Belle Property has announced three new offices are set to open in Queensland and Victoria.
Two new offices launched in Queensland’s Townsville led by principal, Ella Geaney.
The third office, located in Melbourne’s Melbourne Bayside area, will see Belle Property form a new partnership with Fran Harkin and Mark Zammit, formerly of McGrath Estate Agents Sandringham.
Belle Property in Townsville, Queensland
Townsville CBD and Bushland Beach will see the offices rebranded from Ray White Geaney Property Group to Belle Property.
Belle Property Chief Executive Officer, Peter Hanscomb, said he was “thrilled” to be growing the group’s North Queensland operations.
“Ella Geaney is an award-winning leader in the local real estate market, and I look forward to seeing further growth of Ella’s highly successful business and strong client base under our national boutique brand,” Mr Hanscomb said.
A coastal city known as a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, like many regional areas Townsville is currently experiencing an influx of buyers and renters looking for a lifestyle sea change, with the added bonus of escaping city lockdowns.
“Townsville’s real estate market is fiercely competitive,” Ms Geaney explained.
“There’s a shortage of stock for sale, with properties spending an average of just seven days on the market and achieving prices well above expectation.
“There’s also a shortage of rentals, with a vacancy rate of less than one per cent and rental yield between six and 10 per cent.”
As a long-time Townsville resident, Ms Geaney has played a pivotal role in the local real estate market’s coming of age, having worked in sales and property management for 27 years in addition to being an auctioneer.
“We felt the region deserved a premium real estate brand, and Belle Property stood apart from the crowd through its pre-eminent and niche approach to real estate,” Ms Geaney said.
“Its dedication to being authentic and developing trusting relationships with customers, while providing consistently high levels of care and service, also aligned perfectly with our own approach and values.
“I have every confidence the Belle Property brand will be well received locally, with clients embracing our new look and feel while dealing with the same expert team they have come to trust.”
Sandringham office expands through merger
In a further expansion for Belle Property’s network of agencies in prestige lifestyle locations, Belle Property Sandringham will merge with McGrath Estate Agents Sandringham.
Mr Hanscomb welcomed Fran Harkin and Mark Zammit, who have a combined 40 years’ local real estate experience, to Belle Property.
“We are delighted to have Fran, Mark and their team of property professionals join our principals Jenny Dwyer, Steve Tickell and Tanya Tanner in leading Belle Property Sandringham,” Mr Hanscomb said.
“This new alliance firmly cements Belle Property’s footprint in Melbourne, while allowing us to expand our premier, boutique service offering to even more clients in the Bayside area and surrounds.”
Ms Harkin and Mr Zammit felt it was the “perfect time” to take advantage of the “predicted favourable market conditions once restrictions lift (in Melbourne)”.
“If last year is anything to go by, once restrictions and lockdowns ease, listings will flood the market and pent-up buyer demand will result in a substantial uptick in activity,” they said.
The new partnership is not only timely but also a great meeting of minds according to Mr Hanscomb.
“All five principals are real estate experts of many years’ standing, with skill sets that dovetail and complement each other perfectly,” Mr Hanscomb said.
“Notably Fran and Mark’s innovative approaches to business development and Jenny, Steve and Tanya’s reputations and deep-seated client relationships built over the past 30 years.”
For Ms Harkin and Mr Zammit it was these connections which drew them to the partnership.
“Having known Jenny, Steve and Tanya for many years we have always been impressed by their efforts in forming and maintaining strong community connections,” the duo explained.
“We were also eager to join a solid network of agencies, which Belle Property enjoys both in Victoria and nationally. Combined, this makes the partnership a perfect fit for us.”
For the established Sandringham principals, Ms Dwyer, Mr Tickell and Ms Tanner, it was Ms Harkin and Mr Zammit’s strong customer-centric and business development skills which resonated.
“Just like our team, Fran and Mark are big believers in operating authentically with customers, and are known for their emotionally intelligent and empathic approach,” they said.
“Along with this, they bring a huge amount of proven experience in business development and innovation, which will be hugely beneficial for our future expansion plans.”
With Ms Dwyer also the co-listing agent for Ronnie and Georgia’s house on the current season of The Block, which will see her manage a high-profile sales campaign prior to auction, the newly expanded agency is preparing for a busy and exciting few months ahead.
“In joining forces with Fran, Mark and team, Belle Property Sandringham now boasts an incredibly experienced senior leadership team,” Mr Hanscomb said.
“This gives them a unique advantage in their local market, and with plenty of interest expected from The Block campaign, combined with a predicted strong selling season post-lockdown, we’re confident the new partnership will deliver some outstanding results moving forward.”
