A 25-year-old real estate business with 30 employees has changed hands.
Ray White Buderim has been sold by long-term owner Brett Graham to local real estate professionals Dan Sowden and Jake Loiero.
Mr Graham said he remained passionate about the business’ future and that years of careful succession planning were coming to fruition.
He believed the new owners were ready to take over.
“I am immensely proud of both Dan and Jake for reaching this point in their careers where they have ascended to the ownership of Ray White Buderim,” he said.
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“I am also very confident that they are the most competent and best placed to continue the legacy on which the business has grown from strength to strength.
“That legacy has and always will be maintaining high family values for all staff.”
The Buderim office is one of five Ray White offices that sits among the Coastal Living Network on the Sunshine Coast.
The succession plan is all too familiar for Mr Sowden, an award-winning and accomplished real estate professional with more than 20 years of experience.
“In 2007, Brett and I began a similar plan at the Maroochydore office where I entered a partnership with him, and a couple of years ago I took over the business as sole owner,” he said.
“This succession process took over 10 years to finalise, but within that timeframe the business has continued to grow, attract and retain some of the best talent in the industry.
“The best thing about a tried and tested, long-term plan is that it actually empowers a business to go further and provides confidence that the business will be there in 30, 40-plus years time.”
With the foundations of the business well set, the new owners enter the next era of the business with a sense of energy and an appetite for growth.
Mr Sowden said Mr Loiero was “a rare talent”.
“He is more than the likeable, charismatic character that he is,” he said.
“He is one of the hardest workers in our group, and has already established himself internally as a leader well before this opportunity arose.”
Mr Loiero started his career in real estate, aged 18, at Ray White Buderim.
He has spent nine years in the business as a seasoned sales agent and Buderim’s chief auctioneer.
A born and bred Buderim local, he said he had been working towards this moment.
“This next step in business ownership is not only a natural progression, but it’s a goal that I’ve gradually worked towards from day one,” he said.
“I’m really looking forward to continuing my mentoring into a leadership position and helping the team in a similar way to how Brett has helped me over the past nine years.”
Mr Loiero said he appreciated the legacy that Mr Graham has built and he was adamant that he and Mr Sowden would protect the same values.
“While Dan and I are excited to look to the future, we also want to move forward in a way that is preserving what Brett has built,” he said.
‘Our family values, trust and integrity are the core pillars of the Ray White name.
“At Buderim, it is the reason why we have retained our passionate, high-performing team, and is why our community continues to work with us.”
The co-owners will focus on the office’s status as auction leaders: something that has been a large part of the fabric of Ray White for more than 122 years.
Ray White Queensland CEO Jason Andrew said Mr Sowden and Mr Loiero had stellar reputations.
“They both believe in going above and beyond to exceed their clients’ expectations,” he said.
“The pair are well known for their ability to listen attentively to their needs and deliver personalised solutions.
“This has been a stylish transition and is a compliment to them all.
“We have always been in full support of Ray White Buderim.
“The new iteration of leadership will ensure our best days in one of the most important markets in the Sunshine Coast are ahead.”
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