L-R: Dean Zammit, Jessica Conte-Singh

 

Stone Real Estate continues to ramp up its expansion in Victoria, with the addition of a new franchise in Melbourne’s northern suburb of Whittlesea.

The new office opens today under the direction of Jessica Conte-Singh, who took over the agency in late 2021 alongside Dean Zammit, when it operated as Buckingham & Company. Conte-Singh and Zammit worked together for five years before purchasing the business together.

Conte-Singh, an area local who has spent 13 years in the industry, explained that it was clear from her first meeting with Stone Real Estate’s Head Of Franchising in Victoria, Ciaron Fitzpatrick, that their cultures were tightly aligned. “Stone was highly recommended to us for the innovative and modern technology it provides but also the unwavering support to business owners, staff and clients,” she said.

“The resources, marketing and technology that is available to agents will make us more effective and efficient and in turn, our clients will receive an uncompromised level of service.”

The Whittlesea area has, like many parts of the country, seen a dramatic increase in rental prices in recent years as the importance of being close to the city becomes less important for many. Conte-Singh sees this as a significant opportunity, while the sales have been very strong over the course of the past 12 months.

“The demand in Whittlesea for rentals has increased dramatically, making the market very competitive and in turn rent prices have soared. Meanwhile, the sales market has soared, with media property prices up 22.1% for houses and 51.5% for units in the past year. Wide open spaces and an increase in amenities will have the plenty road corridor growing for years to come,” she said.

For his part, Dean Zammit echoed the sentiment around Stone’s “cutting-edge technology and marketing techniques” that he said will greatly benefit his clients, in addition to having significant back end support. “Stone is a forward thinking company with sophisticated marketing and is highly focused on growth, three huge factors in our decision making process.

Zammit, who has racked up close to two decades in the industry, specialising in BDM, PM and sales, added: “This was not a decision we made lightly, being a younger business we naturally needed to think about longevity and relevance for years to come, Stone made the decision for us very easy in the end.”

Stone Real Estate Head Of Franchise, Luke Cameron, said he’s looking forward to seeing that number grow over the coming years. Continues the expansion of the boutique group in the state. “There’s no doubt that the high performance connotations of the Stone Real Estate brand continues to catch the eye of business owners around Victoria, as well as across the country. At Stone, we have built a brand that people associate with innovation and disruption in an industry that had become tired and complacent.

“It’s incredibly pleasing to continue to welcome business owners of the calibre of Jessica and Dean to our family, and I have no doubt that Stone Whittlesea will be able to take advantage of the opportunities in the area in years to come.”