended three auctions in 2015 and 2016, where Mr Talia was present and displayed behaviour typical of an estate agent or agent’s representative, such as giving out business cards stating him as the general manager and offering information about the properties. 
</body></html>

Daughter at Stockdale & Leggo agency caught up in father disqualification fallout

<html><body>
Ballarat estate agency Gull and Company has been reprimanded and penalised $5,000 by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) for operating without a licence during 2015. 
The company operated without a licence between 27 August and 19 October of that year, during which time it carried out estate agent functions. 
In June and August of 2015, the Business Licencing Authority (BLA) emailed Gull and Company, reminding it to lodge its annual statement and pay the required fee, which the company did not do within the required time. As a result, Gull and Company’s licence was automatically cancelled. 
The company initially claimed that it had not received the second email, and was therefore not given sufficient notice of its annual statement and payment obligations, as required under the Estate Agents Act 1980. 
Prior to the VCAT hearing, Gull and Company arranged for a forensic examination of an old computer server, which showed that the company had received the second email.
As well as the penalty and reprimand, Gull and Company must also: 
<ul>
<li>advise vendors that it acted for while unlicensed that, among other things, it was not a licensed estate agent at the time </li>
<li>establish a system to ensure that it lodges its annual statements and pays the required fees on time. </li>
</ul>
Gull and Company applied to the BLA for a new licence, which was granted on 20 October 2015.  
The $5,000 penalty must be paid into the Victorian Property Fund. 
</body></html>

Ballarat estate agency cops fine after licensing mixup

<html><body>
The Agency Group has further delayed announcements about intentions for the acquisition of two key real estate businesses.
The latest extension was notified to the ASX yesterday afternoon.
<div>
The West Australian company was due to settle on its $950,000 acquisition of another WA estate agency Sell Lease Property last month.
The Agency was expected last month to exercise an option to acquire the Matt Lahood-led real estate group Top Level, which operates as The Agency East Coast under a licence agreement.
Instead it extended a trading halt in place until next week.
The trading halt started last month.
The Agency Group acquisition of the ServTech Global Limited subsidiaries Sell Lease Property Pty Ltd, Complete Settlements Pty Ltd and Value Finance Pty Ltd had been delayed due to a "small number of conditions" needed to be satisfied prior to settlement. 
</div>
<div>
The acquisition of Top Level is reportedly delayed due to procedural issues relating to ASX compliance.
Earlier this week The Agency denied <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/80175-the-agency-group-denies-its-was-scrambling-for-cash" target="_blank">claims they were "scrambling for cash."</a>
</div>
</body></html>

The Agency Group further delay acquisitions update

<html><body>
As Philip Webb approaches 46 years as the face of his real estate agency in Melbourne’s East, he is making moves to ensure the continued success of the business.
He has appointed general manager and his eldest son Anthony Webb with the role after a five-year planning process. 
Whilst taking a step back from leadership duties, Philip will still play a hands-on role with business strategy and development.
“This is an opportunity for reinvention. As we gear up for 2019 we can position ourselves to make aggressive moves towards real and positive growth,” Philip said.
“Anthony is exactly what we need to forge ahead, leading the company into new markets, ensuring our continued success and creating opportunities for staff.”
This year marked Anthony's 20th year in the business.
Anthony got his start in property management, before heading overseas working in sales and investment with several prominent companies in the UK and Ireland. 
He won the REIV’s Novice Auctioneer’s Competition in 2004 and joining the Advisory Board for the Real Estate Results Network in 2017.
“I am honoured to be stepping up in a greater leadership capacity. My goal for the future of PhilipWebb is to continue to provide exceptional service and outstanding results, regardless of the real estate environment,” the new CEO said.
 
</body></html>

jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Philip Webb announces Anthony Webb as new CEO

<html><body>
Nick Cole, the youngest son of agent Lucy Cole (pictured left), founder of the prestige property agency that bears her name, is launching his own boutique agency Cole Residential.
Cole Residential will focus on a broader market segment, ensuring the Cole name has the entire Gold Coast real estate market covered.
Since joining the family business nine years ago, Nick has quickly become one the top selling agents within the agency and across Australia. 
He has been named Salesperson of the Year by Leading Agents of Australia, and has broken several Gold Coast sales records.
Mr Cole says that while awards and records are wonderful accolades, the true testimony of his work is in his client’s satisfaction. Whether the property is a luxury home, a multi-million dollar development or a simple modest dwelling, Mr Cole’s approach is always firmly focused on the client experience.
His absolute dedication to client service is one of the many things Mr Cole says he learned from his mother. 
“My mother is an incredible salesperson and has built one of the most successful agencies on the Gold Coast,” Mr Cole says. 
“Working alongside her has been an incredible experience. 
Mr Cole says that in launching Cole Residential, he intends to combine these old school values with a contemporary approach that embraces technology and innovation, to give his clients the best of both worlds.
Lucy Cole says she is thrilled to see Nick start his own enterprise, as she herself did so many years ago. 
A former TSS and Bond University graduate, Mr Cole has lived and worked all over the world, but says the Gold Coast is a special place, particularly for real estate.Cole Residential will open in Spring 2018 at Capri on Via Roma, Isle of Capri.
</body></html>

Real Estate Agency

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Real Estate Agency

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News