Building broker's Fast Starters growth signals a shift in how Australians buy new homes

SUBIACO, Australia - EntSun -- Locale Homes, Perth's leading independent building broker, has been named in The Australian Financial Review's 2026 Fast Starters List, the annual ranking of Australia's fastest-growing new businesses.

Founded in June 2023 by Managing Director Adam Schaal and CFO Yasmin Georgiadis alongside a New Home Advocate, Locale Homes grew revenue almost 500% in its first 3 years.

Schaal spent more than a decade in WA new-home sales and building leadership, most recently as General Manager of one of Australia's most respected building groups from 2020 to 2023. During his tenure, the group picked up accolades and grew, while navigating the challenging COVID period. From that seat, he saw how the standard new-home buying model is built around the builder rather than the buyer.

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"Locale exists to put someone with that same inside knowledge firmly on the buyer's side. We work for the people building the home," Schaal said.

That inside knowledge runs through the wider business. Locale's leadership team has been drawn from several of Australia's major building groups, as well as banking and finance, giving it hands-on experience.

Locale's ambition is bigger than its own growth. The business wants independent building brokers to become the preferred way Australians buy a new home, in the same way mortgage brokers have become the preferred way to get home loans.

"Not long ago, most people walked into their own bank and took the loan they were offered. Now more than eight in ten Australians use a broker," Schaal said. "Building is heading the same way, and we want to lead that shift in WA."

A core principle of Locale's model is like-for-like pricing. Clients pay the same price for their home as they would by going direct to the builder.

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"When you go direct, the builder is the only one in the room who knows what a good deal looks like," he said. "Come through us and you get the same price you'd get direct, plus someone who knows multiple builder's pricing, inclusions and track record."

Like a mortgage broker, Locale is paid by the builder rather than the client. Locale's consultants earn the same commission whichever builder is chosen, so there is no incentive to steer buyers toward one builder over another.

The team has grown from three people to close to 60, with teams now in WA, VIC and QLD. Locale completed approx. 600 sales in FY26, making it Australia's largest independent building broker.

On the Fast Starters recognition, Schaal credited the company's clients and team.

https://localehomes.com.au/