Whale Watch Town Welcomes Harcourts Office

World Renowned Whale Watch Town Welcomes Harcourts Office

The seaside settlement of Kaikoura, renowned world wide for its whale watching is now also home to a Harcourts office which officially opened earlier this month. Situated midway between Christchurch and Picton, Harcourts Kaikoura Principal John Davis, described the town as a very special place with a real estate market that had “come of age”. Kaikoura now has around 90 properties selling per year and an average sale price which has doubled since 2001 to just on $300,000.

Mr Davis made particular note of new residential subdivisions ‘Ocean Ridge’ with 300 homes and ‘Seaview Subdivision’ on Hastings Street, along with the “Ngai Tahu development of an upmarket resort/conference/golf club which will add a whole new dimension to the area.”

While Harcourts has enjoyed success with a locally based team member from its Blenheim office, Mr Davis said building the right team locally meant providing a much needed permanent office to meet the gap in the market. “With around 50 percent of buyers coming from Christchurch where Harcourts is a dominant brand, Harcourts Kaikoura will provide a comprehensive service wherever our clients are based.”

The office is a joint venture between Mr Davis and Kathy Brown who is also managing it. Kaikoura ‘born and bred’ Mrs Brown has ten years industry experience including launching her own very successful property management business five years ago. The office will focus on residential, rural and commercial.

Mrs Brown noted Kaikoura’s population of 4,000 had experienced strong growth amongst retired people, as well as those moving to the region for lifestyle, investment or a second home. “Tourism is booming and commercial is also growing with the likes of Couplands, Wild South, Smith City which have recently opened. Rental demand is also on the rise with the increasing number of contractors coming to the area.”

Harcourts New Zealand CEO, Bryan Thomson, said, “Harcourts is committed to providing every viable marketplace in New Zealand with a quality global real estate service. The growth of Kaikoura as an international eco tourism venue and the long overdue recognition of this very special location provide ideal timing for our brand to become further established. We are excited with this new office and look forward to growing the loyal support the local community has given us for many years.”

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