Sunshine Coast’s top female real estate agents
From former air hostesses to lifelong locals with a passion for property, we reveal some of the Sunshine Coast’s top female real estate agents making a name for themselves.
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As the Sunshine Coast real estate market continues to find its level after a two-year boom, several female real estate agents are at the forefront of some of the most significant deals being done.
It’s been a year of record breaking sales as people flock to the Sunshine Coast post pandemic looking for a better lifestyle.
Drawing from sales data recorded by property agencies and realestate.com.au, the Daily has compiled a list of the region’s top female real estate agents.
From young mums, to former air hostesses and car industry executives taking the plunge to pursue their passion for real estate, meet some of the Sunshine Coast’s top female agents.
The list is in no particular order.
Cassi Nuske, McGrath Estate Agents Beerwah
Years in industry: 3.5 years
Residential properties sold in the last 12 months: N/A
Highest sale in 12 months: $1.625m half acre block in Beerwah
Ms Nuske said she’s passionate about helping people find their dream home and has found post-pandemic people are more willing to expand their search to places like Beerwah.
“I love helping people achieve their goals and dreams, having a home you love and a lifestyle you love is a part of that,” she said
Ms Nuske said her top sale in the past 12 months was “unusual” for the hinterland area compared to previous years but it was a “great result”.
Jess Luthje, Maleny and Hinterland Real Estate
Years in industry: 22 years based in Maleny
Residential properties sold in the last 12 months: 32
Highest sale in 12 months: $1.8m Maleny property
Having always worked in Maleny, Ms Luthje said she’s proud to be able to sell homes to people who also wish to call the hinterland home.
“I love the area, I live here and I’m passionate about it,” she said.
“It’s still a quiet country town. We are convenient to the coast but it’s still got the country feel and sense of the community.”
Ms Luthje said the last 24 months in real estate have been some of the busiest in her career.
“With younger buyers than ever coming to the market, Covid has meant people can work from home,” she said.
“People in their working life are coming here which is a great thing for the community bringing kids and a vibrancy.”
Natasha Hackenberg, Ray White Bli Bli
Years in industry: 21 years on the Sunshine Coast
Residential properties sold in the last 12 months: 70
Highest sale in 12 months: $2,352,500 on the Maroochydore River
Ms Hackenberg said the past 12 months in the real estate market on the Sunshine Coast has been “a frenzy” for buyers and sellers.
“So many buyers desperately trying to buy something and paying crazy money, the volume was massive,” she said.
“I’ve always believed the Coast is a bit of a bubble, there’s always going to be demand for people moving to the Coast.”
Ms Hackenberg said with an estimated 125,00 people expected to move here within the next few years, she’s expecting the market to get more competitive.
“I don’t think we have enough housing for the people who want to move here so the supply and demand means the prices will hold,” she said.
“I love helping my sellers move on to the next thing and helping my buyers by their dream home.”
Kelly Rowling, Rowling and Co Property
Years in industry: Eight years on the Sunshine Coast
Residential properties sold in the last 12 months: about 65-70
Highest sale in 12 months: $2.55m property in Mountain Creek
Co-owning her boutique agency with her husband Daniel, Ms Rowling said providing clients with a “personal” approach to selling is her highest goal.
“I like helping people, it’s a really big investment for people and something we take pretty seriously,” she said.
“I get a joy out of it and achieving that for them.
“We’re a smaller boutique agency so we can offer more personal service and go that extra mile for the clients.
“I’ve just become successful over the years by doing the right thing.”
Linda Feltman, McGrath Estate Agents Coast and Hinterland
Years in industry: 12 years in Pelican Waters
Residential properties sold in the last 12 months: between 40-50
Highest sale in 12 months: $4.2m property in Pelican Waters
Exclusively selling in Pelican Waters, Ms Feltman said her career in real estate has been based on ensuring her clients needs are met at every turn.
“I’ve been very blessed to be able to go from someone who was green (in the industry), I didn’t have very much experience and I was thrown into the deep end,” she said.
“I’m laser focused on my clients and the best rewarding part is when they get the property of their dreams.
“I love the lifestyle that we sell, it’s unique on the Coast because we have mountains, the ocean and so much great infrastructure.”
Natascha Drexel-Munro, Ray White Caloundra
Years in industry: 17 years in Caloundra
Residential properties sold in the last 12 months: 68
Highest sale in 12 months: $3.6m Kings Beach commercial block with residential above
After finding her passion in real estate watching her parents run their own business in Kings Beach, Ms Drexel-Munro continues to excel in the market despite the fast paced industry she works in.
“At the moment we’re in a changing market, the market is really strong,” she said.
“No-on saw that coming but it’s the best market I‘ve seen in 17 years.”
Lydia Kirn, Lydia Kirn Real Estate
Years in industry: 9.5 years on the Sunshine Coast
Residential properties sold in the last 12 months: 36
Highest sale in 12 months: $2.6m property in Twin Waters
Ms Kirn said she landed in real estate after she was dissatisfied with her previous experiences dealing with agents while trying to sell her own properties.
“I wanted to be that agent that I never had, and I love my job,” she said.
“I have a small boutique agency, for me if I was to try to go out further (than Twin Waters) I can’t give my clients the justice and service so I stick to this area.
“You do your very best for everyone and you go the extra mile.”
Pam Thomas, Ray White Maroochydore
Years in industry: 7 years
Highest sale in 12 months: $3.3m penthouse at Chateau Royale, Maroochydore
After switching careers from being the national general manager of a car company to taking on the real estate industry at full speed, Ms Thomas is making a name for herself on the Coast.
“Real estate has always been my passion, I bought my first property at 19 at an auction, I did extremely well with my first purchase and by the time I was 25 I had a childcare centre and two farms,” she said.
“It’s always been something I’ve wanted to do but it’s really seven day a week business and I wanted to raise my children.”
Ms Thomas, who won the Ray White Elite award last year, said she’s made a $1.2m commission in the past 12 months and is expecting more growth within the market.
“We doubled our figures last year, as well as the market being a good market,” she said.
Rachel Meyers, Ray White Bli Bli
Years in industry: 5 years
Residential properties sold in the last 12 months: $1.75m property in North Arm
Highest sale in 12 months: about 30
Ms Myers said becoming a real estate agent seemed like a natural fit for her.
“It’s a been a match made in heaven given my personality, I’m a life coach and I wanted to be a bit different agent, not one purely transactional,” she said.
Ms Meyers said as a fourth generation Sunshine Coast resident, she’s excited to see so many successful women in the real estate industry thrive.
“I think there’s some really awesome female agents and I’m honoured to be a part of some great women,” she said.
Ambre Perry, Perry Cooper Property
Years in industry: 17 years
Residential properties sold in the last 12 months: about 15
Highest sale in 12 months: $2.4m property at Shelly Beach
Starting out in the industry at 18, Ms Perry has worked in both Sydney and the Sunshine Coast property market.
“I opened my own agency about two years ago, you get to do your own thing and work your own pace,” the mother of two said.
Ms Perry said she’s expecting the property market to return to what buyers and sellers are used to before the pandemic started.
“I think it’s slowed down a little bit but it’s just getting through a normal market which I’m used to,” she said.
Claire Thompson and Brittany McCurdy, Henzells Agency
Years in industry: 7 years
Residential properties sold in the last 12 months: $2m property at Moffat Beach
Highest sale in 12 months: about 42
Ms Thompson, who works closely alongside Ms McCurdy, said she’s been fortunate enough to build foundation blocks in her career to set her up for success.
“I’ve been pretty lucky the last couple of years, up until then the market was quite different,” she said.
“I started when it was quieter but those hard yards have developed me into the agent I am today.”
Ms Thompson said she joined forces with Ms McCurdy about four years ago and the pair are “vital” to each others’ success.
Minka Jenkins, Team Godwin Real Estate
Years in industry: 16 years on the Sunshine Coast
Residential properties sold in the last 12 months: 55
Highest sale in 12 months: $3.3m property in Minyama
Ms Jenkins said she swapped her career as an air hostess for real estate after she realised her passion was in property.
“I’ve been on the Coast for 48 years, I used to buy and sell and I thought why wasn’t I doing this for a living,” she said.
As the co-director of Team Godwin, Ms Jenkins said she’s not concerned about fluctuations in the market.
“The greatest thing in the real estate sector is people always have to buy and sell no matter what the market is doing,” she said.
Karen Jones, Adams and Jones The Property People
Years in industry: 21 years on the Sunshine Coast
Residential properties sold in the last 12 months: about 60
Ms Jones has seen it all when it comes the Sunshine Coast property market.
“I’ve seen robust markets, quiet markets, booms to busts and everything in between,” she said.
The one thing that doesn’t change is people wanting to buy and sell.
“The Sunshine Coast is going to hold strong there’s a lot of people moving here, lot of desirable attributes people are moving for,” she said.
Ms Jones credited her hard working team for her success.
“We’ve all worked well together and are in our sixth year,” she said.
Melissa Schembri, Next Property Group
Years in industry: 20 years
Residential properties sold in the last 12 months: 35
Highest sale in 12 months: $20.5m Buderim property
Melissa Schembri has in past year sold more than $80 million dollars in property on the Sunshine Coast.
The former Sunshine Coast property lawyer holds the 2021 record for some of the biggest sales across the region, including the highest Sunshine Coast residential sale with the $20.5m Buderim sale and the highest Sunshine Coast single duplex sale for $3.45m in Mooloolaba.
Ms Schembri said her secret weapon is her prior experience as a Sunshine Coast property lawyer and her exceptional professionalism and service to both sellers and buyers.
Amber Werchon, Amber Werchon Property
Years in industry: 22 years
Residential properties sold in the last 12 months: 19
A household name of Sunshine Coast property since opening Amber Werchon Property in 2008, the agency has achieved 54 sales in the past 12 months.
Ms Werchon was named in the top 3 real estate agents in 2021 by the Daily.
Her agency is involved in many large-scale projects including land releases at Marcoola, Burnside, Palmwoods, Nambour and Sippy Downs.
She was the chair of the Real Estate Institute of Queensland Sunshine Coast zone for four years.
Her company has had more than 400 sales over the past 12 months, with a median house price sold for $810,000.
Joanne Reilly, Joanne Reilly Property
Years in industry: 12 years
Residential properties sold in the last 12 months: 33
Ms Reilly is the principal of the boutique Joanne Reilly Property agency and Twin Waters, Mudjimba and Pacific Paradise specialist.
The agency sold 33 private sales, with a median house price selling for $1.27m.
Natalie Tink, Ray White Maroochydore
Years in industry: 2 years
Residential properties sold in the last 12 months: 25
Natalie Tink started her real estate career with Ray White Maroochydore in July 2020 and has gone on to sell in excess of $24.2m dollars’ worth of property in just 18 months.
In February 2022 she became a Ray White Premier Member a title placing her in the top 10 per cent of Ray White agents.
Prior to kick starting her full-time role in real estate, Ms Tink was awarded the 2012 Sunshine Coast Young Business Woman of the Year while she was the owner of national real estate publication Coast to Coast Media.
In 2019, she also took out the title of Sunshine Coast Small Business Woman of the year for her venture Miss Monogram.
Caroline McEvoy, Caloundra City Realty
Years in industry: 2 years
Residential properties sold in the last 12 months: 45
Ms McEvoy embarked on her career in real estate at the beginning of Covid pandemic as a rookie agent and quickly made her mark on the property scene in the Sunshine Coast’s southern suburbs.
Nearly all of Ms McEvoy’s sales were as lead agent and she sold her listings after they were advertised for less than a month on average according to realestate.com.au.
Sarah Roberts, Century 21 Duporth
Years in industry: Less than one year
Residential properties sold in the last 12 months: 6
Highest sale in 12 months: $1.1m property in Bli Bli
Following a career spanning 16 years within television marketing and media sales with the Win Network locally in Maroochydore, Ms Roberts said real estate was a natural progression for her.
In just her first three months in the industry Ms Roberts sold two properties at a median price of nearly $700,000 and is currently focusing on establishing herself in the Bli Bli property market.
She said her extensive experience in sales and marketing enabled her to hone a high level of skill around building and nurturing valuable client relationships which will be key to her future success.
Sarah-Louise Anderson, Ray White Maroochydore
Residential properties sold in the last 12 months: 18
Highest sale in 12 months: $2.7m property
Ms Anderson previously worked at Michael Hill Jeweller for three years before joining Ray White Maroochydore.
Her sale on Serenity Circuit in Maroochydore was a street record and sold at the agency’s 2021 in-room auction event for $1.68m which was $320,000 above the seller’s reserve price.
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