Locations Wanaka Business News Release

The directors of Locations Wanaka are acquiring the trading company operating as First National Wanaka in a move that will position Locations as Wanaka’s primary real estate provider.

Locations Wanaka has had a presence in the area for ten years and the amalgamation will boost its number of sales consultants to 17, or approximately 25% of the lakeside resort’s overall real estate sales force.

Locations Realty managing principal Stacy Coburn said the agreement came into effect in June and the changeover would be complete by the end of the month with eight new staff moving into the Locations Wanaka office on the corner of Helwick and Dunmore streets.

“We bring strong on the ground, local knowledge and experience within the residential, commercial, rural and business segments to Wanaka and we’re fully attuned to our market,” Mr Coburn said.

“We’ve thought long and hard about what the consumer wants and requires from their property specialist, and the Locations banner group has identified local context, advice and ‘know-how’ as key areas in which we know we deliver.

“We’re continuously refining our services to deliver to what is an increasingly consumer–behaviour driven industry, as part of which we’ve invested in international-standard online and social media systems and channels backed up by future-focused processes and support.”

Mr Coburn said the expansion was an extremely positive business development following on from new franchise ownership of the Wanaka office 12 months ago.

“We’re locally owned and operated so we’re bucking the national trend of larger corporate real estate agencies taking over smaller independents, but we’re confident we’ve created an economically sustainable business model by bringing the sales intellect and network of contacts held by these new realtors under the Locations banner.”

“We know the current demands and future opportunities in this market, so the motivation behind this move has been to bring more resources and a more powerful sales focus and market reach to Wanaka vendors and buyers, backed up by support from the franchisor just over the hill in Queenstown.”

Locations Realty Background Information:
Locations Realty has offices in Queenstown, Wanaka, Invercargill and Riverton.
The Locations headquarters is in Queenstown where the two franchise directors are managing principals Greg Ross, a 30-year real estate veteran, along with current business partner Stacy Coburn.
Locations was founded in 1990 and has been the brand behind some of Queenstown’s largest commercial and residential development project sales.
The Locations Realty highly experienced executive management duo are progressively building a team with relevant expertise in real estate acquisition, development and management to underpin further expansion as market opportunities allow.