Bendigo’s property boom continues to go from strength to strength, with Stockdale & Leggo announcing the rapidly-expanding Victorian city as the site of its newest office by Conor Hosking, and sales manager Grant Hosking.

Launching the agency under the Stockdale & Leggo brand has been something of a homecoming for director Conor Hosking, and sales manager Grant Hosking who grew up in Bendigo and worked in the family nursery and landscaping business before relocating to Melbourne in 2010 and establishing finance firm Select Financial Services.

Grant Hosking said partnering with Stockdale & Leggo signified his determination to grow the business, built on his deep knowledge of the region having lived and worked in the area for 50 years. It was also a logical next step to expand and rebrand the long-established Select Property Group, - successfully helmed by Grant’s mother for 15 years - under the trusted  Stockdale & Leggo name.

“The agency also strongly aligns with our finance services arm, given a lot of our financial planning and advice to clients relates to property dealings and investment. In fact, I would often encourage clients to consider investing in regional areas, even prior to Covid. Not all them listened then, but they are certainly more interested now,” Mr Hosking said.

“We did a lot of homework in looking at various agencies to partner with, but it became apparent very quickly that Stockdale & Leggo was the best fit in terms of how our values align and the level of support they offer.

“And like our family, they also have a long history in Bendigo and were very keen to re-establish a presence in the region after a 10-year gap. Having the backing of a trusted brand who also shares that innate and intimate understanding of regional communities is crucial in establishing credibility and trust with clients.”

Mr Hosking said he was looking to expand his team to keep up with demand.

“It’s incredible. We have been selling properties within two days of listing. Within 10 minutes of listing we will get 20 inquiries and the property will typically sell even before the first open for inspection. It’s the same with the rental market, with 20 to 30 people applying for one property,” he said.

While the Melbourne exodus partly explained the boom, Mr Hosking said it was pleasing to see more first-time local buyers in the market.  

“Being aligned with the finance arm of Select Financial Services and having access to over 80 lending institutions with hundreds of loan products enables us to assist buyers in navigating the complexities of obtaining finance and purchasing their dream home,” he said.

“We pride ourselves on being a one stop shop and our friendly, customer outcome focus is a benefit to both vendors and purchasers.”

Stockdale & Leggo CEO Charlotte Pascoe said establishing an office in Bendigo further reinforced the company’s strong regional presence, and highlighted the company’s commitment to supporting regional development and delivering better outcomes for clients.

“Grant and his team personify everything the Stockdale & Leggo brand stands for – professionalism with a personal touch, as well as a deep understanding of the local market and the issues that are important to local families,” Ms Pascoe said.

“As a family-run local business, they recognise the importance of stability and a commitment to consistently go above and beyond to achieve the best outcomes for their clients.”