Harcourts Coast & Lifestyle opens fourth office at Grantville

Harcourts Coast & Lifestyle has opened an office in Grantville, taking the business owned by directors Jason and Stephanie Dowler to four offices and extending its presence across the Westernport Bay and Bass Coast regions.

The Grantville office joins the group's existing offices in Frankston, Balnarring and Hastings, and will provide a local base for the team across the Bass Coast, Harcourts said on 5 November.

Mr Dowler pointed to price growth and infrastructure as the reasons for the move. "The capital growth this region has experienced, combined with its improving infrastructure, made this an opportunity we couldn't pass up," he said.

Adam Fiteni, chief executive of Harcourts Victoria, said: "Harcourts Coast & Lifestyle has demonstrated consistent excellence across its existing offices, and this expansion into Grantville is a testament to Jason and Stephanie's vision and commitment to the brand."

Rather than adding agents to its existing offices, the business is extending into a neighbouring region from a base it already has on Westernport Bay, which lets the Grantville office draw on the group's established team and local profile.

It also comes at a demanding time for Victorian principals. The state has introduced new rules on reserve prices at auction, and Melbourne auction volumes fell by a third in the first week under those rules. The Reserve Bank lifted the cash rate again this week.

Ms Dowler said the new office would allow the business to extend its reach while keeping the service its clients expect. "The Bass Coast is an exciting region, with a lot to offer both residents and those looking to make a move," she said.

Harcourts has been adding offices in several states this year, including Harcourts Property Centre in Brisbane's New Farm and Harcourts Coastline on Tasmania's north-west coast.