Awards reflect market changes - First National

First National New Zealand: Awards reflect market changes - First National

First National Groups recent annual awards for real estate performance reflect changes in the economy and marketplace over one of real estates most difficult years.

First National Chairperson Jill Quaid said First National had closed six offices, amalgamated seven, seen two members depart and had welcomed six new members and offices. Like all other real estate groups, First Nationals salesforce has reduced by several hundred nationwide.

However, First National had come through well. Having consolidated it was still New Zealands third largest nationwide real estate network.

Several new members had come from other groups, a trend the network is expecting to continue due to its competitive membership levies and extensive benefits, Mrs Quaid said.

Changes in the marketplace can be seen in this years results, Mrs Quaid said.

o Top First National salesperson New Zealand-wide was Gillian Cross, of Guardian First National in Johnsonville and Churton Park. Having achieved this status 9 times in the past decade, her hard work also reflected the growth of residential housing in Wellingtons northern suburbs.

o Top Section Sales this year went to First National Wanaka, where demand had been fairly consistent. For the previous two years, the section sales winner had been in Richmond, Nelson.

o Growth in Property Management, an award that often reflects investor movement in New Zealand, went to the West Coast First National office where investors have followed growth in employment. Last year this award went to Southern First National in Manurewa, south Auckland.

o Top Commercial Office this year surprised some. Regional business growth beat that of the cities with First National Wanganui taking out the award for commercial/industrial/business real estate sales, followed by First National Timaru.

o Top Rural Office went to Allied Farmers First National Stratford again. Rural awards continued to be dominated by dairying areas in Taranaki and Mid Canterbury, although lifestyle block sales had also made inroads into rural sales statistics with Rotorua First National in third place.

Mrs Quaid said the awards showed the regional economies were the backbone of the country. Awards this year had special significance.

In total defiance of the worst trading conditions we have seen for a long long time and the media talking doom and gloom, these award winners have all succeeded. They accepted the challenge, they stuck in there and now have the acknowlegement of their peers around the country of their success.

They are a credit to themselves and to First National. They are now well placed to grow their businesses, having come through this trying time.

ENDS

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