Gold Coast real estate agent Ben Williams is well-experienced in negotiating multi-million-dollar and record sales, but it was the personal story behind the second auction of the day recently that made the greatest impression.

“The winning bid came from Jillian O’Reilly who came to Queensland to visit her family in 2020,” Mr Williams explained. “She got stuck here when the borders closed during COVID.

“After two years of not being able to return to Melbourne, she decided to sell her property there and buy a home near her Ashmore family. After searching for months and losing out to other buyers, finally her dreams came true, and I felt privileged to play a part in that.

“She now has a place to call her own and start rebuilding her life in beautiful Queensland. With all the sadness around us – through floods, war, COVID – that auction was a good news story that made our hearts warm and fuzzy, and a fantastic result for both seller and buyer.”

Mr Williams worked with RE/MAX auctioneer Dene Tucker to deliver the deceased estate at Hart Street, Ashmore into the hands of the new owner for $470,000.

Another suburb record tumbled in the hands of Mr Williams from RE/MAX Regency with 2 Penguin Parade, Burleigh Waters selling prior to auction for $2.5 million, a record price for a three-bedroom single level home.

“A number of downsizing sellers are taking advantage of hot markets in Mermaid Beach and Burleigh, and taking their properties to auction,” said Mr Williams, who recently received the special honour of being inducted into the RE/MAX International Hall of Fame.

This is an international honour belonging to an elite group whose members have generated more than $1million USD in gross commission. Hall of Fame induction can happen just once in a sales associate’s career, with them remaining a member for life.

In RE/MAX Australia’s recent annual awards announcements, RE/MAX Regency claimed the Top Office Award for gross settled commissions in 2021 and placed second for transactions settled in that year.