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The boutique national network has expanded its operations into the Sunshine State’s fifth largest city, Cairns.
Upside Realty’s arrival into the city, dubbed the “gateway to the Great Barrier Reef”, is the latest string added to the group’s expansion bow, which has seen the agency recently plant its flag in prominent regional hubs such as NSW’s south coast and Forbes, as well as Toowoomba.
Describing Cairns as “vibrant,” James Kirkland, Upside Realty’s director of sales, explained “this move is a strategic response to the significant regional migration from southern states”.
According to data from demographics database .id, between 2016 and 2021, around 37,000 people arrived in town from other pockets of the country. Recently, the Regional Movers Index (RMI) for the Regional Australia Institute (RAI), which covers the March quarter, found Cairns possessed approximately 2 per cent share of Australia’s total net internal migration.
Mr Kirkland believes this growing trend of regional movement, which has benefited Cairns and similar markets, is due to a growing desire for more space initially born during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“More and more Australians are seeking a lifestyle change, moving away from densely populated cities to regional areas that offer an outstanding balance of lifestyle, affordability, and opportunity,” he said.
He believes Cairns’ “tropical climate, stunning landscapes, and growing economy” are the primary drivers of the region’s attractiveness to new residents.
According to the RMI covering the last three months of 2022, Cairns reported a 179 per cent increase in the number of capital city residents moving into its warmer borders.
Michael Oxford and Dean Gray are set to front Upside Realty’s Cairns operations. Mr Kirkland heralded both men as “exceptional agents”. Collectively, the pairs bring 24 years of real estate experience to the table.
He noted Mr Oxford’s “dedication and commitment” before celebrating the former Cairns Beaches Realty agent as someone who “consistently goes above and beyond to meet his clients’ needs”.
“Dean, with his extensive experience and deep understanding of the local market, has a proven track record of delivering exceptional results for his clients,” he added.
Over the past decade, properties in Cairns have experienced price growth of approximately 47.7 per cent, with supply constraints and rising migration ensuring the market remains relatively buoyant even in the face of rising interest rates.
Mr Kirkland was adamant the network is “eager to positively impact the Cairns property market in this exciting new chapter”.
He concluded Mr Oxford and Mr Gray’s local expertise, in unison with the network’s national reach, will allow Upside Realty to “connect local and interstate buyers, enhancing opportunities for sellers”.
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