How does your usual day look?
Lots of report writing and plenty of reading. Working with the individual offices to determine what they need in a research report - we brainstorm new ideas and share data. Then I spend my time analysing data and writing reports. However reading is super important to keep up to date on the state of the economy, market movements, etc.
How did you start your career in commercial real estate?
In terms of study, I actually completed my real estate license at TAFE while I was still at school at night, but went onto university to study property economics after school and subsequently my masters in property development. I actually have always spent my working life in the area of research, however, I once was in the land of residential project marketing. I also spent many long days on project sites and sales offices talking to potential buyers (purely as a fill in as I had a real estate qualification). I was a pretty terrible salesperson.
What do you enjoy most about being in research?
I like to find out something new. Research seems pretty boring to most, but I find it pretty fascinating; the changing markets and the impacts indicators can have. I particularly like researching niche markets that other people don’t cover.
What do you enjoy most about being at Ray White Commercial? What makes Ray White Commercial different?
I love the range of big and small offices we have in all different locations. This allows me to do some really niche research, I don’t think there would be too many other agencies who can say they have research on many of the areas or asset classes I cover. I also really enjoy Ray White being a place you can just get stuff done, I’ve worked in places where you go from meeting to meeting talking about the work you are going to do, rather than just doing it.
What’s the one thing you know now, that you wish you knew when you first started out?
Keep better contact with people, you would be surprised how useful your connections are in the future.
What is your outlook for the wider Australia market in the next 12 months?
That's a super broad question, you can’t ask a researcher that! I will have to cover it in disclaimers.
I think financing is going to be what dictates the market movements over the next 12 months. Generally, most market indicators are positive but keep an eye on employment levels as negative movement could see conditions turn.
CONTACT
Email: vrader@raywhite.com
Phone number: 0432 652 115
