Tim Reed, Craig Morrison among Sunshine Coast’s youngest developers | List

They worked for the army or started off with a passion for flipping hotels – the Sunshine Coast’s youngest developers reveal how they managed to get a foot into the property door.

They come from all different backgrounds, but these 11 friendly faces all have one thing in common – they’re all successfully developing properties at a young age.

Being involved in some of the biggest projects on the Sunshine Coast, these men are leading the industry when it comes to innovation, creativity and value for money.

Meet some of the youngest property developers in the region below.

TIM REED, 32

Tim Reed is well-known as a successful, young developer on the Sunshine Coast, with his business of Stilhaus completing over $75m in projects in the past 6 years.

Mr Reed grew up on the Coast and completed an apprenticeship as a carpenter under his grandfather's company Reed Signature Homes before working for further family company branches of Reed Construction and Reed Property group.

In 2014, Mr Reed decided he‘d like to go out on his own, so with a partner, founded Stilhaus, which has since delivered 26 townhouses in Coolum, 25 lots in Kawana, four luxury units in Alex Headland, 33 townhouses in Buderim, a light industrial mixed use development in Forest Glen and 14 lots in Palmwoods.

“I like my job and I like all the jobs that we have done,” Mr Reed told the Sunshine Coast Daily.

“It’s pretty thrilling, most people enjoy risk and I guess that feeling becomes a bit of an addiction.”

The 32-year-old developer has two young children and said the Sunshine Coast was a safe and fun location to raise a family.

Tim Reed and his family.

“I think there’s a lot of good people here, it’s a small community so if you do right by others they will do right by you,” he said.

Stilhaus has been busier than ever since the pandemic, with 14 projects currently on the go, all at different stages of progression.

“It’s madness, we were busy before this pandemic and then when the pandemic hit, it was scary as no one knew what would happen,” he said.

“In a situation like that, you think the worst but it has gone the other way, people are stuck or have flooded home, and or they have taken a different perspective on many things for different reasons and they’re spending their money here.”

Despite his success, Mr Reed has remained modest and said some of the best advice was given to him by his grandfather.

“He said, don’t be greedy, always leave a bit of meat on the bone for the next guy and you'll be ok and love what you do,” he said.

KENNETH WAGNER, 28

At the age of 28, Kenneth Wagner has already thrown himself into the property development industry, with a primary focus on hotel projects.

His first experience with developing was in 2018 when he purchased a pub with a friend, knocked it down, rebuilt it and successfully sold it.

“After that experience, I had a bit of courage for developing hotels,” Mr Wagner said.

“The council put the Brisbane Rd site out to bid and they specifically wanted hotel stock there and I was lucky enough to pick that up.”

Kenneth Wagner.

The Brisbane Rd 4.5 star hotel project includes 160 rooms, 158 carparks and is due to begin construction in mid-2022.

“Hotels are good fun and you can be a fairly active asset owner when you own something like a hotel,” he said.

“It’s not an in and out job, you kind of develop the hotel and then watch the asset grow in its maturity over seven to ten years.

“We are always scaling the market for new development opportunities.”

CRAIG MORRISON

Craig Morrison has always had a passion for property, but a surge in the market gave him the push to start developing around five years ago.

“My friend said ‘he who finds a deal controls a deal’ so I learnt how to study a town plan and the zonings and just went out door knocking looking for development sites,” Mr Morrison said.

“The thing I enjoy the most is seeing a vacant patch of land turn into something bigger, whether it be a high rise or new houses, it’s good to see people living there and enjoying the location.”

Craig Morrison.

Mr Morrison said his involvement in Beach Life, a 57-unit block at Alex Headland, where he worked with well-known Sunshine Coast developer Scott Juniper, taught him a lot about developing.

“The wave pool we are doing out at Glass House Mountains is a big project and we’re doing Picasso in Mooloolaba and 29 blocks at Mount Coolum,” Mr Morrison said.

Having grown up on the Sunshine Coast, Mr Morrison said he hasn’t completed any projects outside of the Sunshine Coast yet.

“It’s just sort of an area that I have learnt and studied … you’ve just got to find the project at the right opportunity otherwise it’s pretty hard,” he said.

STEPHEN O’CONNOR

From a young age, Stephen O’Connor has been interested in the property development industry, and used to write up pretend feasibilities on developments before he made it his profession.

Being a builder before becoming a developer, Mr O’Connor gained enough experience to create his own business Focal Group in 2017.

“A project we have coming up is a brewery in Coolum, it’s a great community-driven project,” Mr O’Connor said.

Steven O'Connor, Focal Group.

“We’re just getting our development application lodged now and hoping for a start in the new year.”

Mr O’Connor was born in Brisbane and moved to the Coast as a teenager.

He said he loves being able to stand back at the end of the project and see the progress made.

“I like to see businesses thrive who bought or leased projects off us,” he said.

REMI RAFTER, 36

Remi Rafter first started out in the army as a project manager but said he always knew he would eventually become involved in property development.

Mr Rafter joined the Reed Property Group as a development manager when he left the army, where he learnt all about the development industry.

The 36-year-old decided to join forces with Josh Myers (featured next on list) and RM Developments was created in 2017.

Mr Rafter said the best thing about his job was the variety.

Remi Rafter.

“We’re not pigeonholed in any way and we’re involved in every aspect of the business – from engineering to town planning, to construction,” Mr Rafter said.

“We’re determined that all of our projects should deliver something meaningful and beneficial to the community and stand the test of time.”

Some of Mr Rafter’s favourite projects include the Flame Tree Pocket estate in Sippy Downs and he is excited about a residential boutique estate in Maleny called The Enclave.

“It consists of 63 large allotments just outside the township which is going to create an idyllic lifestyle for a large number of families,” he said.

JOSH MYERS, 37

Josh Myers, 37, has a similar background to Remi Rafter as he too started out in the army as a project manager before moving to the Sunshine Coast and pursuing a career in development.

Josh Myers.

Though Mr Myers grew up on the Gold Coast, he said he was now a proud and passionate Sunshine Coast resident.

“My wife and I have two sons and we’re committed to this region,” he told the Sunshine Coast Daily.

Mr Myers said he gets great satisfaction from the outcome of a development and enjoys the challenge of being responsible for what is produced.

“I love all the elements involved in bringing a project to fruition – the planning, engaging the people, managing the budget, and then delivering something that you can genuinely be proud of,” he said.

“Remi and I share a passion for doing things properly.

“We probably have a reputation of being hard taskmasters, but we know what we want – to deliver projects that enhance a community and will pass the test of time.”

DAN EVERETT, 31

Dan Everett started out as an architect, before his career progressed into property developing.

He founded his company Everett Property Development Management in 2017 and since then has completed a range of projects in South East Queensland.

Mr Everett grew up in Noosa and is now based at Eatons Hill.

He said he enjoys the “fast-paced” and “ever-changing” environment of property developing.

Dan Everett.

“One interesting thing is that every project is different and unique and they have their own challenges to overcome and it's exciting to be a part of,” Mr Everett told the Sunshine Coast Daily.

“I also enjoy working with local businesses and meeting people.”

SeyChelles on Pacific is one of Mr Everett’s projects that recently won the 2021 Building Designers Association of Australia Award for multi-residential buildings over three storeys.

One project Mr Everett is currently working on is called Prana Apartments, a nine unit waterfront building located on Bradman Ave, Maroochydore that is due for construction next year.

ADAM CHRISTIE, 34

Adam Christie grew up on the Sunshine Coast and started up his own company of Christie Developments and Arc Developments with a business partner.

Mr Christie is working on 13 different projects including nine units in Coolum Beach, a duplex in Noosaville and three duplexes on Oceanic Drive.

Mr Christie said he really enjoys his job and putting all the different aspects of a development together.

“I am looking forward to the next year, I will definitely be expanding," he said. 

DANIEL RYAN

Daniel Ryan works as the development manager for Cube Developments, where he started working in 2018.

After studying property economics and development at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Mr Ryan worked in commercial real estate for a national agency.

Daniel Ryan.

At Cube Developments, Mr Ryan works with director Scott Juniper and is responsible for overseeing the development portfolio, providing direct engagement in project delivery and managing clients.

MARCUS MUIR

Marcus Muir works for HM Developments as the sales director and is passionate about property.

Marcus Muir

He was a prominent real estate agent for many years on the Sunshine Coast before joining HM and being involved in more than $250m in residential sales.

As stated on their website, HM Developments are now reaping the benefits of his priceless experience and skill set.

RYAN SULLIVAN

Ryan Sullivan has been surrounded by the construction industry his whole life and is the founder of Real Living Homes.

Ryan Sullivan.

As stated on their website, Mr Sullivan has lovingly moulded the company into one that clients know and appreciate today.

Ryan is the customer‘s main and first point of contact throughout the construction process.

Originally published as Tim Reed, Craig Morrison among Sunshine Coast’s youngest developers | List