Ray White Mackay City survives tough times in property

RAY White Mackay City owner Chris Laval has experienced the region’s peaks and troughs.

ACHIEVEMENT: Ray White Mackay City owner Chris Laval with Toni Wales at the office. Picture: Louise Starkey

RAY White Mackay City owner Chris Laval has experienced the region's peaks and troughs.

This year, he celebrated a decade of business in Mackay.

Determination and adaptiveness were the secrets to success, he said.

He moved to Mackay with his wife and children 10 years ago to single-handedly open the business.

He discovered his passion for real estate through buying, selling and investing in property of his own and now employs a staff of 12 at the CBD premises.

"I started from scratch when I first opened. The business had zero employees," he said. "I then had one salesperson, then another and then another."

"There have been a few challenges the last few years.

"The biggest problem was the town grew too quick from 2004 to 2008 and everyone jumped in to get a piece of the action."

Ray White offices in Moranbah, Northern Beaches and Mackay (Evans Ave) have shut in recent times.

However, Chris Laval's Ray White Mackay City and Kent and Lesley Street's Ray White Rural Sarina are still open.

Ray White Queensland CEO Tony Warland said the three closures were due to economic conditions.

"(The) conditions in the region have challenged many businesses in recent times," he said. "Unfortunately this is nothing new to the local community."

Originally published as Ray White Mackay City survives tough times in property