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Savills will launch a new prestige residential valuation and advisory division following a strategic acquisition, as upper-quartile dwelling prices are forecast to grow in 2026.
Savills has acquired specialist residential valuation and buyer’s agency Pontons, forming a new division to bolster its offerings.
The firm said that Pontons will bring strong credentials in prestige homes and apartments, as well as complex development sites, with a confidential client list of high-net-worth individuals.
Savills’ new prestige residential valuation and advisory division will be led by directors Paul Donovan, Andrew Parkinson, and Andrew Tunbridge, and supported by Pontons’ team of nine staff, including seven valuers.
The commercial firm said Donovan, who had owned Pontons since 2003, was a leading specialist in prestige residential valuations and advisory services for banks, law firms, and private clients.
“With over 30 years’ experience, his work spans some of the most prolific prestige estates and complex residential assets in Australia,” it said.
Donovan said integrating Pontons into the Savills team will bolster its Australian residential arm and strengthen its market footprint, delivering significant benefits to clients.
“Supported by our dedicated and highly experienced team, in some ways, it is business as usual, and we will continue to operate as boutique residential specialists,” Donovan said.
“But moving forward, we are backed by a global platform with the benefit of broader market insight through Savills.”
Savills said Pontons’ other director, Parkinson, brought more than 30 years of experience across transactions, development, valuations and asset and investment management in Australia and the UK.
Parkinson will continue to specialise in prestige residential valuations, buyers’ advocacy, and project development advisory.
Additionally, Savills said that with over 25 years of experience, Tunbridge would continue to be an asset in prestige residential valuations, including boutique development sites, and provide buyer advisory services across a variety of market sectors.
The rest of the Pontons team will also join the company, including Harley Grist, Andrew Proctor, Carly Jones, Luca Simms, William Lohan, and Danielle McNamara.
Savills said the acquisition came as upper-quartile house prices across combined capital cities were forecast to grow by 5.0 per cent year-on-year in 2026.
According to Oxford Economics, upper-quartile unit values are expected to rise slightly faster at 5.9 per cent.
Savills national head of valuation and advisory, Joe Phegan, said Pontons brought deep residential knowledge along with trusted client relationships.
“This acquisition unlocks new services for our clients, especially those with interests in prestige and complex residential markets,” he said.
Savills CEO for Australia and New Zealand, Paul Roberts, said the acquisition reinforced the firm’s commitment to sector-led expertise and specialist advisory services.
“Residential markets remain buoyant, attracting significant interest from global markets, and are a core part of our strategic focus in Australia alongside our roots in commercial agency,” he concluded.
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