Bower Real Estate has opened the doors to its inaugural Whakatāne office, in another milestone move for the company.

The Western Bay-based real estate company, which celebrated 100 days in business this month, has officially opened an Eastern Bay of Plenty office on The Strand.

Bower’s Whakatāne and Ōhope specialist Tony Baker has been selling property in the region for two years and is looking forward to growing Bower’s presence from its new office.

“It is fantastic to have an office in Whakatāne,” he said. “I am excited to be involved in a foundation office for Bower.”

Mr Baker, who has more than 20 years’ experience in the financial services industry, both in New Zealand and Australia, grew up in Whakatāne and Ōhope.

“I know this area pretty well.”

Buyers were looking to Whakatāne for its affordable, coastal lifestyle, he said.

“You’ve got everything you need right on your doorstep. Whakatāne is growing.

“We have had plenty of interest from first-home buyers, people who are looking to move into the area and those looking for holiday homes by the beach.”

As the company reached another major milestone since rebranding earlier this year, Mr Baker said he was excited for the company’s future.

“I am very proud of what the team has done. What they have pulled off in such a short space of time has reset the standard for real estate in the region.”

Bower co-founder and chief executive officer Hayden Duncan said the company had been fortunate to have Mr Baker working in Whakatāne during the past two years.

“He has been making a dynamic impact, even without a premise,” he said.

“Our approach to business has always been people first and we have built our brand around that.”

Mr Duncan said he expected the new Eastern Bay office to be operating with enough salespeople to be servicing the entire Whakatāne and Ōhope property market by early next year.

“We are a proudly New Zealand owned brand and we want Bower to be a brand that is identified as a leading real estate brand to work and sell with throughout the country.”