Will Hosking has been a volunteer lifesaver on the Northern Beaches for almost 20 years. So he is accustomed to working as part of a team to help save people who are all at sea – and that’s true of his professional life, too – though his workday world is more firmly planted on the ground!
Will is a Director of PMC Property Buyers, a team of property professionals helping locals navigate the riptides and undertows of buying property.
If you want to buy a new home or investment property, trawling through myriad online listings with price guides, POA (price on application) notifications, auction protocols, inspections and so on can quickly lead to brain fade, open home fatigue, a sense of despair and worst of all, missed opportunity.
While sellers and their agents have traditionally been well-organised with sophisticated marketing plans, multiple website listings, fancy brochures and a compelling vocabulary of persuasive adjectives, buyers have finally got a firm foot in the door, thanks to the growing number of Buyer’s Agents. Like PMC Property Buyers, based at 22 Darley Road, Manly.
A Buyer’s Agent has become an important part of finding a home in the highly competitive Northern Beaches market. It can also make a huge difference in the final price, as they can be brought in to manage the negotiation process too. (Manly Observer editor Kim Smee has used this service herself from PMC as a private customer and happily sings their praises from personal experience.)
The team at PMC Property Buyers, has not only witnessed but been significantly involved in the growth in popularity and importance of buyer’s agents here on the Northern Beaches.
What was the ‘lightbulb moment’ that led to creation of PMC?
“We felt there was a genuine lack of professional representation on the buy side of a real estate transaction. We witnessed too many Australians being taken advantage of by buying the wrong homes or investment properties and there was clearly a need for independent representation that protected buyers’ interests.
“So, in 2014, we formed PMC and today we have a team of experienced Buyers Agents not just in Sydney but also in Newcastle and Brisbane.”
Do you provide any other services in the property purchase journey e.g. legal, inspections, finance, etc?
“No. We work closely with our buyer’s team of representatives, namely conveyancer/lawyer, mortgage broker/bank, building and pest inspectors etc. However, we feel that all of these services should be independent so there is no conflict of interest.”
It is now estimated that up to one in every three residential transactions locally involves a buyer’s agent.
“And there are good reasons for that,” says Will, “because our aim is to make our clients the most informed and empowered buyers in the marketplace, which in turn alleviates the stress, time and risk associated with such a large and high-pressured financial decision.”
A unique aspect of PMC’s approach is working with clients to ensure they are targeting properties which are ideally suited to their current and planned lifestyle.
“We always challenge a client’s thinking to ensure they don’t act out of fear or frustration to buy the wrong property for the wrong reasons!” Will says.
PMC Property Buyers charges a fee, of course, and in return provides great value and potential savings through their intimate local market knowledge, access to off-market/pre-market opportunities, and skills in navigating the valuation, negotiation and purchase process.
“By being local area specialists, we have strong agent relationships which enable us to gain access to off market and pre-market properties. Practically, that means as a team we are making in excess of 100 calls per week to local agents to discuss what they have coming up for sale or currently off market.”
Of course it is vital that buyers are well-prepared before they enter the market.
Here are Will’s top tips for anyone looking to buy in Manly or the Northern Beaches (or any other area for that matter!):
- Be clear around your brief (a lack of clarity causes delays, confusion and missed opportunities)
- Make sure your brief is realistic and achievable based on your budget
- Have your finance (pre-approval) all in order
- Get out and about to educate yourself on the market
- If you don’t have a deep level of knowledge around your target market, partner with an experienced and reputable Buyers Agent with a proven track record. They will be able to support you with their knowledge, give you access to more opportunities off market and pre-market and take the lead on the negotiations for you
(8 people – The whole BA team in Sydney)
PMC Property Buyers are long-standing members of the peak industry body, the Real Estate Buyers Agent Association (REBAA), which has a strict code of conduct and ethics – an essential qualification for any reputable and trusted buyer’s agent.
The team at PMC have helped hundreds of locals – and they are more than happy to be judged by those clients via their independent Google reviews which are well worth a read here: PMC Property Buyers Google Reviews.
So what is the outlook for the real estate market in Manly and surrounds?
“We believe we are currently in a healthy, balanced market,” Will says.
“There are signs that we should experience an increase in stock throughout spring which would be welcomed as we have experienced very low stock levels throughout the winter months. Regardless, there is an ongoing shortage of good quality, A grade properties.
“It is largely expected that interest rates will be cut in late 2024 or early 2025. If this materialises, we expect this to further stimulate the market and buyer activity.”
If you want a top-notch professional real estate buyer by your side on the path to purchase a new home, contact the friendly team at PMC Property Buyers:
(02) 9017 0385
Suite 30, Level 4, 22 Darley Rd, Manly NSW 2095
Article sponsorship going once, going twice – congratulations to PMC Property Buyers for supporting local news!
