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Harcourts Celebrates 125 Years
2013 marks Harcourts' 125 year anniversary read more
May 24th, 2013
The Harcourts Foundation Grants $46,000 to Charity
Posted in: Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, The Harcourts Foundation, Victoria, Western Australia
Seven Australian-based charities have received funding grants totalling $46,000 as part of the latest round of funding grants from The Harcourts Foundation.
In Queensland, a grant of $15,000 was provided to the North Queensland Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund and $10,000 was provided to Butterfly Babies, a charity within the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Foundation.
Three charities in South Australia received funding grants including the Legacy Club of Adelaide for $5,000, Operation Flinders Foundation for $5,000 and St Vincent de Paul Society for $1,000.
In New South Wales, KidzWish Foundation also received a funding grant of $5,000 and in Tasmania Give Me 5 for Kids were provided with a grant of $5,000.
The money granted will provide these charitable organisations with the funds to carry out important research and development projects, purchase vital equipment for those in need, and…
May 15th, 2013
Customer Service Pro Joins MX
Posted in: Australia, Mortgage Express
Mortgage Express has appointed another broker to its Victorian ranks, with an extensive background in professional customer service, according to CEO of Mortgage Express, Marcus Williams.
With over 10 years experience in customer relations, Samantha Camera has extensive experience in face-to-face client services, and as such, her business has been built on building long-term relationships and from referrals.
“My talent for finances and first hand property investment experience ensure I am a useful ally when my clients are ready to buy,” she said.
“For the life of my clients’ loan, I enjoy in simplifying the complex mortgage process, and as a successful property investor myself with an impressive portfolio, I understand the importance of securing the right finance product from the beginning, as this can be a costly mistake when handled poorly.”
Working with Ms Camera gives property buyers and investors the opportunity of accessing…
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May 13th, 2013
Heel-Clad Agents Raise $30,000 to Stop Violence
Harcourts Victoria walked a different path last Friday as they joined forces with White Ribbon Australia to make a stand against violence at the inaugural Walk a Mile in Their Shoes march.
Over 250 people, both men and women, donned a pair of high heels and walked a mile along the Southbank Spillway to Melbourne’s City Square. The driving force behind the campaign was CEO of Harcourts Victoria, Sadhana Smiles, who is one of only a handful of female CEOs in Australia’s property industry.
“When we started on this journey, our goal was simple, as one team, in one voice, to make a stand that violence of any type towards anyone is simply not ok. We have achieved that,” said Sadhana.
It was Sadhana’s passion for making a difference that lead to this worthwhile partnership with White Ribbon Australia, which helped to raise over $30,000 for the…
May 9th, 2013
Home Prices High in Jam-Packed Mthatha
Posted in: Residential, South Africa
Mthatha (formerly Umtata) in the old Transkei region is bursting at the seams, and urgently needs new housing development to alleviate stock shortages. The town benefits from strong spending power, explains Kim Thomson, owner of leading local estate agency Harcourts Mthatha, as about 80% of residents are government employees and the rest mostly professionals such as doctors and lawyers.
“It also serves a large rural community and lately, there has been a strong inflow of contractors working on various infrastructure projects. At the moment, for instance, there are 55 schools under construction in surrounding areas area and the majority of the contractors working on these are from elsewhere and require local accommodation.”
However, she adds, Mthatha only has about 14 000 housing units, which can only satisfy only about 60% of current demand. “The town urgently needs at least 10 000 to 12 000 additional units but privately-owned development…
Tags: East London, Harcourts Mthatha, Kim Thomson, Mthatha, Transkei, Umtata
May 8th, 2013
Rates Slashed to Record Low
Posted in: Australia
In a surprise announcement by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) earlier this week, official interest rates were reduced by 25 basis points, taking the cash rate to a record low of 2.75 per cent.
The RBA’s decision has no doubt come as a relief for mortgage holders across the country.
As well as offering reprieve for Australian home owners, Mike Green, Managing Director of real estate group, Harcourts International, says that the RBA’s decision to cut rates signifies a positive step forward for the country’s property market and wider economy.
“Given the current challenges facing Australia’s property market, the RBA’s decision to cut rates was the best possible outcome.
“Although we have started to see some positive data come out of the property market, Australia’s housing industry is yet to fully recover from the effects of the Global Financial Crisis.
“I believe that the…
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May 7th, 2013
Paul Wilson Presented with Prestigious Roy Weston Medal
Posted in: Australia, Western Australia
One of the most significant members of Harcourts Western Australia, Paul Wilson has been honoured with the prestigious Roy Weston Medal in recognition of the contribution he has made to the organisation.
One of only a few honoured with the Roy Weston Medal, Mr Wilson is the Licensee and Director of Harcourts Victoria Park, one of the region’s oldest and most established real estate agencies.
“A quintessentially old fashioned Australian, Paul’s honesty and integrity is beyond reproach. He is incredibly passionate about doing the right thing and putting people first,” said Jenny Birrell, CEO of Harcourts Western Australia, in an opening address.
“Paul is driven by the personal growth and development of others. He loves to see people in his team succeed and often pushes people outside of their comfort zone in order for them to achieve greatness.
“A much better…