The impressive resilience of the coastal property markets in Queensland, coupled with exceptional real estate expertise, has propelled Raine & Horne Port Douglas/Mossman in far north Queensland and Raine & Horne Gladstone to claim the top office honours at the 2024 Raine & Horne Queensland Awards for Excellence.

The spectacular event held at The Star Gold Coast was hosted by Duncan Armstrong, the renowned Olympic Gold Medallist and World Record holder, alongside Angus Raine, Executive Chairman of Raine & Horne. This exclusive event drew hundreds of the superbrand’s best principals, sales agents, property managers and administrative staff.  

The spotlight shone brightly on Raine & Horne Port Douglas/Mossman, led by Travis Schumacher, David Cotton and Jocelyn Schumacher, who secured the top spot in the prestigious Top Office - Sales Dollar Value category.

In an exciting twist, Raine & Horne Gladstone, under the experienced leadership of principal Mark Patton, turned the tables on its Far North Queensland-based rival to claim victory in the Top Office - Number of Sales Transactions category. Raine & Horne Port Douglas/Mossman, which is celebrating 15 years in the Raine & Horne network was also named the group’s Top Coastal Office -Sales Dollar Value in Queensland from Raine & Horne Pottsville/ Cabarita Beach and Raine & Horne Gladstone.

The two offices also made the podium for other awards, with Mr Cotton landing the Top Salesperson Highest Transaction award. Mr Schumacher and Mr Cotton also finished third and fourth in the Top Principal - Sales Dollar Value category behind winner Jamie Wilmen from Raine & Horne Pottsville/ Cabarita Beach. In the Top Salesperson Principal (Number of Sales) category Michael Skuse, Raine & Horne Innisfail scored first with Mr Wilmen in second. 

The Gladstone sales ace Stephen James was another individual star at the awards, winning the stunning quinella of Top Salesperson - Number of Sales Transactions and Top Salesperson - Number of Sales Transactions.  

Mr Patton was thrilled with Mr James’s efforts and the overall performance of his office. “The Raine & Horne brand has over 30 years of experience in Gladstone, and this longevity has contributed to our market strength,” Mr Patton said. 

“Coupled with the brand’s strength, we are successful because of our personnel on deck. Steven, for example, has been in the industry for nearly 20 years. He is a quiet achiever who presents himself as a leading specialist in the Gladstone real estate market.

“More importantly, Steven’s sales prices rarely come in below his list price. He knows the market back-to-front and has a long roster of repeat clients who know he will always deliver a premium result.”

Mr Patton further emphasised that his office thrives on a robust culture akin to a family business. “We also have strong community connections underlined by the fact that most of our staff are long-term residents of Gladstone.” 

Having joined Raine & Horne Gladstone in 2003 and later acquired the firm in 2007, Mr Patton said the success of his office is also closely tied to the Gladstone market. He highlighted the market’s buoyancy, attributing its buyer appeal to its affordability compared to Queensland's other regional and metropolitan markets. 

“We’re observing a notable influx of buyers from the southern states, many of whom are buying sight unseen. Residential housing has performed strongly over the previous 12 months with data revealing a median price increase of 11.1%. The median house price now sits at approximately $405,000 accompanied by average weekly rents of $450.

“The market is rising with renewed confidence and there is a generally positive outlook for the Gladstone region in the short to long term.”

Commenting on the success of Raine & Horne Port Douglas/Mossman, the winner of the Top Office - Number of Sales Transactions and Sales Dollar Value categories last year, Mr Schumacher attributes his office’s award-winning achievements to excellent team retention. “We’ve maintained the same sales team for a decade, and this stability is the cornerstone of our success.

“At Raine & Horne Port Douglas/Mossman, we prioritise our staff’s well-being, celebrating our successes together through events, Christmas parties, and participation in Raine & Horne conferences.” 

Despite Mr Schumacher and Mr Cotton remaining actively involved in sales, there is a clear delineation of roles. For instance, fellow director Jocelyn Schumacher is the Head of Property Management. “Having clearly defined roles, with Jocelyn overseeing property management, allows me to manage the sales team effectively, freeing David to focus on sales.”

Mr Schumacher stressed, “Since the launch of our office, we’ve consistently aimed for high rankings in the Raine & Horne Queensland Awards. These awards are a great benchmark, motivating us to strive for continued success.

“However, we’ve realised that once you attain top awards, the challenge shifts to maintaining that position. Therefore, this year’s result is exceptionally satisfying.”

The 2024 Raine & Horne Queensland Awards for Excellence winners include: 

Top Office (Dollar Value) – Raine & Horne Port Douglas/Mossman 
Top Office (Number of Sales) – Raine & Horne Gladstone
Top Salesperson Principal (Dollar Value) – Jamie Wilmen, Raine & Horne Pottsville/ Cabarita Beach 
Top Salesperson Principal (Number of Sales) – Michael Skuse, Raine & Horne Innisfail
Top Salesperson (Dollar Value) – Stephen James Raine & Horne Gladstone 
Top Salesperson (Number of Sales) – Stephen James Raine & Horne Gladstone 
Top Salesperson Highest Transaction – David Cotton, Raine & Horne Port Douglas/Mossman 
Top Commercial Office Dollar Value – Raine & Horne Commercial Brisbane North