Real estate network LJ Hooker has sharpened its Gold Coast focus with company Chairman L Janusz Hooker unveiling a purpose-built $5 million super office to cater to the market’s rising appetite. The new LJ Hooker Nerang is the creation of Principal and industry leader Shane Colquhoun, who has expanded his operations to a 2,450sqm site at New Street following significant year-on-year growth. Mr Hooker said the Gold Coast was maturing through fast-paced population growth and was perfectly poised to capture China’s investment interest.
Real estate network LJ Hooker has sharpened its Gold Coast focus with company Chairman L Janusz Hooker unveiling a purpose-built $5 million super office to cater to the market’s rising appetite.
The new LJ Hooker Nerang is the creation of Principal and industry leader Shane Colquhoun, who has expanded his operations to a 2,450sqm site at New Street following significant year-on-year growth.
Mr Hooker said the Gold Coast was maturing through fast-paced population growth and was perfectly poised to capture China’s investment interest.
According to CoreLogic, the city outperformed neighbouring Brisbane in median house price growth over the past five years, recording a 28.1 per cent rise compared the State capital’s 19.5 per cent increase.
“And that’s why dynamic Principals like Shane are investing significantly in the city,” Mr Hooker said.
“With the Commonwealth Games around the corner, the city has experienced a surge in new public infrastructure which has seen it evolve.
“Private investment has followed, and there are billions of dollars in innovative developments planned and underway from the Surfers Paradise Esplanade to the Hinterland.”
Mr Hooker said the key ingredients which propelled the Gold Coast’s profile in the late 1980s and early 2000s – lifestyle and affordability – had again come to the fore.
“I see the Gold Coast much like Miami in the United States. Miami had experienced steady growth since the early 90s but is now experiencing a surge as people, who are working remotely from their office, choose it over having to battle cities like New York.
“That’s where I see the Gold Coast in the future for Australia.
“And factors just like this are really hitting home to buyers in Sydney and Melbourne where house prices have risen 64.9 per cent and 34.2 per cent, respectively, in the last five years.
“The Gold Coast is tipped to be home to 1.2 million residents by 2050 which is why it’s a key target for growth.
“Purpose built super offices like LJ Hooker Nerang’s really hone in on what customers want from one of life’s most significant experiences – selling or securing their next home.”
Mr Colquhoun – who was this year named Real Estate Business’ Regional Principal of the Year – said the city’s sentiment was the most buoyant he had seen since opening LJ Hooker Nerang almost 14 years ago.
His observations convinced him to engage BDA Architecture and builders Rawcorp to build an impressive 1,100sqm real estate centre spanning two levels, which will accommodate over 50 staff. BDA Architecture were behind the design of the contemporary Isle of Capri shopping centre.
“Real estate is a high-touch business, and to be progressive you need to have innovative minds pushing boundaries,” said Mr Colquhoun.
“While other brands are scaling back their ‘shop fronts’ to cut costs, this is often at the expense of service levels.
“We have the foresight to continue to develop and invest in our people and our customers by looking at global, innovative new design trends and technology to improve experiences right throughout the real estate process.
“LJ Hooker Nerang is growing year-on-year, and our new super office allows us to best position our services for the future.”
Mr Hooker also tipped the purple patch of development activity would reignite the interest of China’s booming middle class, which was growing at incomparable speed, according to a 2010 OECD Report.
“China’s middle class will go from being 12 per cent of its population to 73 per cent of its population by 2030 – that’s another 850 million residents in that bracket,” said Mr Hooker.
“Chinese love Australian property and the Gold Coast is very accessible.
“Another advantage is the city’s diversifying economy, with sectors like education lifting its profile against the traditional pillars of tourism and development. Australia’s education is very attractive to the Chinese and the Gold Coast’s civic and education leaders recognise this.”
