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When Nicholas Loftus bought his first watch, he did it with the intention that it would one day become a family heirloom.

“It’s my first nice watch,” he says. “I’m giving it to my dad for his 60th, and the stipulation is he gives it to my son when he turns 18. That’s something I’ve always been set on — something from me, to my dad, to my son. That’s probably the most important thing to me.”

That quiet sense of legacy, of thinking beyond the moment, runs through almost everything Nicholas does — whether it’s how he talks about his family, his childhood in Brisbane’s inner north, or the causes he supports.

He’s open about the fact that he didn’t take the traditional path. “I was working at Maccas and I was 17, about to turn 18. I was at university for five weeks. I realised it wasn’t for me,” he says. “My girlfriend’s mum at the time said, ‘You’re pretty good at talking — have you ever considered real estate?’”

It wasn’t a career he had considered. But through a series of small, unplanned steps — first as an “assistant’s assistant in rentals” — he found himself in an industry that clicked.

“I never really thought about it… but I never looked back.”

A Rugby Kid, a Family Man, a Collector

Away from work, Nicholas is a self-proclaimed “rugby union boy through and through,” having played for 13 years until injury forced him off the field. These days, he follows the British and Irish Lions and the Reds, and has even “recently got into AFL” — a result, he says, of his partner being “AFL-mad.”

He collects F1 miniatures with his young son and watches dramatised history pieces to unwind — Peaky Blinders, war films, anything with a touch of historical grit.

“I don’t want to say I’m obsessed with war,” he laughs, “but the idea of it fascinates me.”

That fascination with legacy and history extends to his support of organisations like Youngcare and Blue Hope.

“I work closely with Youngcare,” he explains, sharing that a friend’s brother, Nick Bonifant, was one of its founders. “Lovely guy. I really love the charity.” He’s also a supporter of Blue Hope, which offers mental health support for current and former police officers, and he proudly sponsors the 17 Brigade ADF Rugby team.

Rooted in Community

It’s no coincidence Nicholas found his professional footing in the same neighbourhoods where he grew up. “I’ve always had an affinity with houses and what you can do with them,” he says. “And I think the scope you have, the opportunity to work with here, is much greater than in a lot of other places.”

Now the Selling Principal at Harcourts Local in Ascot, Nicholas brings over a decade of local knowledge and personal connection to the job. His deep ties to Ascot and Hamilton — two of Brisbane’s most established and affluent suburbs — give him an advantage that goes beyond data points.

But what his clients seem to value most is his attitude.

“He doesn’t take himself seriously, but he takes his work very, very seriously,” says a couple who were his clients on the sale of 47 Wongara Street, Clayfield. “From that first call, Nick put us at ease… really personable, really lovely guy to work with, and very knowledgeable.”

The couple described the process as seamless, the experience as “really, really good,” and left with more than just a sold property. “We’ve met an agent, but we’ve made a friend for life.”

Hard Work and Quiet Drive

Nicholas is the kind of agent who’s still learning to switch off — not because he doesn’t trust his team, but because he’s deeply invested.

“It took me a while to learn to switch off from work because I’m obsessed with it,” he admits. “The hardest thing for me is to switch off. And it’s taken a while for me to trust in my team. When I do go away, I can switch off.”

He hasn’t travelled far — a trip to Bali, a few childhood memories of LA and Vegas — but what he lacks in air miles, he makes up for in focus.

His values haven’t changed much over the years. But since becoming a father, he says, “My priorities have obviously shifted dramatically. What I do every day is now very different to why I used to do it.”

The watch he plans to pass on says as much — it’s not about money, or status, or the perfect sale. It’s about creating something that lasts.

Published 7-July-2025