Real Estate Darwin: Top performing real estate agents in 2022

Data from previous sales and reviews have shown where each real estate in Darwin ranks, but do you agree? See the interactive list and have your say.

DARWIN’S leading real estate agents have already sold more than 1000 properties this year, according to realesate.com.au data.

With the property market heating up in the Top End, we have collated all the top 112 agents and how they have performed to date this year.

Derek Hart from Elders is the people’s real estate agent, with the most reviews of all agents in town.

His 142 reviews has gained him a popularity rating of 4.9, which rings true given his favourite part of the job is dealing with clients.

“I love meeting new people, helping people to achieve their end goals in buying or selling as it can be confusing and difficult for people at different stages of their lives,” eh said.

He said his clientele profiles in the market so far this year had been interesting.

“In previous years the high percentage of property sales where from local buyers however this year I have found a real difference that 50% of the sales are from down south buyers, 50% local buyers.

“I have found more investors are also coming into the market as well when this was a slow uptake in previous years and this has occurred as of record low interest rates, population increase, property values have increased, rental values have increased with huge demand and uptake of rental properties,” he said.

Mr Hart sold 34 Lakes Crescent in Marrara earlier this year for $760,000.

Elders Darwin real estate agent Derek Hart. Picture: Supplied.

Sascha Smithett.

Meanwhile Real Estate Central’s Sascha Smithett has the highest number of properties sold as lead agent, with 39 deals passing across her desk so far this year.

Ms Smithett said the property market in 2022 had differed slightly since the previous year.

“It continues to be a strong market with sales, a few adjustments have occurred since 2021 but regardless of market trends there are always people selling and buying,” she said.

Her top-selling property of the last six months was a five-bedroom Rapid Creek home, which sold for $1.585 million in May.

Call2View’s sales director Adam Hayes said the market this year has been “quite unusual”.

“The number of buyers through opens has declined however we are still selling quite well.

“It will be interesting to see what lays ahead with the looming interest rate rises on the horizon,” he said.

Call2View chief executive and sales director Adam Hayes. Picture: Che Chorley

The 20-year veteran agent has so far sold 34 properties this year, and enjoys the flexibility of his work the most.

“I do long hours but I must say I love having the flexibility to schedule appointments around my kids and family,” he said.

Mr Hayes’ top property sale so far in 2022 is a seven-bedroom Howard Springs house.

The sale made $1 million in February.

INDUSTRY BOSS’ STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH AGENTS

Real Estate Institute NT chief executive Aswin De Silva said he has a great relationship with all of the NT’s real estate agents and picking a favourite wouldn’t be fair.

“The quality (of agents) is pretty good compared with other jurisdictions,” he said,

“There’s a blend of experience and then young people who bring new ideas.”

Mr De Silva said the array of agents contributed to how well the industry was performing.

“It’s one of the reason that there is a robust and meaningful market, and one of the reasons the market has grown,” he said.

Aswin De Silva is the chief executive of Real Estate Institute NT.

“They’ve kept the market dynamic and tailored products and offerings to the consumer.”

While staff retention and interest rates were a challenge for the industry, Mr De Silva said the market was moving in a positive direction.

“The property market will remain buoyant at least in the short term,” he said.

“But it has to keep pace with infrastructure — it has to be in sync.”

Two recent changes will impact the industry going forward were interest rates an the removal of the state of health emergency by the NT government,

“The notification for end of a rental agreement came back to 42 days following the repealing of the emergency powers,” Mr De Silva said.

“There was a bit of imbalance that was taking place and now it will encourage landlords to get into the rental market,” he said.