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Real Estate Agency Franchises in Australia - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Kathrina Gonzales Kathrina Gonzales Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: November 2024 ANZSIC OD4203

Revenue

$10.9bn

2024-25

$10.9bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

75,266

Businesses

766

Wages

$X.Xbn

Real Estate Agency Franchises in Australia industry analysis

The Real Estate Agency Franchises industry provides real estate services through franchisees, who pay franchisors royalty and renewal fees. The industry is grappling with significant challenges, including high residential property prices and escalating operational costs. The rapid increase in housing prices has created barriers for first-home buyers, decreasing transaction volumes and harming franchises’ revenue. Many prospective homeowners are either delaying their purchases or shifting their focus to more affordable options, like townhouses or apartments, diverting interest from higher-end properties traditionally marketed by franchises. Also, technology investments, increasing rental expenses for prime locations and compliance with evolving regulations are raising operational costs, constraining profitability. However, independent agencies are increasingly seeking affiliation with franchises so they can leverage their brand recognition and support systems to navigate a rapidly changing market landscape and remain competitive. Industry revenue is expected to have fallen at an annualised 2.5% over the five years through 2024-25, to $10.9 billion. This includes an anticipated 2.3% dip in 2024-25 as the real estate market continues to face pressures from high demand, low supply, labour costs and rental affordability challenges.

Trends and Insights

  • Rising residential housing prices and increasing operational costs are creating significant barriers for buyers and constraining franchise revenue. As high mortgage rates challenge housing affordability, many prospective homeowners are delaying purchases or seeking more affordable housing options, constraining transaction volumes.
  • Growing demand from owner-occupiers, supported by first-home buyer schemes, has driven residential sales growth. However, high prices and shifting lifestyles have caused residential leasing and management to decline as landlords sell and consumers opt for flexible living.
  • New South Wales and Victoria dominate the franchise market because of their high urban populations and economic growth, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne. These regions offer diverse property demand and investment opportunities, making them prime locations for franchise expansion.
  • Agencies compete in the residential and commercial property markets by using advertising and sales strategies to attract buyers, tenants and investors. Commission rates vary because of deregulation, and success depends on securing properties and employing skilled sales staff.

Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 2.5 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $10.9bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

High residential property prices are creating barriers for buyers and limiting franchise revenue

  • With the rapid increase in residential property prices, first-home buyers are finding it increasingly difficult to enter the market. Many are being forced to delay their home purchases or abandon their search altogether. This is significantly decreasing the number of transactions, constraining franchise revenue.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Real Estate Agency Franchises in Australia
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Favourable market conditions and government support will drive housing transfers and boost franchise profitability

  • The economy is set to stabilise as inflationary pressures ease and interest rates drop, fostering a more favourable financial climate. As these conditions improve, consumer confidence will likely strengthen, encouraging more buyers to enter the housing market. This trend is projected to increase housing transfers, providing franchisees with a steady flow of transactions.

Biggest companies in the Real Estate Agency Franchises in Australia

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue ($m)
2025
LJ Hooker
642.8
Ray White
578.4
Harcourts International Ltd
543.9

To view the market share and analysis for all 6 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Real Estate Agency Franchises in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Residential sales, Residential leasing and management and Non-residential sales, leasing and management. Residential sales is the largest segment of the Real Estate Agency Franchises in Australia.

Trends and Insights

Rising demand from owner-occupiers has driven growth in residential sales

  • Increased property values often lead to higher commissions for franchises, incentivising them to focus on residential sales. As owner-occupiers navigate the market, their demand for properties contributes to overall revenue growth in this segment.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Franchisees manage real estate agency franchises, paying the franchisor franchise, royalty and renewal fees. In return, franchisees benefit from branding, marketing, administrative support, training and other services the franchisor provides.

What's included in this industry?

Residential salesResidential leasing and managementNon-residential sales, leasing and managementProperty valuationsConveyancing

Companies

LJ HookerRay WhiteHarcourts International Ltd

Purchase this report to view all 6 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

FIRST HOME OWNER GRANTCOMMISSIONOWNER-OCCUPIERREAL ESTATERENTCUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (CRM)SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMISATION (SEO)

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 6720 - Real Estate Agency Franchises in Australia

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Rising residential housing prices and increasing operational costs are creating significant barriers for buyers and constraining franchise revenue. As high mortgage rates cha...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Growing demand from owner-occupiers, supported by first-home buyer schemes, has driven residential sales growth. However, high prices and shifting lifestyles have caused resi...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

New South Wales and Victoria dominate the franchise market because of their high urban populations and economic growth, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne. These regions of...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Agencies compete in the residential and commercial property markets by using advertising and sales strategies to attract buyers, tenants and investors. Commission rates vary ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

The industry is highly fragmented, consisting of numerous independent enterprises competing for market presence. This low concentration means that no single company dominates...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of LJ Hooker's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Ray White's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Harcourts International Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 3 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for LJ Hooker, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Ray White, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Harcourts International Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 3 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The Franchising Code of Conduct, which mandates transparency and fair practices, and the Competition and Consumer Act, which ensures ethical advertising and client interaction...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Competitive pressures from independent agencies and rising operational costs are squeezing franchises’ profit. Also, talent retention strategies and compliance with evolving ...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Real Estate Agency Franchises industry in Australia in 2024?

The market size of the Real Estate Agency Franchises industry in Australia is $10.9bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Real Estate Agency Franchises in Australia industry in 2024?

There are 766 businesses in the Real Estate Agency Franchises industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.7 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Real Estate Agency Franchises industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Real Estate Agency Franchises industry in Australia has been declining at a CAGR of 2.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Real Estate Agency Franchises industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Real Estate Agency Franchises industry in Australia is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Real Estate Agency Franchises market in Australia?

The biggest companies operating in the Real Estate Agency Franchises market in Australia are LJ Hooker, Ray White and Harcourts International Ltd

What does the Real Estate Agency Franchises in Australia include?

Residential sales and Residential leasing and management are part of the Real Estate Agency Franchises industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Real Estate Agency Franchises in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in Australia is LJ Hooker.

How competitive is the Real Estate Agency Franchises industry in Australia?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Real Estate Agency Franchises industry in Australia.

Related Industries

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Competitors

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Australia include:

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Australian Taxation Office
  • Australian Securities & Investments Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.