Professionals Real Estate 
The Professionals real estate network is opening a new office in Wallan, capitalising on the township’s growing popularity as a thriving residential community in Melbourne’s rural fringe in the north.
Local property identities Geoff Carswell and Usman Naseer have teamed up as directors of Professionals Wallan, with plans to service the market which is finding favour with first-home buyers, city commuters and local downsizers.
Mr Carswell, who began his real estate career more than three decades ago, is principal of the new office.
“We see a lot of potential with many new developments drawing more people to this area,” he said.
“Wallan traditionally has a turnover rate of home ownership of about three-and-a-half years which is twice the national average, so it’s also a very good resale market.”
Mr Naseer, who lives in Hidden Valley in Wallan, also has strong ties with the local community. His background in property development and digital marketing will be applied to creating a new service offering for Wallan property buyers through the new Professionals office.
“Not only are we looking at servicing the local market for existing properties, but we’ll also be exploring new areas to assist developers in marketing properties that meet the needs of buyers looking to settle in our town,” said Mr Naseer.
“Wallan is an important growth market because of its proximity to Melbourne, and the town has benefitted from some great new residential communities such as Hidden Valley and Spring Ridge.
“Right now, we’re seeing Wallan drawing more and more people away from nearby Donnybrook, and that’s being helped by major investment in the area, including the extension of the Wallan railway station.”
While the new Professionals Wallan office has yet to secure premises, the partners have laid plans to add up to three additional staff in the new year to support their sales and property management operations.
The businessmen say they chose the Professionals network because it operates on a membership model rather than a franchise.
“This gives us the flexibility to grow our business as independents while still being backed by one of Australia’s recognisable real estate brands,” said Mr Carswell.
The real estate veteran, who has also worked in the rural services sector, counts some of the founding members of Professionals in New Zealand among his former work colleagues.
“I understand the ethos of the organisation and I’m very comfortable with the team culture they have developed over many years,” said Mr Carswell.
Mr Naseer sees the Professionals network as a vital stepping-stone in the partnership’s plans for the new Wallan office.
“Professionals is a group that allow us to inject our own ideas into the business, while at the same time providing us with the essential support a new business needs to grow,” he said.
Professionals Wallan will officially open on December 21.
