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Harcourts has expanded its footprint into a new Melbourne growth corridor, setting up shop in the new suburb of Mernda.
Harcourts, along with its new franchise business owner Vanny Bains, has just opened one of Mernda’s first-ever real estate offices, Harcourts Mernda, this month, with the aim of taking part in the growth of the developing suburb.
According to Victoria franchise development manager David Silcock, the group identified Mernda early on as one of the growth corridors in Melbourne, adding that it was fantastic to now have a presence in what was a fast-developing suburb.
“We’ve identified quite a few growth areas in Melbourne and regional Victoria where we want to find and establish very good local agents, and Mernda is certainly one we wanted to enter as it starts to boom,” Mr Silcock said.
“Prices have actually increased (in Mernda) since COVID-19 began as people are seeing the benefits of not having to commute into the city for work as much, being able to purchase a bigger space and live in a place that’s much greener.”
To ensure the new office’s success, Mr Silcock said that identifying quality agents to operate under the Harcourts banner was imperative, especially as it strives to adapt to the “new normal” brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vanny Bains boasts 10 years of experience in Epping and Wollert and has enjoyed some time listing and selling properties in and around Mernda.
“As someone who was in the top 2 per cent of agents nationwide at his former employer, Vanny was an easy choice. He has a great loyal team and a fantastic following in the community, which makes him an incredible asset for not only Harcourts but for the people he will serve in Mernda and its surrounding suburbs,” Mr Silcock said.
According to Mr Bains, there’s a lot of room for growth and a lot of infrastructure coming into the area such as the train station that was built last year, which means that opening the new office under the Harcourts brand gave him and his team an immediate advantage.
And with the local market remaining steady throughout a whirlwind year for most real estate markets, Mr Bains forecasts some exciting times ahead for Melbourne’s northern suburbs.
“It (COVID-19) has definitely made quite a difference to all of us, but our market hasn’t really dropped as people predicted; in fact, land prices have actually increased during this time,” Mr Bains said.
“Transactions are happening quite quickly and, personally, I think it will be similar moving into 2021. First home buyers, downsizers and investors are all identifying this region as one that’s attractive to them which [does] and will continue to create great competition.”
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