First National Real Estate has announced that one of Wollongong’s leading women in real estate has rebranded and moved her business from Figtree to Wollongong’s CBD, in a move that cements an Illawarra family success story.

Principal of First National Real Estate Brailey Figtree, Leanne Brailey, has opened her new high-profile office at 345 Keira Street, Wollongong, rebranded as First National Real Estate Wollongong, and has exciting growth plans.

According to Ms Brailey, COVID-19 has led Australians to re-evaluate their work, lifestyles and real estate needs, so she has adapted her business plans to meet the changing needs of the Illawarra real estate market.

‘The Illawarra region is already the beneficiary of people leaving inner-Sydney for its lifestyle advantages but our local community’s needs are also changing rapidly’ says Ms Brailey.

‘Moving from Figtree and rebranding as First National Real Estate Wollongongis part of assuring not only that my agency’s growth trajectory continues, but that my team is best positioned to service the needs of customers who demographer, Bernard Salt has described as VESPAs (Virus Escapees Seeking Provincial Australia).

‘First National Wollongong will be driven by emerging marketing/data technologies that deliver the services that our market and its evolving demographics now demand’.

First National chief executive, Ray Ellis says Leanne Brailey is a woman who represents one of the industry’s great success stories.

‘Starting from her first real estate agency in a 30-square-metre shop in Figtree/Mangerton, Leanne became the first female licensee in the locality and remains Wollongong’s only local female auctioneer’ says Mr Ellis.

‘She carries forward the Brailey family’s substantial achievements in Illawarra commerce, which over time have incorporated ventures in babywear, transport, the Port Kembla Bond Stores, a petrol station and an accountancy firm’.

‘At the core of quality real estate services is First National Wollongong’s people and culture’ says Ms Brailey.

‘That doesn’t change, but emerging technologies mean big data now drives the way in which real estate agents target the right audiences for the Illawarra region and beyond. We will lead the market in this respect’ says Ms Brailey.

First National Real Estate has more than 320 offices throughout Australia, New Zealand, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia. In the Illawarra district and upper south coast, there are offices in Dapto, Shellharbour, Albion Park, Kiama, Gerringong, and Shoalhaven Heads.