The Richardson & Wrench group is extending its orbit south of the Sydney metropolitan region opening a new office in the fast-growing Illawarra.
R&W Dapto has officially opened its doors on April 3, becoming the newest office in R&W’s rapidly expanding network of regional offices, and marking the return of R&W to the Illawarra after an absence of many years.
R&W Managing Director Andrew Cocks said the combination of Sydney’s growing population and housing affordability pressures were creating new opportunities for regional expansion, with Wollongong and surrounding suburbs feeling the Sydney-effect.
“Dapto is an important signing for us in an area that is set to increase its population by 50 per cent in the next five years,” said Mr Cocks. “Prices in the Illawarra have risen 40 per cent in the past four years and much of that can be attributed to the overflow from Sydney.
“With a train station, schools, strong community and about 90 minutes from Sydney, Dapto is ticking all the boxes for a lot of buyers priced out of the Sydney market or cashing out and taking a tree change.”
Mr Cocks said the conversion of MMJ Dapto to Richardson & Wrench positioned it to take advantage of the group’s network of metropolitan offices with increased opportunities for referral.
“Our franchise model with defined territories encourages a more collegiate culture,” said Mr Cocks. “There is a lot of referral between offices and this is a benefit not only for our franchisees but also their customers.
“The directors have built a very successful business that will be an asset to our network. They have close community ties and an excellent reputation in all fields of real estate and project marketing with a particularly strong property management business.”
R&W Dapto is headed by three directors Alan Chaffers, Bradd O’Brien and John Tisma, all long-standing Dapto locals.
Alan Chaffers, who founded the agency 28 years ago, said the ready availability of land suitable for residential development was the driving force behind Dapto’s growth.
“Currently Dapto has around 11,000 dwellings,” said Mr Chaffers. “In the next five years another 5000 homes will be built and a large portion of the buyers will be coming from Sydney’s west and south.
“The appeal is obvious. Dapto is not a lot further from the Sydney CBD than Camden, the freeway is less congested, there’s a train line and we’re only 15 minutes from the beach not an hour and 15. And for families with older children, Wollongong University is a major asset.
“We’re also seeing a lot of interest from Sutherland residents who are selling at the peak and buying an affordable home here and pocketing the difference or opting for acreage and a lifestyle change.
“Dapto is growing and with the move to R&W we plan to grow with it.”
House and land in new subdivisions in Dapto can still be picked up for under $650,000 and the resale market offers even better value. At the other end of the spectrum Bradd O’Brien has secured sales of $4 million plus trophy homes in the prized coastal suburbs from Kiama to Stanwell Park.
With a background in house design and construction John Tisma is R&W Dapto’s acreage and new home specialist.
R&W Dapto is located at 59 Princes Highway, Dapto, phone (02) 4261 3822.