NAI Harcourts Expands to Tasmania

Friday, 25th March 2011

NAI Harcourts Expands to Tasmania

Commercial real estate firm, NAI Harcourts has officially launched in Launceston, Tasmania.

Earlier this week, Tasmanian Premier, Lara Giddings launched the company with Co-Directors, Janie Finlay and Candice Gillies.

Ms Finlay is a former Mayor of Launceston with extensive small business and real estate experience, while Ms Gillies is a former small business owner with years of experience working in media advertising and the real estate sector.

Their business will combine their local knowledge and experience with the global reach and network of NAI Global, the world’s fourth-largest commercial real estate firm.

The pair decided to open the business because they were inspired and impressed by the confidence and entrepreneurism of northern Tasmania’s business sector.

“In my former role as Mayor of Launceston two of my favorite roles were working across strategic and statutory planning matters,’’ Ms Finlay said.

“Working with developers and business owners both large and small was fascinating, challenging and often inspiring.”

Ms Gillies said her experience in media and residential real estate with the Harcourts group in Tasmania had brought her into contact with many of Launceston’s business owners and commercial land holders.

“Many of those enterprising individuals purchased the buildings which housed their businesses years ago, as part of their retirement plans,’’ she said.

“Over the next five years, many of these successful businesses will come on to the market for the first time, as the owners move into passive income generation as landlords and new operators move into the Launceston sector.”

This opening represents the fourth office opening for NAI Harcourts in Australia, following the rebranding of Brock Commercial in Adelaide, Harcourts Commercial WA in metropolitan Perth, and NAI Harcourts Melbourne in Victoria.

NAI Harcourts CEO, Chris Nicholl said the decision to open the office in Launceston was a positive step forward for the group in Australia who, following its recent launch, now have a presence in 38 centers across Australia and New Zealand as part of NAI Global, who have over 350 offices in 55 countries around the world. Tasmania as a whole is under represented by the major global commercial real estate groups, We see an opportunity to deliver services differently and for the benefit of local clients, Mr Nicholl said.

“The timing of the launch of the business in Australia and New Zealand was just about perfect. Post GFC, whilst the market may take some time to get back to pre-2008 activity levels, I’m confident that the real estate services sector in the Australian market in particular will see significant growth over the next five years.” said Mr Nicholl.

ENDS

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