Starting his lengthy finance career with ANZ Bank as a teller, Paul Kershaw worked his way to the position of Lending Manager.   Eventually Mr Kershaw took on the challenge of becoming an independent mortgage broker, and during that time also assisted a client with financing a business, as well as taking on a directorship, performing a staffing and finance role for that business.

“I am proud to have joined such a strong mortgage and lending brand, with international real estate representation in the form of Harcourts,” he said.

Mr Kershaw is committed to providing a personalized and efficient service for each one of his clients.

“My experience for two years selling prestige real estate, and completing my own conveyancing, gives me a rare and thorough knowledge of the entire buying and selling process, including the emotions and stress it can cause people.”

Mr Kershaw believes in providing a complete choice of products to his clients, and then advising on the best product for their present and future needs and goals, taking both cost savings and possible refinancing of other loans into account. He also firmly supports keeping clients informed at all stages during the process, to put their minds at ease.

The programme is part of a national drive to offer job opportunities to those who have skills in business, wish to change career or are looking for a chance to retrain and ‘earn while they learn.’

Supported by New Zealand’s largest real estate company, Harcourts, select offices nationwide have jumped on the chance to upskill and provide employment for professionals who may have had a career in another industry such as teaching, nursing, in a trade, or maybe even the police force.

Harcourts Group Chief Executive, Hayden Duncan says this is an opportunity to provide careers to skilled professionals and to continue to extend the quality of the real estate industry.

“Lately there have been reports in the media about the lack of employment, and skilled professionals unable to gain employment in their particular field of study or trade. What we are offering is an opportunity for educated people with experience in the workforce, a chance to upskill themselves with full support and training so they have a chance to have a successful career over the rest of their working life.”

“The New Zealand Real Estate Scholarship Programme offers a retainer and many benefits that support it to be a substantial package for recipients. Recent regulations and requirements introduced into the industry have ensured that certain levels of professionalism and accountability are delivered to all sellers and buyers.  We want to share the knowledge and professionalism our brand is associated with, to grow the industry in a way that not only delivers outstanding real estate experiences, but in doing so maintains the ‘Harcourts Way’ as the ‘industry standard’ in terms of real estate services,” says Mr. Duncan.

“Real estate is no longer a job that just anyone can enter into as once thought – it is a profession requiring in depth training and for some it can be a life changing career move,” comments Mr. Duncan.

Recipients of the New Zealand Real Estate Scholarship Programme receive a salary plus commission, their national certificate and license in real estate plus full training, with all course expenses paid for; a substantial investment into personal profile marketing material and the support of the best in the business, topped off with attendance to the largest real estate conference in New Zealand in 2013 – all while they learn.  All this comes from within an industry that traditionally has never paid salaries.

The training completed with Harcourts’ Academy, has the largest in-house training facilities of any real estate company in the country, so candidates are in the best of hands and The New Zealand Real Estate Scholarship Programme is available within all areas of real estate covering residential, rural, commercial and industrial sales.
Available to anyone new to selling real estate i.e. has not been actively selling; The New Zealand Real Estate Scholarship Programme will have one intake this year and run for a period of twelve months. After the first twelve months, successful candidates have the opportunity to further advance their real estate career engaging in more advanced training.

There are over 25 scholarships on offer spanning the country from Greater Auckland to Queenstown and the campaign has now been launched on social media sites Facebook, Twitter, online via seek.co.nz, stuff.co.nz, various print and radio stations across the country.

You can apply for The New Zealand Real Estate Scholarship or to find out more information, at www.opennewdoors.co.nz or by free calling 0508 OPEN DOORS.

Specialising in equipment finance loans for business clients for his last 12 years with AGC Finance, this was the natural first step for Mr Brennan’s own business that he created in 1997.

“Due to client demand for Owner/Occupied and Investment Home Loans, I eventually broadened my services to include mortgage brokerage.”

Mr Brennan joined Mortgage Express to expand his business through a referral partnership with Harcourts clients, and is delighted to offer his personal and meticulous brand of service and finance packages to business owners and PAYG income earners.

“I have always offered my services 24/7, and am available to clients at their place of business or their home to allow maximum ease,” he said.

“I coordinate the entire process, from working with my clients’ accountants, suppliers and agents to ensure an end-to-end service delivery to save them time and energy.”

According to Mr Williams, Mal is the ideal partner for home buyers and investors achieving their property goals due to his professional and personable approach, together with his thorough knowledge and interest in the latest trends, technology and systems in the finance industry.

Before entering the mortgage broking industry in 2009, Ms Marrable gained all of her remarkable customer service skills within the hospitality industry. After completing her Diploma in Hospitality Management, Jo worked in a variety of restaurants around the World.

It was after her second child was born that Ms Marrable discovered her true passion for the finance industry. Having originally planned to study accounting, after a seasonal role as a Tax Consultant, Ms Marrable decided that it was achieving positive outcomes for clients that she particularly enjoyed, and therefore chose to pursue mortgage broking

Ms Marrable is most enthusiastic about assisting her clients achieve their real estate and property dreams, from buying their first home, first investment property or just building on their property portfolio.  She relates to Mortgage Express’ values that revolve around the basis of putting people first.

She is confident that her reliability, excellent work ethic and enviable communication skills gained from her hospitality background are what clearly set her level of service apart from the rest.

Harcourts first REAA Continuous Education Verifiable training at the Ellerslie Events Centre with 300 people in attendance (copyright Harcourts Group Ltd 2012)

The first group of agents attended the first Harcourts Continuing Education session on Monday at Auckland’s Ellerslie Events Centre.

The Events Centre was a mass with three hundred people as each attended their first 2.5 hours of Verifiable Continuing Education. The Harcourts group was the first of many real estate agents to start their 10 hours of verifiable continuing education required under the new Real Estate Agents Authority (REAA) practice rule.

As of 1 January, 2012 a new regulation was introduced by the REAA for all those holding real estate licenses to attend and complete 20 hours of continuing education each year as a requirement of all licensees to renew their real estate license.

Hayden Duncan, CEO of Harcourts Group, says the industry is tightening up on regulation and the accountabilities of those practicing real estate.

“Real estate agents are placed under intense scrutiny [and can be the target of criticism?] so this requirement will provide a transparency and accountability of practicing agents.  This type of regulation and its requirements will in turn ultimately provide buyers and sellers more piece of mind that agents will do the right thing all the time, when assisting in buying or selling property.”

“The REAA has had an average of 60 concerns raised over the last seven months and no-one in the industry likes to hear of a complaint.  For us [Harcourts] the vehicle of Continuing Education and the act of actually attending training sessions, rather than doing it online, reinforces the message that we are in this business to deliver the best level of service we possibly can.  Through this medium we must continuously improve and develop the skills we need to do that. This is a people business,” says Mr Duncan.

The verifiable continuing education topic for 2012 is Professional Conduct and Client Care Rules, with a focus on misconduct and misrepresentation and as the REAA has approved Harcourts to become an official provider, the Harcourts Academy will deliver the verifiable modules in person over the next 6-12 months around the country.

Harcourts Northern/Central Academy trainer Julie Waymouth said, having never trained such a large group of people in one session, she was delighted with how the morning went.

“The attendees learnt through many channels, listening to the content delivered and interacting with others in the group through talking – face-to-face training is the key.”

“Despite being advised the training was a requirement all licensees must take, the best thing was hearing attendees say they enjoyed the session and felt that it did enhance their skill and understanding.  Many of Harcourts’ top agents came up to myself and John Moyle the other trainer, and congratulated us on a fantastic session, saying it was absolutely brilliant,” said Ms Waymouth.

Continuing Education has two, 10 hours blocks of education to be completed – 10 hours verifiable and 10 hours non-verifiable.

Verifiable education relates to complying with the Act, Regulations and Rules and can only be delivered by an REAA approved provider, while non-verifiable education relates to personal professional development, such as attending an industry conference or other industry-based training such as an auction training course or other forms of sales training, like those held by Harcourts’ Academy.

All those with a real estate license now need to demonstrate that they have completed the continuing education requirements in order to renew their real estate license from 2013 on.

The REAA will be auditing approximately 5% of renewing licensees each year so licensees will need to provide a certificate of completion from their approved provider and a log the details of what they did to complete the continuing education requirement, thus renew their license.

“With over 1680 sales consultants in New Zealand Harcourts are committed to delivering the best content and provide the best training facilities possible. We have altered our course timetables, re-advertised existing courses to include continuing education opportunities and our Academy trainers are working very hard to deliver the REAA content effectively,” Mr Duncan said. “Our aim is to provide everyone enough opportunities to complete their 20 hours before they need to.”

Directly prior to joining Mortgage Express, Mr Lee had been operating for eight years under another high profile national mortgage brokerage brand, after two years as a sole trader in his own mortgage brokering business.

Mr Lee believes his point of difference is his detailed knowledge of the national lending and mortgage industry after so many years honing his skills and experience, and he is relishing the fresh challenges of assisting with the growth of the finance arm of Harcourts Group Australia.

Always working in the best interests of the client and in alignment with their individual needs, Mr Lee places priority on providing customer service of the highest standard. A professional yet friendly approach, as well as a genuine passion for the finance and mortgage industry and the rewards property ownership can provide, has ensured his client data base has grown quickly.

“I am committed to keeping up to date with the latest in leading technology, knowledge and systems available to the finance and mortgage broking industry, and is enthusiastic about applying it all to his business,” Mr Lee said.

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