Home is Where the Heart Is

It's an uncommon thing to find a woman leading property developments in an industry so often led by men.

There's something here that doesn't compute for me. This is so much more than construction, saw dust, big diggers and the smell of fresh paint (all things I love!). Homes are the heartsong of our people - we crave safety, security, certainty and the smell of hot coffee and baking. Homes is where we make memories, messy fingerprints, waiting up late for a loved one to come back safe. Homes are part of our hope in the future, the launch pad of children into their lives ahead. The amazing women I have known, spanning generations, are the heartbeat of the home - so it makes sense to me that they should be creating them!

There was a turning point in my property journey where my 'why' shifted from a focus on the personal - flexible work from home to be with my kids, financial security and freedom of choice. Property can deliver those things wonderfully, but once you get the passion for property the game changes.

I had just handed over the keys on nine beautiful homes to their new owners. I had these people on my mind for over a year in the lead up to this moment - every sketch, every finishing texture, every colour choice they were front of mind. Without knowing them, they felt like family. I wrote them a letter to welcome them home. Our selling agent, seasoned by decades of sales, had a chuckle at the lady developer with the personal notes - in 25 years he had never seen a developer write a letter to their buyer like this, leaving it on the kitchen bench. I had a call the next day - a buyer was upset. A moment of tightening in my chest as I ran through every hand-selected finish and fitting, what didn't they like? Happy tears, the agent assured me. Relief.

And there she was. Her brand new home. She came home with her newborn from the hospital who had arrived early, walking into their brand new kitchen. I know that tearful feeling from bringing my own four precious babes home (to be fair, there are a lot of hormones flushing the system!). She stood in that kitchen reading my letter and said she felt so loved, like the kitchen was handmade for her as a new Mum. It was! From a Mum, for a Mum.

Property is so much more than profit - its a passion for people lived out through all we create. We craft beauty and quality with tender care. We plan and prioritise and multitask as women do so well. A passion for people is the nurture space of women for generations and property is the perfect place to give it voice. So, to the Mumprenuers, the lady engineers, the designers, the women of strength in trades - you matter. And for the women who wonder if property is for them - yes, you've found your place. Every day, we reshape the future one home at a time - forged by women, for women, for our world.