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.

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.

Outdoors, the worst effect of damp is to cause walls to become waterlogged and collapse, but before that it usually also causes plaster and paint to bubble, burst and flake off. Indoors, it will cause a musty smell to pervade cupboards, rooms or even the whole house, and in severe cases cause unsightly mold and falling tiles in showers, bathrooms, laundries and kitchens.

Indeed, says Martin Schultheiss, CEO of Harcourts Africa, damp needs to be taken seriously and treated properly, otherwise it will be a continuing source of discomfort and even illness to the homeowner – and a severe deterrent to potential tenants or buyers of the property.

“Serious rising damp from the foundations will of course require the services of damp proofing specialists, but homeowners can do much themselves to prevent damp from other sources getting a grip.

“They can, for example, ensure that there is no loose flashing on the roof and that the gutters aren’t clogged up or broken. Downpipes must be angled to direct water away from the house and runoff from the garden should also be channelled away.”

Homeowners should also check for ill-fitting windows and doorframes, plumbing leaks and damp patches around small cracks in the wall, all of which can be relatively easily repaired with insulation, filler and damp-proof paint.

“Indoors, however, the biggest problem is like to be condensation rather than water seeping in,” says Schultheiss, “and the best course is to achieve better ventilation, perhaps by unblocking airbricks or installing an extractor fan to get rid of steam in a bathroom or kitchen.

“In South Africa we are also very fortunate in that our homes are generally not sealed up against the weather as they are in Europe or many parts of the US, so we can still open doors and windows to allow fresh air to circulate – and that is still one of the best ways to get rid of a musty smell and prevent mold from forming.”

ISSUED BY HARCOURTS AFRICA
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CALL
MARTIN SCHULTHEISS ON
031 201 1060 OR VISIT
www.harcourts.co.za

“During the last 12 months we have seen the RBA act cautiously, which allowed market growth to gain its momentum before the RBA took further action. This is a very sensible approach in my opinion,” Mr Green said.

“Harcourts has seen a steady market, with figures across the Harcourts Group in February of this year reflecting a twelve per cent increase on February 2009.

“While this percentage increase isn’t large, it’s steady, which indicates a market that is ready for a minor increase like this rise of 25 base points,” he said.

“And interest rates are still very low compared to historical numbers, so I consider a cash rate of four per cent to be extremely favourable,” he said.

“We must bear in mind the Australian economy has performed well during the last two years in comparison with other countries.”

This is evident by Treasurer Wayne Swan’s statement yesterday, providing “further evidence that a self-sustaining private sector recovery is starting to take hold.”

This announcement was off the back of the Australian Bureau of Statistic’s data released just yesterday, highlighting Australia’s growth in 2009 with the economy up 2.7 per cent, which makes us one of the strongest advanced economies in the world.

“2008 and 2009 have people acting far more cautiously than they did before, and many live in fear of a second economic plunge.

“The RBA however acted based on statistical fact, rather than being led by trending emotions.

“In tandem with our economic growth rate, our unemployment rate is still sitting at a low 5.3 per cent and retail sales figures are surprising us each month,” he said.

“In addition, RP Data Rismark just released their latest report, which shows solid growth in the property market across the nation.”

“I believe this minor rise will ensure our economic growth is sustainable, rather than letting it perhaps escape our control once again.”

According to the latest statistics from Nielsen Online Market Intelligence, in February the recently revamped Harcourts New Zealand website, www.harcourts.co.nz, received a record 201,384 unique visitors, despite February being the shortest month of the year.

Mr Thomson says the February 2010 figure, which was more than 20% up on the 165,919 unique visitors the Harcourts New Zealand website received in the same month last year, reflects Harcourts strong presence and performance in the New Zealand market and follow the introduction of significant design and functionality enhancements to the Harcourts New Zealand website late last year.

The latest statistics also again confirm the Harcourts New Zealand website is the most visited real estate brand’s website in the country – receiving over 40% more unique visitors than the next most visited real estate group’s website in February.

“We recognise February is typically an active month in the New Zealand real estate market so good website traffic is expected in that month, however to see such large growth over February 2009 is very satisfying,” Mr Thomson says.

“It also backs up the anecdotal feedback from members of the Harcourts team around the country who are reporting a lot of buyer enquiry, with a large volume of properties having come onto the market in recent weeks.”

 Mr Thomson says while sales numbers in January and February have been below expectations online activity is believed to be a good indicator of future sales, so March sales statistics will be an good test of the validity of this view.

Business Owners Alex Ricciardi, Gordana Caruso and Tracy Garbes all gained management and leadership training through the Harcourts Future Leaders Programme. Each has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the local real estate market, equipping them with an intrinsic knowledge of the Hamilton Hill area.

Opening their own office was a natural progression for the trio, whose experience within the brand convinced them of the strength of support, systems and technology offered to ensure their long-term business success.

“Having been involved with Harcourts for some time, we know and trust the Harcourts support team and have seen how they have helped others get their first businesses up and running. To us, it was vitally important to ensure we have the right support and tools so that our business really thrives, and the best service is provided to clients.”

Mr Ricciardi has worked in the local sales industry for three years while Ms Garbes has worked in the local real estate industry for four years.  Similarly, Ms Caruso has a wealth of real estate experience, having progressed her sales, administration and management skills over the past 14 years.

“Harcourts is such a well established brand, we knew that the resources and support available to us would ensure a superior real estate experience and result for our clients,” Ms Caruso said.

Ms Caruso said the Hamilton Hill team, comprising of eight staff, are looking forward to providing a personal, ethical and exceptional service to the local community.  The team hopes to open a property management division in the near future.

CEO of Harcourts Western Australia, Andrew Moore, said, “The team of owners at the new Hamilton Hill office are passionate about providing the highest level of service, in all aspects, to their clients and we are fortunate to have this team representing Harcourts. We look forward to working closely with Alex, Gordana and Tracy into the future. ”

Harcourts is Australasia’s fastest growing real estate organisation, with offices in all states and the Northern Territory, New Zealand, Fiji, Indonesia and Singapore. Last year, it expanded its operations into Zambia, China, and South Africa., with a total of over 600 offices internationally. For decades Harcourts has prided itself as an industry ground-breaker in real estate technology.

Harcourts New Zealand CEO Bryan Thomson says the successful realtor with 30-years’ experience has the credentials and contacts to make a big impact in Harcourts’ Central Region, where he is focused on assisting the group’s franchise owners to grow their businesses.

Tony Renwick, Harcourts' Central Region BDM

A Fellow of the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand, Mr Renwick (pictured right) originally started out as a sales consultant, moved into branch management and then ownership of multi-disciplinary offices in three different real estate groups, including owning and operating the No. 1 Ray White office New Zealand, which he sold in 2006.

“While Harcourts is already the largest real estate group in New Zealand we want to increase our marketshare in every location in which we already operate and in the Central region we have the additional opportunity of expanding our network too, as we have a number of franchise areas available. 

“I’m confident that with someone of Tony’s calibre on board focused solely on achieving that growth Harcourts will go from strength to strength in our Central region.”

Mr Renwick says he is delighted to have joined Harcourts and to be in a position which will enable him to assist a wide range of the group’s franchise owners, from those running small businesses with just a few sales consultants to those with large, multi-office operations.

“Harcourts is a great brand to be a part of and I’m excited to be putting my passion, knowledge and experience to use with the aim of helping members of this innovative, industry-leading group to take their businesses to the next level,” he says.