Raine & Horne’s Annual WA Awards held at Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre

• Raine & Horne Maida Vale & Hills wins Top Office award with Principal Simon Mills named Top Selling Salesperson/Principal for 2012
• David Dennett from Raine & Horne Rockingham Beach recognised as the group’s leading salesperson (number of sales), while Raine & Horne Bunbury’s Susan Pitts grabs first place in the Top Salesperson (dollar value) category
• Perth prices set for 5% surge in 2013 driven by pent up buyer demand

Raine & Horne Maida Vale & Hills secured the prestigious Top Office (Dollar Value) gong at the Raine & Horne Annual WA Awards held at the Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre on Saturday 23 February.

In a twin triumph for the office, Simon Mills, Principal of Raine & Horne Maida Vale & Hills, snatched Top Salesperson (Principal), an award based on the dollar value of his sales in 2012.

Raine & Horne Maida Vale & Hills didn’t have the complete rub of the green, however, with David Dennett from Raine & Horne Rockingham Beach named best salesperson based on number of sales in WA, while Raine & Horne Bunbury’s sales whiz Susan Pitts grabbed first in the Top Salesperson (Dollar Value) category.

Meanwhile, in a reflection of the growing impact of auction sales in the Western Australian real estate market, Raine & Horne Mandurah was named Top Auction Office.

A major highlight of the evening was the recognition of long time Raine & Horne Bunbury Principal, Alec Marra, with the inaugural Raine & Horne Award for Excellence.

“The Excellence Award is presented to an individual who has excelled in representing the Raine & Horne network in Western Australia,” said Angus Raine, CEO of Raine, who was in Perth to present Mr Marra with his coveted decoration.

“Alec Marra started his real estate career in Bunbury in the 1980s, before launching Raine & Horne Bunbury in 1997. 

“Over the past 16 years, Alec has continued to be a great supporter of the Raine & Horne network, and both he and his staff are regulars at Raine & Horne training sessions, events and also the National Conference,” says Mr Raine, who is very confident about the prospects for WA real estate in 2013.

“We’ve all read reports that Perth buyers are bidding above asking prices, while there are only about 9,000 homes on the market for sale in Perth.

“This is significantly below the magic stock level of 12,500, where it is considered there is a sufficient balance between supply and demand for Perth real estate,” says Mr Raine.

Moreover, first home buyers, who normally represent about 22% of Perth property sales, currently contribute to about 31% of transactions.

“While first timers are driving up demand for median priced property in Perth, they are also having a significant knock-on effect as they provide upgraders with a ready-made market when they choose to move on,” said Mr Raine, who is predicting pent up demand for Perth property will push up values by at least 5% in some suburbs in 2013.

The 2012 Raine & Horne WA Awards for Excellence winners include:

Top Office (Number of Sales)

Raine & Horne Maida Vale & Hills

Top Auction Office

Raine & Horne Mandurah

Top Salesperson (Dollar Value)

Susan Pitts, Raine & Horne Bunbury

Top Salesperson (Number of Sales)

David Dennett, Raine & Horne Rockingham Beach

Top Salesperson Principal (Dollar Value)

Simon Mills, Raine & Horne Maida Vale & Hills

Top Commercial Salesperson (Sales Dollar Value)

Anthony Vulinovich, Raine & Horne Commercial WA

Award for Excellence

Alec Marra, Raine & Horne Bunbury

-ENDS-

For further media information contact:

Angus Raine, CEO, Raine & Horne on 0409 920 697

Andrew Harrington, National Marketing & Communications Co-ordinator on 02 9258 5400