McGrath Estate Agents today announced it has opened a new office in Coolum to be headed by  longstanding McGrath Principals Chris Pace and Damien Michael, who joined the group in 2013 when they opened the Buderim office, and later in Mooloolaba in 2016. 

Chris Mourd, Head of Franchise for McGrath, said he regarded this expansion as timely and a reflection of  their focus and success in such an important lifestyle and growth market. Mr Mourd points to the recently  released Knight Frank Wealth Report*, that gives a perspective on prime residential property and investment around the world. The Report identifies the Sunshine Coast as one of ten hottest housing markets globally. 

“Importantly we have seen how both Chris and Damien have expanded their business footprint and continue to immerse themselves and invest in the local community. They are well-liked and respected and have built a wonderful culture within their operation. We are proud to have them as franchise partners and have watched them build great businesses with integrity during their 12 years at McGrath,” said Mr Mourd. 

McGrath Coolum will service the area from Coolum Beach in the north to Twin Waters in the south, to Yandina and Maroochy River in the west. Key suburbs will be Coolum Beach, Yaroomba, Twin Waters, Mudjimba and Mount Coolum. 

Coolum is renowned for its relaxed, beach-driven lifestyle, and is popular with families seeking a laid-back coastal atmosphere. It is centrally positioned on the Sunshine Coast, just a 13-minute drive to Sunshine Coast Airport, making it ideally located for those who wish to commute. 

Principal Chris Pace explains that the market has witnessed good price growth of 7.2% in the 12 months to November 2024 according to CoreLogic data; with a median house sale price of $1.37 million. 

“Coolum Beach and its neighbouring suburbs continue to experience strong growth in population and property values. The area's appealing coastal lifestyle, combined with proximity to the Sunshine Coast airport and South-East Queensland’s significant growth post-Covid, positions it as an attractive location for residents and investors alike.” 

Principal Damien Michael adds, “The Coolum region is renowned for its stretch of patrolled beaches, ideal for swimming and surfing not to mention one of the Sunshine Coast’s greatest icons – Mt Coolum. The area has also seen significant spikes in property values with the median price of homes rising from $950,000 in 2020 to now be sitting at almost $1,365,000. Similarly, the local unit market has also risen sharply from $600,000 to $965,000 in the past 5 years.”

McGrath Coolum Principals, both proud Sunshine Coast locals, will lead a local sales team of four; Daniel Powers, Rohan Molineux, Vicky Dinsmore and Daniel Gabrielli, boosting the group’s sales team to 29, in their three-office network. 

Both Chris Pace and Damien Michael have strong family ties and share a deep passion for supporting, leading and growing their teams, creating that important culture that transcends throughout their business operation.  They continue to be long term supporters of various sporting clubs including Sunshine Coast Netball, Maroochydore Hockey Club, Headland Golf Club and the Maroochydore Roos AFL club. 

Highly respected within the McGrath network, Chris and Damien were recipients of the Outstanding Sales Leadership Award in 2024. Together they have over 40 years’ experience with a deep knowledge of the local property market. 

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