Greg Booker founded LJ Hooker Kallangur | Murrumba Downs with his wife Maureen in the Moreton Bay area 47 years ago and the pair have now handed the reins to Jason Chandler and his wife Melinda.
The Announcement:
A principal who got his start in real estate in one of LJ Hooker’s longest running agencies has returned to the agency to steer it towards 50 years of business.
LJ Hooker Albany Creek | Warner Principal Jason Chandler has acquired LJ Hooker’s Kallangur | Murrumba Downs office, where he started in real estate 28 years ago.
Brand stalwart Greg Booker, alongside his wife Maureen, opened the LJ Hooker Kallangur | Murrumba Downs business in the Moreton Bay region 47 years ago and have now handed the reins to Jason and his wife Melinda Chandler.
The Bookers have now retired, but their sons remain in the business.
“It’s an honour to purchase the business from my mentor and the person who gave me my start in the real estate business,” said Mr Chandler.
Mr Chandler said the region was on the cusp of a strong period of growth: the University of the Sunshine Coast had opened a campus in the area; the Redcliffe Peninsula train line had brought the affordable area closer to employment hubs; and the region was welcoming an NRL side in 2023.
Across a near three-decade career with LJ Hooker, Mr Chandler has had two principals – the Bookers and Steve Baudinette, the former principal of LJ Hooker Albany Creek.
“I’ve only ever had two principals spanning my 28-year career and have had the opportunity to purchase both businesses and continue to grow their legacies into the future,” said Mr Chandler.
“Greg and Steve were both great mentors and there’s a lot of what they’ve taught me in terms of process and empowering staff that I’ve adopted in my own management style.
“When I became a business owner, it was really a privilege to sit alongside Greg at principals’ meetings – he was such an important contributor to LJ Hooker but also real estate in Brisbane’s north and the Moreton Bay.
“While the Albany Creek | Warner and Kallangur | Murrumba Downs agencies will continue to operate as separate businesses, there’ll be opportunities for sellers to enjoy greater exposure over the two teams.”
According to CoreLogic, Kallangur recorded 31.3 per cent in median house price growth over the last 12 months to $600,000, while houses in Murrumba Downs houses notched 31 per cent for a median of $745,450.
Mr Chandler said the Moreton Bay region was on the cusp of significant growth.
“It’s a really important market to service, because it offers comparative affordability and rail infrastructure that will deliver a train every five minutes at peak hour when the Cross River Rail is completed.
“The university campus provides a jobs hub and demand for rentals. And the lifestyle of Moreton Bay is growing in profile, especially with flexible working opportunities.”
Source: LJ Hooker
