Linda Johnson and Michelle Tucker both had diverse careers before before combining their passions for property investment and property management in their Central Coast agency Spring Buyers Agency and Spring Property Management.
| CAN YOU PLEASE TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS?
We are a premier buyer’s agency, as well as a boutique property management agency, servicing the Central Coast, Lake Macquarie and Newcastle regions in New South Wales.
We are independent and exclusive, offering a range of property services to a variety of residential property buyers including owneroccupiers, investors, upsizers, downsizers, holiday homers, first home buyers, expats, and those utilising self-managed Superannuation funds.
Spring Buyer’s Agency was founded in an effort to make a measurable difference for buyers; through seamless navigation of the market, unbiased property advice and the intention to make industry support accessible for all buyers, from first home buyers through to multi-million-dollar property seekers. Our priority is locating and leveraging the best properties, at the best prices, with the best terms for our clients.
Spring Property Management was designed to enhance our property buying services, as well as support other landlords in our service regions, in growing and effectively managing their property portfolios, whether it include one or many.
Our capabilities support each stage of the property investment lifecycle; from acquisition and management, through to portfolio growth and/or divestment. In short, we connect people with their property and lifestyle goals!
| HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A PROPERTY INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL AND WHAT WAS YOUR PATHWAY INTO THE PROFESSION?
Michelle and I are the Founders and Directors of Spring and have over 40 years’ combined experience across the real estate industry. We have operated in fluctuating markets, across various roles and senior leadership positions within most segments of the industry.
Michelle’s real estate career commenced later in life following the sale of her successful retail business which she created and operated for over five years. Prior to this, her early years in the workforce were spent travelling the world and working as a flight attendant for Ansett Australia.
After having her three children, Michelle fell into real estate in 2007, as a casual receptionist, not realising at the time where this career path would lead. She quickly discovered her passion for real estate and spent almost a decade with LJ Hooker Terrigal, one of the company’s leading offices, focused on marketing and selling highend property.
Following this, she was a founding member and part of the senior leadership team at Central Real Property Development. Michelle’s influence in brand creation, market positioning and successful marketing of luxury apartments contributed to positioning Central Real as one of the most recognisable property developers on the Central Coast. More recently, as Head of Projects for McGrath Central Coast, Michelle managed the marketing and sales process for all medium to large scale off-plan development projects.
Like Michelle, I also fell into the real estate industry. My background was originally in the beauty industry. I trained at the Ella Bache College and went to work as a beauty therapist in a salon, eventually became the NSW Business Manager for Ella Bache and then opened my own salon.
During that time, I also reeducated to broaden my knowledge and skill base, which led me to senior administrative roles in the motor and finance industries.
I relocated to Sydney, where a friend introduced me to her boss – the principal of one of the leading real estate offices in NSW at that time. As fate would have it, I then began my real estate career in residential sales and was fortunate to be mentored by an industry leader.
I spent over 10 years as a residential selling agent in Bondi Beach and regional NSW. I achieved a Master of Business Administration (MBA), then promoted to senior leadership positions functioning as Director of Operations with Raine & Horne Bondi Beach, where as part of my role, pioneered and managed the Property Management and ShortTerm Rental divisions. Next, I progressed to Head of Residential Sales with LJ Hooker Lower North Shore (NKA. Ray White), and most recently General Manager with the Australian operation of LINK Business, the largest business brokerage firm in the world.
Michelle and I met in 2008 as selling agents. Whilst our careers lead us on different paths, our friendship has stood the test of time and we always knew we were destined to join forces in business one day.
Spring Buyers Agency was founded April 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and sparked by a pinnacle conversation, regarding our respective experiences with assisting people to buy property at that time.
As selling agents, we witnessed first-hand the frustration, disappointment and challenges property buyers face and the lack of un-biased, professional assistance available to them.
Property management was always in our medium-term plan, however, a year later due to demand from our investor clients and finding the right people to join our team, Spring Property Management was born.
| WHAT ARE SOME OF THE REASONS WHY YOU JOINED PIPA?
We feel it’s important to be part of industry-related organisations that are relevant to the services we provide. PIPA is very relevant to the property investment arm of our business, and we want to ensure we are equipped with up to date information, support, and resources to best service our clients.
Purchasing an investment property requires a very different skill set to purchasing a home to live in. Being a member of PIPA, differentiates our business by demonstrating our experience and diverse capabilities.
Being a member also adds a sense of trust and credibility for clients to see the association, as there are service standards and a level of ethics.
| YOUR BUSINESS, SPRING PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, OFFERS BOUTIQUE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND BUYERS’ AGENCY SERVICES FOR THE CENTRAL COAST ANDLAKE MACQUARIE AREAS. WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS AND CHALLENGES OVER RECENT TIMES FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM?
There have been so many highlights in relation to our client property journeys. So many amazing stories we have had the privilege to share and continue to be part of.
Another highlight has been recognised as finalists in the REINSW Awards for Excellence 2022.
We were also invited to participate as panellists for the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Association (REBAA) conference.
Our main challenge is lack of awareness and understanding of our profession as buyer’s agents, not only among the public but also other industry professionals. Our profession is more mature in other countries such as America and Europe. Although buyer’s agents have been operating in Australia for over 20 years, exposure has mainly been in capital cities.
The process of buying property can be highly under-estimated. Most buyers only buy property once or twice in a lifetime and there are many common pitfalls, which can lead to costly mistakes and other enduring implications.
Buying property is becoming increasingly more complex and competitive, with vendors professionally represented by selling agents and buyers generally left to their own devices.
We are very excited to be part of a growing profession that compliments the property sales and investment process.
| IT’S WONDERFUL TO HAVE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONALS AS MEMBERS OF PIPA. WHY DO YOU THINK MORE PEOPLE WITHIN THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SECTOR SHOULD JOIN THE ASSOCIATION?
We believe that any real estate professional providing advice in relation to property and investment should be part of a leading industry body, to remain educated and connected. The professional network you build and wealth of experience you have access to is priceless.
There is often some stigma in relation to industry organisations, however, we believe you choose the level of involvement and interaction you feel comfortable with.
Participation should be about ways to add value to the group and create positive exposure, no other agenda. We have met some incredible professionals and created business opportunities through being active members.
| WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOUR BUSINESS IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS AND BEYOND?
We have a 10-year plan, which includes solidifying our position on the Central Coast by purchasing a commercial space and then scaling our business and opening in new strategic locations along the east coast of Australia.
We are passionate about keynote speaking engagements; to continue educating about our profession and the value we add to support buyers, investors, selling agents and other key property stakeholders.
Another keen initiative is to grow and diversify our own property portfolio and we will continue to grow our rent roll and build our team of professionals…. and who knows what other doors to opportunity unlock. We are very excited about the future!
Margaret Lomas is a stalwart of the property investment sector as well as one of the founding members of PIPA. She looks back on how the industry and the association have changed over the years.
We strive to bring accountability, ethics, and education to the property investment industry.
PIPA exists to improve the professional standards of anyone providing property investment advice to consumers. Our voluntary Code of Conduct means that members adhere to a high set of professional standards to help protect consumers. Qualified Property Investment Advisers (QPIAs®) have the highest form of industry-recognised, specialist training and can be trusted to provide tailored and unbiased advice to consumers.
PIPA also regularly produces research, analysis, and publications to help educate our members, media, and consumers about the property investment sector.
By signing up for our newsletter, you will gain access to two of our most valued resources – the Annual Investor Sentiment Survey report and the quarterly PIPA Adviser e-magazine.
2023 Investor Sentiment Survey
The Annual PIPA Investor Sentiment Survey is a rare snapshot of the buying intentions of property investors.
PIPA Adviser Magazine
The PIPA Adviser provides the latest research on market conditions, including forecasts for next year.
