John Joyce
Looking back it seems that I’ve been around for a year or two. And I have.
After having been involved with various facets of the Real Estate profession for some years starting in the late 1970’s, I was privileged in June of 1988 to be invited to join the iconic Brock residential agency that was then called Brock Younger Real Estate. Since then I have seen no reason to consider moving on from this agency which has so dominated the South Australian Real Estate scene for more than a quarter of a century.
The company started as Brock Younger, became Brock Partners, then Brock Residential and is now operating as Brock Harcourts - this following on from the joint venture with the old New Zealand firm of Harcourts, announced in 2004.
One of the innumerable benefits flowing from this joint venture was the opportunity to become a business owner in what has become the most dynamic and fastest growing real estate agency in Australia. So, after working as a residential sales agent for many years, operating out of the established Adelaide office, I took the decision to open an eastern suburbs office with Peter Flint as my business partner. We have the same business and professional ethics and are enjoying building a team of enthusiastic, committed, professional residential consultants.
Brock Harcourts Magill opened in July 2006 and is becoming a force in the eastern suburbs. We are in a high profile (but unpretentious) office right on the corner of Penfold Road and Magill Road, diagonally opposite the Tower Hotel. Very handy.
I was born and bred in Norwood, attended Norwood Infant School, Norwood Primary School and Norwood High School. I lived in Norwood in George Street for 23 years until I was seduced away from the suburb when I was married, returning to the area in 1990. Since then I have lived in and around the suburb entirely. At the moment of writing this, I can total a sum of 42 years living in and close to Norwood.
My working life started in banking and I spent my first 16 years working into a career with the E.S. & A. Bank whose name was lost when it merged with the ANZ Bank. After reaching middle management strata I left to take on a sea change of sorts and ran my own lawn-mowing and gardening business for 5 years. I had never been fitter, nor have I been fitter since – but I found that the old brain needed a bit more stimulation so I decided to sell it (the business – not the brain). I became involved in house restorations (briefly), sale of new homes (just about as briefly) and then, finally, residential real estate sales. Apart from Michael Brock himself, I am the longest serving residential agent in the Brock group of companies. Certainly there for the long haul.
In my younger years I played Adelaide Turf cricket and competition tennis. The tennis became less competitive and more social as the years rolled by and I was forced reluctantly to retire from cricket because of the pressure of weekend work. I retain a deep love for “proper” cricket, I follow the Crows and the Norwood Football Club in the SANFL. I love a wide variety of music right across the whole spectrum, I read avidly, love cars and am an enthusiastic driver. I don’t mind a drink, preference is a great big red. I am a passable cook when called upon and am fighting an expanding waistline (I’ll do something about it one day).
Finally, I really enjoy my chosen profession of Real Estate Agent. I get a real kick out of helping both vendors and purchasers as they make decisions with what is generally the largest single investment item in their lives. I enjoy the wide variety of people who I meet on a day to day basis, and the surprise which the next phone call can bring.
I pride myself on the level of personal and professional service , the experience as a negotiator, and the strength of communication which I bring through the front door.
John Joyce