Regional real estate office Raine & Horne Ayr is proving to be one of Queensland’s best performers, with its principal Carla Healy leading the way as the super brand’s Top Principal for Number of Sales Transactions and placing fourth for Top Principal Sales GCI.
Competing against Queensland’s city-based offices, Raine & Horne Ayr collected six awards in total at last month’s glittering 2025 Raine & Horne Queensland/Northern Rivers State Awards, held at The Star Brisbane.
Despite operating in a smaller regional market, Ms Healy and the Ayr office placed second for Top Office Regional Sales GCI, fourth for Top Office Number of Sales Transactions and 10th for Top Office GCI.
Ms Healy, a Burdekin local, also secured several individual sales honours, including Chairman’s Club Salesperson – Platinum (the highest level, awarded to only two principals in 2025), and first place for Top Principal Number of Sales Transactions.
Still hasn’t taken the former boss’s office
Ms Healy purchased Raine & Horne Ayr in June 2024 from Nora and Peter Andersen, having joined the business in 2015 as a sales agent, following a successful retail career. Over the last 22 months, she has led a remarkable transformation.
When she joined the real estate industry, Ms Healy business ownership wasn’t on her radar. "I always saw myself working with animals," she said.
Assuming the reins at the Ayr office- that rebranded to Raine & Horne in 2019 – was unexpected. “I had no training or experience in business ownership,” Ms Healy said.
“But I’m not a quitter, and real estate is what I love and think about day and night.”
Despite that realisation, the transition wasn’t without its challenges. “In the first week, I thought, ‘What were you thinking? You’re an agent. You’re not a business owner.”
But her inbuilt resilience proved pivotal. With each passing day, Ms Healy grew more confident in the role, settling into the demands of business ownership and leadership.
“I remember one day towards the end of 2024, driving to work, pulling up to the office, looking at it, walking in and going, ‘Yeah. I do love what I do. You do love what you do, Carla, and it’s only going to get better from here,” she said.
Ms Healy has now led the office to 10 state awards, while building a high-performing team and continuing her sales and client management work.
“I didn’t take the boss’s office as I still like I’m one of the sales team, just with a different title on my email footer,” she says. “It still doesn’t click to this day that I’m the Principal/Owner of Raine & Horne Ayr.”
Turning teamwork and hard work into state success
Ms Healy said the latest recognition was particularly rewarding, given the calibre of the competition, which includes her mentor, Michael Skuse from Raine & Horne Innisfail, who finished second in the Top Principal Number of Sales Transactions category.
“I knew we were in the running for a couple of awards, but I didn’t think we’d bring home six this year!” she said.
“We’re a small office. We’re in a small area, and we’re competing with other agents who are completing very big sales transactions, especially in Brisbane and Southeast Queensland. So, for our office to come 10th in the Top Office GCI is just a fantastic feeling.
“It also says everything about our team. My team is my family, and I’d be lost without them. They’re all brilliant at what they do.”
Ms Healy added, “It’s not about winning the race, but when you do win the race, it’s nice to know your hard work has paid off.”
Reflecting on her approach to running a small business, Ms Healy, who is also Ayr and Home Hill’s top-rated real estate agent on RateMyAgent for the second year running, and the Top Agent for Ayr, Home Hill and Brandon on realestate.com.au, said resilience, consistency and effort remain key.
“We just make sure that whatever we do, we do it 150 per cent, helping people fulfil their real estate dreams,” she said.
“You’re matching the right person to the right property. People entrust us to sell or buy their most valuable asset, their home. Seeing them all happy, that’s all the reward needed.”
Angus Raine, Executive Chairman of Raine & Horne, said Ms Healy’s rapid success highlights the strength of the group’s regional network.
“Carla’s achievements demonstrate that outstanding results are not defined by postcode, but by commitment, consistency and connection with the local community,” Mr Raine said.
“What she and her team have accomplished in such a short period is exceptional and reflects the calibre of talent across our regional offices.”
Looking ahead, Ms Healy remains focused on building momentum.
“We’ve just started. People often say to me, ‘take it easy’. But we’re in real estate, and we’ve got to keep powering on for our vendors and buyers, and doing what we’re doing,” she said.
This article was independently written and edited by Real Estate Today. © Real Estate Today 2026 – All Rights Reserved.
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