A new office on NSW’s North Coast led by an experienced couple will service a beachside community increasingly popular among retirees and younger buyers.
McGrath Estate Agents has announced the opening of a new office in the beachside community of Iluka, to be followed by an agency in Yamba.
Both offices will be led by principal Lauren Ford, joined by sales agent and partner Andrew Ford, with the pair servicing the Clarence Valley market.
The move followed the network’s expansion across key areas including Coffs Coast, Tweed Coast, and Byron Bay.
Lauren Ford said, despite being a nationally recognised brand, the core of the business remained firmly local.
“As a family team, we share a passion for customer service and for helping people achieve their property goals,” she said.
McGrath Estate Agents head of franchise, Chris Mourd, said the pair had built a reputation based on trust, professionalism and deep local market knowledge, making them a natural fit for the network.
“They are deeply integrated into the fabric of the region with a genuine commitment to supporting the people and businesses that make these communities so special,” he said.
According to Ford, the shift to McGrath enabled a higher level of service and exposure for clients, while maintaining a personal touch.
“Our focus is on the coastal communities, including where we have established strong relationships and extensive market experience,” she said.
“These locations continue to experience strong buyer demand due to their unique combination of coastal lifestyle, natural beauty, and community appeal.”
She said that as the business grew, the pair planned to expand further throughout Clarence Valley, bringing the McGrath brand to the communities across the region.
According to the network, the presence of retiree buyers in Iluka provided a degree of market stability, with many being cash buyers and are less affected by interest rate movements.
A younger demographic has also entered the community following the sale of a new development, attracting young families and first-home buyers with relatively affordable pricing.
Ford said Iluka was a somewhat shielded market due to limited housing supply and constrained future growth.
“Being surrounded by national parks and rainforests means there is very little opportunity for significant expansion, which helps maintain strong demand,” she said.
“Over the past few years, despite a number of interest rate increases, the Iluka market has remained relatively resilient compared with many surrounding areas, including Yamba.”
Ford said buyers in Iluka had become more considerate in their purchasing decisions over the past few months, with well-priced properties attracting strong interest and selling relatively quickly.
“Conversely, overpriced properties, particularly those above the $1 million price point, generally spend longer on the market.”
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