Sarah Dougan, Principal of LJ Hooker Financial Services North Shore, Northern Beaches & Eastern Suburbs, won three awards at the recent LJ Hooker awards night held on 28 June in Sydney that celebrated LJ Hooker’s 80 years in business.

Ms Dougan was named LJ Hooker’s Top Financial Services Consultant (Volume of Settlements) both nationally and within the state. Her franchise also won the highest accolade within the LJ Hooker Financial Services network - Top Financial Services Franchise.

The Top Financial Services Consultant award is based on LJ Hooker Financial Services Consultants who achieve the highest dollar value of settled loans in the previous twelve months across the whole LJ Hooker Financial Services network.

The Top Financial Services Franchise award is an accolade to Ms Dougan and her team for their overall growth over the past 12 months, their utilisation of the LJ Hooker network, Suncorp growth of volume, recruitment of loan writers, training and Loanplan overall volume and growth in loan values.

Ms Dougan and her team were also finalists for the Top Media Exposure Award.

Ms Dougan said these awards reflected positively on the Sydney real estate markets.

“LJ Hooker Financial Services loans consultants support the real estate sales staff to provide a complete service, assisting with all financial requirements.

“The focus is on the customer and their needs, and consultants do put in that extra effort. We offer convenience, and the ability to secure a home in every aspect all in one spot.”

She says the benefit for the customer is in having access to specialised loan consultants who know the area and the property the agent is marketing.

“Our responsibility to the customer doesn’t stop with submission of a loan application. We liaise with all parties – the lender, solicitor and the real estate agent, for example. We basically act as a ‘middle man’ to ensure all parties are coordinated and settlement occurs as smoothly as possible.

“And after settlement, we continue to nurture clients, providing ongoing assistance to support financial growth,” said Ms Dougan.

LJ Hooker Managing Director Warren McCarthy said, “Through our Financial Services arm, LJ Hooker offers home-buyers a one-stop-shop. The loans consultant’s role involves many professional services including assisting with mortgage options, property investment finance and loan structuring information.

“Ms Dougan is a consummate finance professional, keen to offer LJ Hooker clients a complete real estate finance service. She is to be congratulated for her achievements.”

LJ Hooker Financial Services currently has 120 loan consultants in its network and almost 50 Franchise Owners nationally. The group has recorded an approximate growth of 20 per cent in settlements and 22 per cent growth in lodgements year on year.

LJ Hooker Financial Services is now the 12th largest Mortgage Broker in Australia.

Mr McCarthy chose the night to announce LJ Hooker’s partnership with a respected climate change company. “Climate Friendly has bought renewable energy credits on our behalf,” he told the 800 ‘Night of the Stars’ guests.