Bahamas Realty today announced the appointment of Sales Associate Brian Austin, an expansion reinforcing the firm’s belief in the strength of the local real estate market and reaffirming its presence as a market leader in The Bahamas.
Austin, 27, who worked in the hospitality industry before qualifying to practice real estate in 2008, grew up in Nassau and has closely followed city property trends, but says it’s in the Family Islands where property prices are so attractive that Bahamians should “run, not walk” to take advantage of investment opportunities.
“The most significant positive movement in The Bahamas over the coming decade will be seen in the Family Islands,” says Austin, who graduated near the top of his class at C.R. Walker Senior High in Nassau and immediately went to work in the hospitality industry. “For six years, I worked at front offices at top resorts and guests kept asking me, ‘If I were going to move to The Bahamas, where should I go?’ They treated me as if I were a real estate guru who could see the future. I had always been interested in real estate and I think the frequent questions from visitors reinforced that interest.” The more Austin thought about a career change, the more the idea intrigued him. He studied, passed the exam and spent the first two-plus years of his new career with another firm prior to his move to Bahamas Realty.
“I realized that I needed growth, and wanted to be aligned with a team of professionals who had a diverse client base and an appreciation of the marriage between technology and real estate,” said Austin, who is also a columnist for Bahamas Real Estate & Development Digest. “Bahamas Realty has always been ahead of its time in the use of technology from the days that it became the first in The Bahamas to launch a real estate website. The systems here allow me to integrate the latest devices in order to better serve clients.”
Austin’s interest in technology as a tool appealed to Bahamas Realty CEO Larry Roberts.
“We bought into PCs long before there was Windows, before there was even DOS, and I remember thinking, ‘This is the way of the future.’ I can see the same thinking in Brian when he talks about how he wants to employ technology to show property and share his views of The Bahamas,” said Roberts. “Brian is also extremely smart, diligent and enthusiastic and it’s a joy to see a government school graduate who did not have the benefit of a higher education, do so well through hard work. He’s a welcome addition to the Bahamas Realty family.”
Austin’s addition brings to 26 the number of agents and brokers in the firm with divisions in commercial, appraisal, finance and property management in addition to sales and rentals. Bahamas Realty is an independent firm affiliated with Leading Real Estate Companies of The World, Luxury Portfolio, Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate, CB Richard Ellis and Bahamas MLS. The company celebrated its 62nd anniversary this year.
Diane Phillips & Associates
