About Harcourts

Where We Have Been
and Where We Are Going

The story of Harcourts started half a world away and over one hundred years ago. Formed in New Zealand in 1888, John Bateman Harcourt had a vision for what the real estate industry could become if done right. Like every great entrepreneur, he boldly stepped forward to pursue his dream, overcome obstacles, and cast doubts aside, changing the real estate world forever.

Over the following years, Harcourts opened offices throughout New Zealand, becoming the country's top firm. Then in 1997, Harcourts took their efforts to the next step, expanding their offices to Australia. Shortly after that, Harcourts was named the "Fastest Growing Real Estate Business" throughout Australia's six states. And this was only the beginning of their growth. The famous Blue Signs then spread globally, opening additional strategic locations in Fiji, China, Hong Kong, South Africa, Indonesia, Canada, the United States and Mexico, which is where we are today.

Although Harcourts North America originated on the west coast of the United States, it has expanded to 38 strategic locations all over the country while regularly growing its network. With this growth expansion, the vision that John Bateman Harcourt initially pursued continues to press onward and upward. As we become one of the fastest-growing real estate businesses in North America, our promise remains the same: to treat our clients with the respect they deserve while providing them with the best possible real estate experience on the market.

Our History

1888

John Bateman Harcourt, head of one of Wellington’s first families, establishes real estate and auctioneering company, Harcourt and Co. Two sons, Gordon and Stanton later join him and by early 1900s it boasts five trading divisions.

1950s

Stanton Harcourt goes into partnership with employee, Hec Fisher. Upon Stanton’s retirement Hec takes sole charge.

1968

Hec Fisher’s son, Robert becomes manager of Harcourt and Co. with partner, Roger Whyte.

1980

Harcourt and Co. makes its first major move outside of Wellington by establishing an Auckland valuation practice. A commercial sales office, property management business and a consultancy practice follow.

1985

Following negotiations with Stephen Collins from Christchurch-based Collins Real Estate a joint venture company, Harcourts Real Estate Ltd, is formed to operate the residential and rural side of the business.

The first Harcourts Bluebook is published.

A commitment is made to become a nationwide property services company which begins a period of vigorous expansion throughout the North Island.

1987

Harcourts become a nationwide property services company with a vigorous expansion of Company owned offices throughout the North Island. Harcourts breaks the 1,000 sales a month barrier, with 1,017 sales worth $128,391,000.

1988

Franchising begins with Harcourts franchising its 60 offices nationwide, with the first in the Wairarapa.

1992

Harcourts has doubled in size and now has 110 franchised offices nationwide.

Harcourts, in partnership with the New Zealand Police becomes the major sponsor for the National Crime Prevention Program.

1996

Harcourts launches the first national public searchable property database on the internet. The website attracts 600 visitors for 3,000 properties viewed on the first weekend.

Harcourts sells more than $3Billion in property sales for the first time. Harcourts launches a partnership with the New Zealand Fire Service.

1997

Headed by former Franchise owner, Mike Green, Harcourts expands its operation into Australia, opening six offices in Queensland and a State Office in Brisbane.

Harcourts launches its Intranet, an on-line resource library.

Harcourts and National Mutual form joint venture company, Mortgage Express NZ Ltd, to offer mortgage products and other financial services.

1998

Harcourts Property System, an on-line web based listing and client management software program is launched.

Harcourts Financial Services is launched in Queensland as a mortgage brokerage, insurance and financial services provider.

Harcourts has 170 offices in New Zealand and Australia.

Harcourts launches its Australian website.

1999

Harcourts Legal Services is launched in Queensland, providing conveyancing to clients.

The franchising business system, The Harcourts Way, is launched on-line.

2000

Harcourts Hall of Fame launched recognizing its Top Agents.

A Harcourts Credit Card is launched in New Zealand – a first for real estate in New Zealand.

Harcourts launches support for Heart Foundation in New Zealand.

2001

Harcourts Queensland launches support for Australian Heart Foundation.

Harcourts launches client services program, The Harcourts Promise.

Harcourts opens 200th office and achieves sales in excess of $5 billion for the year.

Harcourts achieves 100,000 visitors per month to its New Zealand website.

2002

Harcourts launches The Academy, a training academy providing courses for sales, management and administration to develop skills and to assist those wanting a career in real estate.

Harcourts achieves 150,000 visitors per month to its New Zealand and Australian websites.

Harcourts completes more than 30,000 sales contracts valued in excess of $7 billion.

Harcourts expands its Australian operation into New South Wales, purchasing a franchise group of 19 offices in Sydney.

2003

Harcourts now has a total of 250 offices in the South Pacific and close to 2500 sales consultants.

Harcourts manage the sale of over 1,000 properties in a single week, and over 4,000 in a single month.

Harcourts International manages the sale of over 44,000 properties recording $11.5 billion in sales up 48 percent on the previous year.

Harcourts expand into Fiji with its first office opened in Suva.

Harcourts becomes exclusive South Pacific member of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World , a worldwide network of real estate companies with more than 700 companies and over 3,500 offices across the globe.

2004

Harcourts takes ownership of the Roy Weston Group of 50 Offices in Western Australia and 15 offices in Indonesia.

Harcourts forms joint ventures with leading independent Tasmanian company M&M Real Estate and Brock Real Estate in South Australia.

2005

Harcourts International records best month ever in its 117 year history writing $1.4 billion of sales in a month.

Harcourts New Zealand website www.harcourts.co.nz is ranked the number one Company website with over 150,000 unique visitors per month.

2006

Harcourts introduces Luxury Portfolio - an exclusive global marketing program for $1m+ properties.

Harcourts has 431 offices across Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and Fiji.

Harcourts offices achieve a new annual record of $17.5 billion in property sales.

Harcourts opens its first ‘virtual office’ in Second Life (www.secondlife.com) making it the first known major real estate group with a virtual office.

Harcourts launches another Australasian first by including Google Mapping system on its public websites.

Harcourts Academy, its training arm achieves RTO status (Registered Training Organization) allowing industry licensing to those attending Academy program.

2007

Harcourts announces a joint venture with the MPRE group of 21 offices in Victoria, Australia to create MPRE Harcourts. Harcourts now has offices in every state in Australia.

Harcourts expands into Singapore.

2008

Harcourts expands into China, partnering with a major Shanghai developer, and opens in Shanghai.

Harcourts wins international award for best property marketing products at Leading Real Estate Companies of the World annual conference.

Harcourts enter into a Joint venture with top South African real estate group, Homenet. 135 offices in South Africa, Botswana and Zambia join and rebrand to Harcourts.

Harcourts International launches its own charitable foundation – The Harcourts Foundation 'to provide support that helps, grows, and enrich communities.

2009

Donations to the Harcourts Foundation reach $500,000 Harcourts has over 615 offices, operating in 9 countries and completing in excess of $22 billion in written sales.

2010

Harcourts enters Joint Venture partnership with USA Company Altera to operate in California.

2011

Harcourts Expands to Hong Kong.

Harcourts Foundation Donations exceed $1,000,000.

At the International Real Estate Conference, Harcourts received Award for "Best New Media" recognized for iPad and iPhone applications, media center, eBluebooks, social media and blogs.

2012

Harcourts launches premium marketing brand Luxury Property Selection.

2016

Harcourts launches refreshed brand. Here we are. With you all the way.

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