One of the country's biggest real estate networks, LJ Hooker, has today launched a buyers agency in Sydney. Buyers agents are very popular in overseas markets like the US and the UK, but are still a niche in the Australian property market. By expanding its services to cater for buyers by purchasing property from all real estate brands, not exclusively with LJ Hooker, the group hopes to target more international clients.

According to its director Kiril Ruvinsky, high demand from overseas investors was the catalyst for the LJ Hooker Sydney Buyers Agency. “The idea for the new business developed quite organically, LJ Hooker has an international presence with offices situated across the globe in places like; New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, India, Papua New Guinea, Dubai and the US,” said Ruvinsky. “As such, each day we receive a high volume of referrals from these offices. These are buyers looking to purchase Australian property and invest in our strong real estate market. But as a company we couldn’t offer these clients any exclusive assistance and thus we found the opportunity for LJ Hooker Sydney Buyers Agency.”

LJ Hooker Head of Real Estate Christopher Mourd said many buyers are time poor and cannot invest the 100+ hours it can often take to find the perfect investment property.

Veteran buyer’s agent Hylton John will be part of the team, who will offer three tiers of service including a complete start to finish buying service, auction bidding on behalf of buyers and looking after the rest once a buyer has found a property themselves.

The Sydney-based office opens today at 9 Castlereagh St in the CBD.