Greg Brown - Director & Licensee - Dowling Property Medowie

With over two decades of experience and a career built on honest communication, I am proud to lead Dowling Property Medowie—an agency with a 40-year legacy in our community. My journey from a chance conversation on a golf course to becoming the Principal of this historic business has been defined by a commitment to treating every client’s property with the same high level of respect and care.

How did you start down this career path?

My entry into real estate was not something I set out to do from the beginning, but in many ways, it couldn’t have been more fitting. I was playing a round of golf with Steve Bowmaker, who at the time owned PRD Nationwide in Toukley. During that game, Steve suggested that he believed I would be well suited to a career in real estate. That conversation proved to be a turning point. I took his advice seriously, and before long I had stepped into the industry.

I was extremely fortunate in those early years to be surrounded by highly experienced and respected agents like Steve, including Kerri Grant, Dan Tabrett, Sarah Davis, Kim Jones and Lyn Barker. Being exposed to that level of professionalism so early gave me a strong foundation. I learned not just what to say, but when to say it, how to read people, and how to genuinely guide clients rather than simply “sell” to them. Within my first six months I had listed 16 properties, despite having the smallest prospecting area in the office. That early success reinforced that the fundamentals of hard work, honest communication and consistent follow up truly mattered.

From there, I moved offices to partner with Wendy McLeod, who at the time was the leading agent in Budgewoi. That partnership was a defining chapter in my career. Together, we achieved the milestone of listing 30 homes in 30 days. It was an intense, rewarding period that further shaped my approach to teamwork, systems and client care.
My final move brought me to Dowling Property Medowie, where I became a partner in the business and where my wife Kirstin and I are now the sole owners. Dowling Property Medowie is a 40+ year old agency, and I am only the second Principal to lead the business in that time. That history carries real responsibility. Being entrusted with a business of that legacy has never been something I have taken lightly, and it continues to drive how I operate today.

What inspires you in your role and in the industry? Why?

What inspires me most is the people I work with. The team environment we have built at Dowling Property Medowie is something I am incredibly proud of. No matter what is happening — professionally or personally — there is a genuine culture of support, respect and care. That sense of family is not manufactured; it is lived every day. Everyone looks out for one another, and that flows directly into how our clients are treated.

I am also inspired by the dedication our team shows to every single client, whether they are a vendor, purchaser, landlord or tenant. There is no hierarchy of importance. Everyone receives the same level of service, commitment and attention, and seeing that standard upheld is very rewarding.

Another major source of inspiration is mentoring. Being able to guide and support people in the early stages of their careers, such as Montana Olding and Amy Hillier, who are part of the current team at Dowling Property Medowie and this is something I find genuinely fulfilling. I have been very fortunate to learn from many outstanding professionals over more than two decades in the industry. Passing that knowledge on is, to me, is both a responsibility and a privilege. Experience only becomes valuable when it is shared, and helping others grow is one of the reasons I continue to love what I do.

What’s your approach to customer service that separates you from the rest?

One piece of advice has stayed with me from the very beginning: every client deserves the same level of service, regardless of the price point of their property. It does not matter whether a home is modest or prestige the process, care, and professionalism should never change. In many cases, a property represents the largest asset a person will ever own, and that deserves respect.

On the property management side, I have always said that it is the landlord’s house, but it is the tenant’s home. Both perspectives matter. When those two viewpoints are balanced properly, better outcomes are achieved for everyone.
Communication is at the core of our service culture. Wherever possible, we prioritise speaking directly with clients, either face to face or by phone before relying on email. That ensures clarity, builds relationships and avoids misunderstandings. We then follow up in writing to confirm what has been discussed. This approach is embedded across our office, and it is something clients consistently comment on and appreciate.

How do you innovate and stay ahead of industry trends?

Innovation, to me, is not just about technology — it is about relevance, visibility and community connection. One initiative I am particularly proud of was Dowling Property Medowie’s 40th birthday giveaway. Rather than simply celebrating internally, we wanted to give back to the community that has supported the business for over four decades.

We created a major promotion where participants could win a brand new Hyundai Venue as first prize and a solar system as the 2nd prize that was provided by Johan Kruger of ME Solar. Entries were available to anyone who had sold, bought, rented, leased, or even received a market update from us. In just three months, we had over 300 entries.

With the support of Klosters Hyundai and their Sales Manager Nikki Carter, we were able to drive the same model vehicle around town, fully branded with “WIN ME” signage, and park it outside our office in the local shopping village. It created conversation, excitement, and most importantly, genuine engagement. Campaigns like this allow us to stand out while reinforcing that we are part of the fabric of the community, not just operating within it.

What is the toughest challenge you’ve faced, and how did you overcome it?

One ongoing challenge that came with growth was space. As our team expanded, our office footprint simply wasn’t keeping up. Rather than immediately relocating, I put my creative thinking to work and designed a layout that allowed us to incorporate both a meeting room and an additional workspace within the same area.

Having grown up seeing plans drawn by my grandfather, who had a flair for architectural designing, which I had long been exposed to problem solving of different floor plans. That experience helped me approach the redesign practically and efficiently. Before long, however, we outgrew that solution too.

We then secured a second office just down the road, which enabled us to open a dedicated commercial office and position ourselves on two of Medowie’s main roads. This significantly increased exposure for our clients and diversified our service offering.

To further add value to our clients, we invited local builders Mark and Mel Levy from Hotondo Homes Port Stephens to join us in the new office. This created a place where buyers could explore land opportunities, house designs and build costs in one place. The collaboration has been extremely well received and continues to provide tangible value to clients of both businesses.

What are some of your goals for the next five years?

Looking ahead, a major personal goal is to continue contributing to projects that benefit the wider community. Being involved in sourcing the land for the Medowie Ambulance Station was one of the biggest highlights in my professional career that I’ve had to date, knowing it delivers long term value not just to Medowie but to Port Stephens as a whole.

I also want to work more closely with local developers to help guide the type of development Medowie needs, while preserving the meaning of Medowie being “Place of Tall Trees” which is what makes the area so unique.

“I want to continue mentoring new agents so the knowledge I have gained over more than 20 years does not stop with me. Building a business grounded in experience, knowledge, and guidance ensures that our clients benefit not just from one individual, but from the collective strength of an entire team.”

Finally, I hope to continue seeing our team recognised for their hard work. Over the past 12 months, they have adapted through significant change in the industry and achieved an extraordinary result as finalists in 17 awards at local, state and national level, and winners of 7 of these across all regions. For a small office in Medowie, that is a remarkable achievement, and one I am extremely proud of.