The Harcourts Academy is the first real estate company owned training provider to achieve active RTO status in every state of Australia.

Just last week Harcourts achieved RTO status in New South Wales,   allowing the Harcourts Academy to become a nationwide supplier of real estate training.

Irene Green, Head of the Harcourts Academy, said the Academy had been established since 2002, providing top quality, up-to-date real estate education to hundreds of industry professionals on a monthly basis.

“We now offer 17 units of competency, including 30 specialist classroom programmes and 22 online learning programmes,” she said.

“Our online programmes are what are particularly unique to the Harcourts Academy.

“At Harcourts there is a large focus on technology, and the Academy has embraced this focus over the last year,” she said.

“We deliver our online programmes via state of the art systems created by our in-house multimedia team. Our platform includes an interactive online working area, video, live webinars, and online study groups,” she said.

In tandem with these offerings is the Future Leaders Programme, which is about developing the leaders of our future.

“With this programme, we are providing a quality career path and an opportunity to strengthen both personal and professional skills required for management and ownership,” Ms Green said.

“At our recent Harcourts Business Leaders conference, it was great to see more than 30 future leaders in attendance, which is a testament to the programme,” she said.

Going forward this year, the Harcourts Academy will be focusing on creating more training programmes and fostering the leaders of tomorrow through all business development activities.

“2010 has and will continue to be a very significant milestone year for the Harcourts Academy.

“Achieving active RTO status in all states of Australia is a major coup, and one we are very proud of. We are looking forward to further success throughout the year,” Ms Green said.

For more information please contact us at Academy.

1 Thurling St, Mentone

In just 2005 the Melbourne median house price was just over $350,000, and now it sits at a record $540,000 .

Harcourts is witnessing strong sales figures, in particular are the great successes seen at recent auctions.

Recently, an auction was held by Harcourts Auctioneer Peter Gourdouros at 1 Thurling Street, Mentone. The property saw massive interest during the 30 day campaign, with nearly 100 groups inspecting the property prior to auction.

Harcourts Cheltenham Director Stavros Ambatzidis said, “With such strong interest from the start of the campaign, we were expecting a fairly big turn out on auction day.”

The home is an original 1960s building that does need a lot of work to restore it to its original beauty.

“The real pull of this property are the phenomenal bay views on a rather large parcel of land,” Mr Ambatzidis said.

“On auction day, the property attracted a 150-strong crowd, which both Harcourts and the sellers were very pleased with.

With an opening bid of $900,000, the bids were flying, with rather large increments from 11 keen purchasers. A strong team of almost 10 sales staff were there to help potential purchasers in bidding.

“It was great to see such strong bidding – it really is a testament to the strength of the Melbourne market at the moment,” Mr Ambatzidis said.

“The property sold for a whopping $1,510,000, with nearly 44 bids during the proceedings.

“This exceeded our vendor’s expectations and the reserve price by almost $460,000, which is a spectacular result for any real estate agency,” he said.

“I’ve been involved in well over 1,000 auction campaigns, and I have to say this was the best auction I have ever seen.”

To view the auction day, please follow this link,

http://www.transfixmedia.com.au/Stream/realestate/HC/1Thurling/HC_ThurlingAuction_V1.html

Are you a Victorian resident? Let us know what you think about the current property market!

Harcourts Four Seasons franchise co-owner Rana Ransley and Harcourts Halswell Sales Consultant Trudy Hudson are part of a 22-strong group who have collectively fundraised almost $50,000 for World Vision ahead of their trip, which will combine a physical challenge with a chance to experience the realities of life that few tourists see and to interact personally with those their fundraising will help.

Harcourts' Rana Ransley and Trudy Hudson training for Hike for Hope

As Ms Ransley explains, during their 16-day trip the group will trek the Himalayas, visit world heritage sites in Kathmandu, experience the vibrant city of Kolkata and colourful tribal villages in India’s Jarkhand state.

“We will also have a life-changing experience meeting children, families and communities in World Vision’s long-term development programme in Dumaria, India, which the money we have raised is going towards.”

According to World Vision the resilient people of Dumaria face many challenges such as chronic food shortages because of poor soil and seed quality, inadequate irrigation and a lack of credit. Many villagers have had to move to the cities in search of work and children have limited access to schooling, giving them little hope for the future.

Funds raised by the Hike for Hope participants will be used in Dumaria to improve educational facilities and provide school materials and equipment including textbooks, sports equipment, clean water and bicycles for many of the children the trampers will be meeting.

Mrs Hudson says she and Ms Ransley have been training and fundraising hard and are excited about their trip of a lifetime.

“We’ve been doing a lot of hiking to get fit for the Himalayan trek and we’ve been busy fundraising too, so it’ll be great to see all that hard work pay off and particularly rewarding to get to see for ourselves how the money we’ve raised for World Vision will help.”  

Hike for Hope is the third Charity Challenge trip hosted by World Vision and Intrepid/Raw Travel. Other trips have included cycling through Cambodia and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

Charity Challenge co-ordinator, Anita Haylock, says the trips are aimed at Kiwis who want an adventure with a twist.

“Charity Challenges provide a life-changing adventure that is not only rewarding for your body, but also your heart.”

"Kharis", 1 Corsica Way, Karaka Harbourside Estate

“Advertising of the property is yet to start, ahead of the first open home on 20 March, but already we’re getting a lot of enquiry,” she says.  “Perhaps that’s because so many people and companies have been involved in the project that word has spread. Publicity about our recent competition to name the house has also helped.”

As Mrs Westley notes, the special fundraising project was kicked off by the developers of Karaka Harbourside Estate, Jim and Ian Ross, who donated the 609m2 section to Hospice South Auckland. Then in stepped a dedicated team from Counties Manukau Freemasons along with a multitude of tradesmen and businesses who have donated their products and services to build and furnish the house and to complete the landscaping.  The Harcourts Papakura team has now organised a free marketing campaign with the support of various suppliers and is also auctioning the property at no charge.

“The grace and goodwill of the community has brought the project this far, now it’s time for someone to make this property their home,” Mrs Westley says, adding that with a no-reserve auction it will definitely be sold to the highest bidder on the day.

Mrs Wesley says the 288m2 home on offer, now as a result of the naming competition known as Kharis – which is a Greek word for ‘a kind gift’, has been built with quality materials and to an exacting standard, with everything down to the cutlery in the drawers donated.

“Located on a prime site with panoramic views of the estuary and reserve, the home offers expansive living areas flowing into paved outdoor areas, four bedrooms, multiple bathrooms, multiple car garaging and all the furniture, whiteware and even a BBQ and lawnmower are included in the package. 

“It’s definitely a superb opportunity not to be missed, with the bonus being that the successful bidder will be benefiting Hospice South Auckland, an organisation which provides much-needed hospice and palliative care services for free in our community.”

As she explains, the Trustees of The Freemasons Hospice South Auckland Charitable Trust will administer the funds raised from the sale of the house to benefit Hospice South Auckland.

“Kharis”, at 1 Corsica Way, Karaka Harbourside Estate is open for view from 1pm to 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays from Saturday 20 March, with an onsite no-reserve auction scheduled for 1pm on Saturday 17 April.

Harcourts' David Martin collecting award at last years' conference

This year, the event’s slogan is “Leading the Revolution”. The real estate industry is changing at a rapid pace, and this conference will provide all attendees with the tools to achieve great success in 2010 and the years to come.

Mr Green is a LeadingRE board member and he also chairs the organisation’s International Advisory Board, comprised of non-U.S. members committed to expanding the value proposition of the company’s international membership programs.

While in the US, Mr Green will be attending several meetings regarding new opportunities for expansion for Harcourts.

“I will be talking with several parties in Los Angeles about Harcourts’ potential entry into the US real estate market.

“At this stage these opportunities are still emerging, so we don’t have one particular party we are in discussions with,” Mr Green said.

Already the largest real estate group in New Zealand and the fastest growing in Australia, Harcourts joined Leading Real Estate Companies of the World™ as the exclusive South Pacific member in 2003 in order to provide international marketing exposure for Harcourts’ clients’ property.

As a member of LeadingRE, Harcourts International can assist individuals to relocate virtually any community in the US or abroad and can meet corporate relocation needs through the network’s sister relocation company, RELO Direct.

With more than 5,500 offices and 170,000 sales associates in the United States and 35 countries abroad, Leading Real Estate Companies of the World™ affiliates sell more than US$400 billion in home sales representing more than 1.3 million transactions annually, outselling any international franchise and leading the world in the sales of $1 million-plus homes.

Harcourts Financial Services

experienced significant growth through 2009 with robust targets set for its next financial year.

HFS will focus on continuing this growth via some robust targets set for the next 12 months.

CEO of HFS Andy Graham said the division is looking to build on the good growth achieved in 2009.

“Our monthly written applications increased by 149 per cent from what we were achieving at the start of the year,” said Mr Graham.

“We have a base of 45 outstanding mortgage consultants right around the country, with the aim to continue to build our team to 70 high-quality, industry-compliant people over the next 12 months.

The opportunity that arises from the Harcourts Real Estate Gateway, coupled with our strong focus to add some real value to the clients property transaction gives our brokers an ideal scenario to build a significant business,” he said.

“We have a strong focus on developing our people via business planning, industry training, and personal development.

“This is evidenced by one of our team members, Meagan Fry, becoming a finalist at the upcoming MFAA Excellence awards to be held in Sydney on 12 March, Mr Graham said.

Meagan has been nominated in the highly competitive 2010 MFAA Excellence Award individual achievement category.

2010 will be a significant year in the mortgage brokering industry with the impending Credit Licensing Regulations.

“I see this new regulation as a real positive for our business and will assist in building the professionalism of our industry.

“It will weed out the cowboys and under-achievers from the dedicated industry participants, as well as improving our positioning and credibility in the market place.”

“We look forward to our next financial year, assisting our clients, developing a one stop scenario for all Harcourts clients, and continuing to diversify our business via other avenues such general and risk insurance sales, and asset finance opportunities.”

Lower interest rates don’t always mean that homeowners should upgrade to bigger and better properties. If they have built up substantial equity in their homes, it may be time to access some of it and make alternations or improvements instead.

That way, many believe, they can have a bigger and better home without having to go to the trouble and expense of moving.

However, says Martin Schultheiss, CEO of Harcourts Africa, homeowners should seek expert advice about home values and growth prospects in their area before making a final “renovate or relocate” decision.

“You need to be very careful not to overcapitalise. Prices in many areas are still at a low ebb following the recession, which might make it difficult to recoup your renovation expenditure if you suddenly had to change your plans and sell.

“And in any case most neighbourhoods will only support prices up to a certain level. After that, potential buyers with more money will be most likely be looking at a more expensive area, so if your home is already at the upper end of the price range for its area, you should probably move rather than spend any more on it.”

Schultheiss says homeowners also need to make sure that any changes they plan will comply with municipal regulations, that additions will match the style and décor of the original building and that any alterations make sense.

“You don’t want to end up with a four or five bedrooms and just one bathroom, for example, or spacious new reception rooms contrasting with a cramped, outdated kitchen.”

And lastly, he says, you must take into account the inconvenience and discomfort of living in a home while renovating it. “It is really only worth putting up with this if you plan to stay on in your home long enough after the work is finished to enjoy the improvements you’ve made.”

ISSUED BY HARCOURTS AFRICA

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CALL

MARTIN SCHULTHEISS ON

031 201 1060 OR VISIT

www.harcourts.co.za

Harcourts has announced today a new joint venture with NAI Global that will significantly expand the commercial reach and services Harcourts can offer in Australia and New Zealand.

As the latest arm of the Harcourts global empire, NAI Harcourts will take its first steps in Australia and New Zealand this year.

NAI Global is the world’s leading managed commercial network of 5,000 commercial property professionals and 325 offices in 55 countries throughout the world.

A joint venture between Harcourts and NAI Global will introduce a strong global platform of commercial real estate brokerage services to support corporate end users, investors and financial institutions locally and around the world.

NAI Harcourts have now appointed commercial real estate industry veteran Christopher Nicholl as CEO for the new venture. Mr Nicholl recently spoke of the company’s plans in Las Vegas at NAI Global’s annual convention and at Harcourts’ annual Business Leaders Conference.

He comes to NAI Harcourts with more than 20 years’ experience in the commercial property industry. Prior to NAI Harcourts, he was based in Singapore as International Director and Regional Managing Director, Project and Development Services, Asia Pacific with Jones Lang LaSalle. Nicholl also previously served as Executive Director and Board member of Colliers Australia.

Harcourts Managing Director Mike Green said Harcourts is a global real estate franchise group that has more than 625 offices around the world.

“Expanding our presence in the commercial sector is a significant step for the Harcourts Group, and a necessary one to take the company’s growth to the next level,” Mr Green said.

“Over the past few years the market has grown to exceed $1 billion in revenue; yet at the same time we have seen very few new entrants, which offers NAI Harcourts a tremendous opportunity,” Mr Green said.

President and Chief Executive Officer of NAI Global Jeffrey Finn said, “NAI Global has been looking for ways to grow a presence in Australia and New Zealand, and Harcourts is the perfect partner for us to do so.

“The quality and strength of the Harcourts organisation in Australia and New Zealand, combined with NAI Global’s international commercial real estate platform creates a powerful platform for NAI Harcourts,” Mr Finn said.

“NAI Harcourts will give us a strong presence and powerful business generation engine in this important part of the world, connecting businesses and investors from around the globe to this escalating market,” Mr Finn said.