Two Years In The Nation’s Capital: What The Cohen Handler Canberra Team Has Built

Almost two years ago, Cohen Handler opened its doors in Canberra. At the time, Buyer’s Agents were still a relatively unfamiliar concept in the ACT market. Most buyers assumed they’d navigate the process alone, spending weekends at open homes, trying to decode agent motivations, and hoping they weren’t leaving money on the table.

Since launching in August 2024, Alexander Anlezark and James Meli have settled 80 purchases across the ACT, helping buyers find and secure the right property at the right price, from first homes in the high $400s to premium family homes well north of $3 million. a common misconception buyers have a bout Cohen Handler is that we only purchase luxury homes and that a Buyer’s Agent is purely for people with big budgets. With an average purchase price of $1.14 million, the reality is quite different and the team in Canberra demonstrated this perfectly. When reviewing our purchases, the majority of buyers we’ve serviced are every day Australian who just getting started, entering the property market or looking to upsize to the next family home.

The most telling number is this, 56% of all purchases were secured off-market or before a property officially hit the open market. More than half of the team’s clients never had to compete in a crowded auction room or a public bidding war. They got there first, because the team’s agent relationships provide access that the average buyer simply does not have. Imagine how many properties most Canberra buyers aren’t seeing right now.

The Common Case Studies Behind 2 Years Worth of Purchases

First home buyers:

A consistent and meaningful part of the majority of clients we have assisted we first home buyers. Many arrive having already spent months searching alone, going to open homes every weekend, second-guessing their offers, and watching properties sell for more than they expected. The team has guided numerous first-time buyers through it, and the outcomes reflect that: one client in particular secured a home approximately $80,000 below market value prior to auction; another purchased $30,000 below what they were prepared to pay after the team moved fast on the day of the first open home.

Interstate buyers relocating to Canberra:

Defence personnel, public servants, returning expats, and professionals moving for work are a significant cohort. They are time-poor, often buying remotely, and need someone on the ground who can inspect, shortlist, and complete due diligence without them. Several of these purchases were settled by clients who never physically walked through the property before exchange.

Buyers who had been searching alone for months:

One of the most common reasons people engaged Cohen Handler was simply due to buyer fatigue and frustration. This is the result when a buyer has spent three, six, sometimes nine months missing out repeatedly, growing frustrate and losing confidence in their own judgement. Shortly after engaging Cohen Handler Canberra, the process becomes easy and they are under contract within weeks. In one case, a buyer who had been searching independently for nine months secured a property within a month of engaging the team. Access and negotiation skill change the equation quickly.

Investors:

Both local and interstate buyers building portfolios, with the inner suburbs Braddon, Kingston, Phillip the most frequent targets. Some are purely yield-focused; others are buying an investment now with plans to move in within five to ten years. Several have returned as repeat clients, using the team to grow their portfolio systematically.

Families upsizing and knock-down-rebuild buyers:

Growing families needing more space, better school zones, or room to build. A number of these were secured off-market, with the team identifying opportunities before they hit public listings. KDR buyers in particular benefit from off-market access, the right block in the right pocket rarely lasts long once it is public.

Premium and relocating buyers:

At the higher end, the team has handled purchases well above $1.5 million, including a $4.66 million family home in Red Hill and a $3.23 million property in Turner secured at auction. These clients often arrive with specific requirements, tight timelines, and a need for thorough due diligence. The team has inspected 20 to 30 properties on behalf of individual clients before identifying the right one.

What The Team Actually Delivers, Three Outcomes That Consistently Show Up

The first is access, to properties before they are listed, to agents who return calls, and to opportunities the open market never sees. This is the foundation of what a buyers agent provides, and it is where the Canberra team has built its reputation.

The second is negotiation. Across 80 purchases, clients have saved anywhere from $15,000 to $190,000 below their maximum budgets. In one case, the team secured a townhouse $190,000 below what the client had expected to pay, by identifying an off-market opportunity and moving before any competition emerged. These are not isolated wins but are a reflection of consistent, disciplined negotiation across every price point.

The third is confidence. Buyers who are new to the Canberra market, or new to property need clarity on what they are buying, what it’s worth and whether the deal makes sense. That is what the team provides and it is why so many clients come back, and why so many new clients arrive through word of moth.

Looking Ahead

Awareness of buyers agents and the genuine value professional representation provides, has grown considerably in the ACT. More clients are arriving via referral, more agents are picking up the phone because they know the team will perform, and more Canberrans are recognising that having someone in their corner is just as sensible here as it is in Sydney or Melbourne.

If you are thinking about buying in Canberra whether it is your first home, your next investment, or a long-term family base reach out to the Cohen Handler Canberra team.

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