Wednesday, February 15, 2012

BRISBANE AGENCY CLEANS UP AT REAL ESTATE OSCARS!!!



DAVID Deane Real Estate has taken a row of awards at the 2012 annual Australasian Real Estate Results Network Awards (ARERA’s) in Sydney.

The Strathpine-based agency glittered among a throng of industry hotshots at the 2012 annual Australasian Real Estate Results Network Awards (ARERA’s).

Mark Rumsey won the coveted Queensland Agent of the year; Cassie Turner (pictured with Michael Sheargold) won Rookie of the Year; Tia Jensen was awarded Support Star of the Year and principal David Deane was recognised with a Lifetime Contribution award.

Turner was a finalist in the same category in 2011 and impressed the judges to go one better on the weekend.

“It’s great to get the recognition as I have only been out on my own since May last year,” she says.

“We are seeing lots of enquiries this year, it’s definitely a buyers’ market and we expect that prices will stay at this level for a while yet.”

Turner sells up to five residential properties per month and is fast-tracking success after starting as a personal assistant.

Co-principal Belinda Deane, says the 22-year-old has a bright future.
“That’s what these awards are all about, celebrating and commending people for excellence and Cassie is such an inspiration to young people looking to enter the real estate industry,” she says.
“Cassie has had real estate coaching and continues to go from strength to strength and ahead in leaps and bounds. Determined to succeed, she is a fantastic role model for our younger team members and our clients absolutely love her. She delivers what she says she will deliver and is results driven.”

Held at a swanky soiree on a 140ft glass island ‘starship’ at King St Wharf on Sydney Harbour, the Awards celebrated Australasia's leading network of independent realtors.

Picking up the Agency of the Year 2012 was a sweet victory for McConnell Bourn Estate Agents. The Lindfield-based realtor was recognised for outstanding achievements in the industry during 2011, with a strong focus on service excellence, community achievement and innovation.

Founded by Matthew and Samantha Bourn in 2000, the couple sought a shift away from the 'large multi-office' mentality and have since created a workplace culture that inspires staff and an agency that strives to be the best in the game.

“This award means a lot to the agency and all of our hard working team who go above and beyond to help make McConnell Bourn an industry leader. It’s nice to be recognised for the amount of effort our entire team contributes,” says Matthew.

“With a passion for the industry and a trademark perspective on providing unparalleled attention to detail, we are making an indelible mark on real estate after bringing together a talented team that broadens the company's scope of work.”

McConnell Bourn is now firmly established as one of the fastest growing real estate companies in Australia and has placed in BRW's Fast 100 list both in 2008 and 2010.

“We employ an energetic, dedicated and closely integrated team, each bringing their unique skills to the firm and each dedicated to providing a personal and professional experience. Awards like this boost morale and it is a testament to the energy and results of our team ,” adds Matthew.

Cunninghams Property cleaned up with former professional surfer Kingsley Looker winning NSW Agent of the Year; Principal of the Year was awarded to John Cunningham; Georgi Coward scooped the Marketing Campaign of the Year (+$5000); while the company won Boutique Agency of the Year.

Other big winners included Regional Agency of the Year (Cutlers), Rural Agency of the Year (The Property Shop); New Zealand Agency of the Year (Lugton’s) and Agent of the Year Marcus Chiminello from Marshall White & Co.

Real Estate Results Network founder and CEO Michael Sheargold, congratulated the finalists on not just surviving in 2011, but thriving during a challenging year.
“The awards are hotly contested by some of the nation’s top performers and again we were impressed by the high level of competence and quality shown by agencies and the people behind the brands,” he says.

“There is such a diversity of skills showcased across a broad category base and each and every finalist and of course all of the winners have stepped up to the plate and excelled.”

Winners’ list – 2012 ARERA’s
Agency of the Year (Metro): mcconnell bournAgency of the Year (Regional): Cutlers

Agency of the Year (Rural): The Property Shop

New Zealand Agency of the Year: Lugton’s

Agent of the Year: Marcus Chiminello (Marshall White & Co)

New Zealand Agent of the Year: Terry Ryan (Lugton’s)

New Zealand Agent Achiever of the Year: Lisa Sigley (Lugton’s)

Agent Achiever of the Year: Chris Walsh (Newton Real Estate)

Regional Agent Achiever of the Year: Lucas Sheppard (The Property Shop)

Auctioneer of the Year: Daniel Wheeler (Marshall White & Co)

Boutique Agency of the Year: Cunninghams Property

Community Achievement of the Year: Chris Peake Real Estate

Marketing Agency of the Year: Caporn Young Estate Agents

Marketing Campaign of the Year < $5,000: Tony Santolin (Griffith Real Estate)

Marketing Campaign of the Year > $5,000: Georgi Coward (Cunninghams Property)

Principal of the Year: John Cunningham (Cunninghams Property)Property Management Team of the Year: Nolan and Partners Estate Agents

Property Manager of the Year: Jaylee Dixon (Bendigo Real Estate)

Rising Star Agency of the Year: Chris Peake Real Estate

Rising Star of the Year: Nathan Thomas (Griffith Real Estate)

Rookie of the Year: Cassie Turner (David Deane Real Estate)

Service Excellence of the Year: mcconnell bourn

Support Star of the Year: Tia Jensen (David Deane Real Estate)

NSW Agent of the Year: Kingsley Looker (Cunninghams Property)

Vic Agent of the Year: Madeline Kennedy (Marshall White & Co.)

Qld Agent of the Year: Mark Rumsey (David Deane Real Estate)

WA Agent of the Year: Peter Reid (Bazzo Real Estate)

Lifetime Contribution: David Deane (David Deane Real Estate)

Congratulations to all involved!

Source

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

It's more than just a Boom!

THE economic phase Australia is entering is being described as a resources boom. I believe this is wrong.

The term boom implies a relatively short, sharp upturn to be followed by an inevitable bust.
I believe we’re seeing long-term structural change, one in which Australia is the principal source of the resources developing nations need to build and to create energy.
It’s akin to the dominant paradigm of the past 50 years: that the world runs on oil and it gets more of it from the Middle East than anywhere else.

A third of the world’s oil production happens in Middle Eastern countries, headed by Saudi Arabia, Iran, United Arab Emirates (including Dubai and Sharjah) and Kuwait. The region is also prominent in natural gas production, headed by Iran, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Nations such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Dubai and Qatar have not had a boom; they’ve had long-term sustained demand for their products stretching back many decades. The new paradigm features the rise of new forces in the world economy: China, India, Russia, Brazil, Malaysia, Indonesia and South Korea, to name a few. Africa is starting to emerge as a significant economic force also.

China’s growth is not a flash-in-the-pan scenario. China is on a path to becoming one of the world’s dominant economic powers; and it plans to stay there. India is equally important in terms of demand for Australian resources. India’s economic ambitions are as driven as China’s and we’re starting to see the first big Indian investment in Australia’s resources sector, particularly in Queensland’s coal industry.

This too is not a short-term scenario. India is not just buying from us. It’s investing big time for the long term.
Individual companies are making multibillion-dollar investments in mines, rail lines and export terminals. They’re here for the long haul, with projects that have 20, 30 or 40-year horizons.
The same is true of China, Malaysia and South Korea. Many of the resources developments happening in Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland have joint-venture partners from these key Asian economies.

In August, Simon Crean, federal Minister for Regional Australia, said “Australia will become the Saudi Arabia of gas”. He was suggesting Australia would be to gas what Saudi Arabia has been to oil: the leading supplier across the long term. I think he’s right. The four largest liquefied natural gas projects in WA entail investment totalling $115 billion and the four big coal seam gas to LNG developments focused on Gladstone in Queensland are worth about $70bn.

Keep in mind that they all have sales contracts in place for much of the gas they will produce for decades into the future, with India, South Korea, Malaysia, China and Indonesia important customers.
In terms of their effect on the Australian economy, it’s significant that they are only in the early stages of construction, in most cases. The big impact in terms of jobs and business spending is still to come.
The same is true of the expansion programs by the big iron ore miners in WA and the growth plans of coal miners in Queensland and NSW.

In 2001, there were 26,500 employed in the mining sector in WA. Ten years later there are 101,100 jobs and plenty more still to be created as the big projects like Gorgon get under way.
The number of fly-in, fly-out workers moving through Perth Airport is already at record levels, with more growth on the way.

The creation of new or upgraded export facilities is a growth industry in itself. The various plans for Port Hedland, Geraldton and Gladstone – each a $5bn-plus undertaking – are massive. Newcastle in NSW has multibillion-dollar port facilities planned by three different entities. In Queensland, multiple new terminals costing billions are proposed near Mackay and the expansion of Port Abbot near Bowen now entails six new coal export terminals totalling $9bn. Property investors with assets in those locations can feel some comfort that the growth forces are long term, rather than a boom.

THE economic phase Australia is entering is being described as a resources boom. I believe this is wrong.
The term boom implies a relatively short, sharp upturn to be followed by an inevitable bust.
I believe we’re seeing long-term structural change, one in which Australia is the principal source of the resources developing nations need to build and to create energy. It’s akin to the dominant paradigm of the past 50 years: that the world runs on oil and it gets more of it from the Middle East than anywhere else.
A third of the world’s oil production happens in Middle Eastern countries, headed by Saudi Arabia, Iran, United Arab Emirates (including Dubai and Sharjah) and Kuwait. The region is also prominent in natural gas production, headed by Iran, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Nations such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Dubai and Qatar have not had a boom; they’ve had long-term sustained demand for their products stretching back many decades. The new paradigm features the rise of new forces in the world economy: China, India, Russia, Brazil, Malaysia, Indonesia and South Korea, to name a few. Africa is starting to emerge as a significant economic force also.

China’s growth is not a flash-in-the-pan scenario. China is on a path to becoming one of the world’s dominant economic powers; and it plans to stay there. India is equally important in terms of demand for Australian resources. India’s economic ambitions are as driven as China’s and we’re starting to see the first big Indian investment in Australia’s resources sector, particularly in Queensland’s coal industry.
This too is not a short-term scenario. India is not just buying from us. It’s investing big time for the long term.
Individual companies are making multibillion-dollar investments in mines, rail lines and export terminals. They’re here for the long haul, with projects that have 20, 30 or 40-year horizons.

The same is true of China, Malaysia and South Korea. Many of the resources developments happening in Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland have joint-venture partners from these key Asian economies.

In August, Simon Crean, federal Minister for Regional Australia, said “Australia will become the Saudi Arabia of gas”. He was suggesting Australia would be to gas what Saudi Arabia has been to oil: the leading supplier across the long term. I think he’s right. The four largest liquefied natural gas projects in WA entail investment totalling $115 billion and the four big coal seam gas to LNG developments focused on Gladstone in Queensland are worth about $70bn.

Keep in mind that they all have sales contracts in place for much of the gas they will produce for decades into the future, with India, South Korea, Malaysia, China and Indonesia important customers.
In terms of their effect on the Australian economy, it’s significant that they are only in the early stages of construction, in most cases. The big impact in terms of jobs and business spending is still to come.
The same is true of the expansion programs by the big iron ore miners in WA and the growth plans of coal miners in Queensland and NSW.

In 2001, there were 26,500 employed in the mining sector in WA. Ten years later there are 101,100 jobs and plenty more still to be created as the big projects like Gorgon get under way.
The number of fly-in, fly-out workers moving through Perth Airport is already at record levels, with more growth on the way.

The creation of new or upgraded export facilities is a growth industry in itself. The various plans for Port Hedland, Geraldton and Gladstone – each a $5bn-plus undertaking – are massive. Newcastle in NSW has multibillion-dollar port facilities planned by three different entities. In Queensland, multiple new terminals costing billions are proposed near Mackay and the expansion of Port Abbot near Bowen now entails six new coal export terminals totalling $9bn.

Property investors with assets in those locations can feel some comfort that the growth forces are long term, rather than a boom.

Source: