Noosa’s incredible women real estate agents share their passion, goals
From careers in marketing to industry veterans, the Noosa real estate scene has attracted women from many walks of life. Read about the women making a name for themselves.
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From industry experience in Hong Kong, to careers in marketing, to those who have loved it from the start of their careers, Noosa’s female real estate agents have spoken passionately about their drive for matching people with homes and getting the best price for their sellers.
Meet some of the women who fuel the real estate industry in the Noosa region.
Francene Gage, Zinc Properties Noosa
Years in industry: Since the early 90s
Highest sale in past 12 months: $4.7m
Ms Gage’s family started Ken Guy Real Estate on the Sunshine Coast and her father worked in development, which gave her a taste of the real estate industry before she completed a business degree.
She travelled overseas and became a real estate agent in Hong Kong before moving back to the Noosa region in 2016.
She bought Zinc after working at the agency for some time.
“I like meeting people, love meeting different people and I really like matching the right people with the right house,” Ms Gage said.
Monique Sommer, Reed and Co Estate Agents Noosa
Years in industry: Six
Highest sale in the past 12 months: $4.8m
Ms Sommer said she had a “big” marketing career before she turned to the real estate industry.
“I was smitten with real estate from the moment I bought my first home,” she said.
Ms Sommer said she enjoyed being an agent because she liked helping people make the right choices over their home sale or purchase.
“My family and providing for them in this beautiful town also drives me,” she said.
Georgia Scharer, McGrath Estate Agents Noosa
Years in industry: 10, with seven years in sales
Highest sale in past 12 months: $1.65m
Ms Scharer, 27, started in the real estate industry in 2012 before becoming an agent in 2016.
She is also about to gain her auctioneer licence, making her one of only a few women auctioneers in Noosa.
Ms Scharer previously told the Sunshine Coast Daily she was most proud of her career given her rough upbringing and her parents dying at a young age.
“I went to 33 schools,” Ms Scharer said.
“There were many options for me to go down and not do well, but I’ve kept going and I’ve done it on my own.”
Lisa McKenzie, Century 21 Conolly Hay Group Noosa
Years in the industry: Two
Highest sale in past 12 months: $20m
Ms McKenzie said being a real estate agent was a little like being a psychologist.
“You’re helping people through really emotional transactions, I really enjoy helping people like that,” she said.
The third-generation Noosa local said she knew a lot of people who she went to school with and her parents’ friends and her goal was to help them have a “really nice” real estate experience.
She said transactions did not always work out but most of the time they did and she felt privileged to help people navigate sales.
Rachel Sellman, Century 21 Conolly Hay Group Noosa
Years in the industry: Eight in sales, 14 total
Highest sale in past 12 months: $12.5m
Ms Sellman said her family were builders and developers so it came naturally that she was interested in real estate.
She was “heavily encouraged” to get into sales and said she had zero regrets about the move eight years ago.
“I’m a mum of one and he’s about to turn two so what’s also wonderful is I can balance both motherhood and work because it’s such a flexible industry,” Ms Sellman said.
Kate Cox, Reed and Co Estate Agents Noosa
Years in industry: 13
Highest sale in past 12 months: $4.35m
At 13 years in the industry, Ms Cox is a real estate veteran who said it was a good industry for a woman.
She started in real estate at 43 years old, and said she could work until 80 if she wanted.
Ms Cox said as an agent in Noosa Heads, she met people from all walks of life.
“I love the challenge and every property and every person I deal with is different,” she said.
“It keeps you alive, sharp and it’s interesting.”
Caroline Schleppegrell, Century 21 Conolly Hay Group Noosa
Years in industry: Six, a year in sales
Highest sale in past 12 months: $4.2m
Ms Schleppegrell said for her it did not matter about the amount of of money in a real estate transaction, it was about who was going on a buying and selling journey with her.
Her first year of her sales career took place during the Covid-19 pandemic when some buyers were buying properties “sight unseen” and had to place their trust in the real estate agent looking after them.
“Rather than just a transaction, it’s all the emotions and all the ups and downs that go with it,” Ms Schleppegrell said.
She said it was great to have other women in her office.
“It’s a fantastic team, the fact we have so many women in the office is great because we always have someone to talk to,” Ms Schleppegrell said.
“We’ve got a great team of women and men.”
Michelle van der Splinter, Century 21 Conolly Hay Group Noosa
Years in the industry: 22
Largest sale in the past 12 months: $5.4m
Ms van der Splinter said she loved helping people, and the people of the real estate industry.
She said a lot of her clients were repeat clients or referrals and she was selling a Noosa property for the third time.
“Some clients have become friends as well,” Ms van der Splinter said.
She said she enjoyed the adrenaline rush that came with the negotiation and liked connecting people with properties.
“And getting the best price for my seller,” Ms van der Splinter said.
Theodora Garwood, Garwoods Estate Agents Noosa
Years in the industry: 20
Largest sale in the past 12 months: $1.685m
Ms Garwood, who has worked with her husband David since 2006, came in at number one for the Rate My Agent award in Noosaville last year and is in the running for the award again this year.
Ms Garwood has been described as a remarkable salesperson with excellent sales skills by the award co-founder.
She and her husband opened their own agency, Garwoods Estate Agents Noosa, in 2017.
Rebekah Offermann, Tom Offermann Real Estate
Years in the industry: Eight
Biggest sale in the past 12 months: $16.1m
Ms Offermann grew up in Noosa and completed a business degree majoring in advertising and public relations.
Her professional career began with international advertising companies servicing luxury property development companies.
One of her biggest sales includes $16.1m for a Hastings St property but she said that it was not about the numbers.
“It’s about people and making sure they get the best price for their real estate,” Ms Offermann said.
Lauren Chen, Tom Offermann Real Estate
Years in industry: 10
Biggest sale in the past 12 months: $11.8m
Ms Chen followed her dad into the industry and the pair works at Tom Offermann Real Estate.
“I love it, and you have to get into real estate for the right reasons,” Ms Chen said.
One of her proudest moments was being listed in the Courier-Mail’s list of “young guns” of real estate in May, 2022.
“I’ve been lucky to sell in a pretty finite part of the world,” Ms Chen said.
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