An outstanding achievement! Leading Chinese apartment development sales specialist personally sells NZ$186,000,000! The story behind New Zealand’s tallest residential tower

The Pacifica development

 

Annie demonstrated her exceptional sales ability and outstanding professionalism in this high-profile development. A leading apartment development sales specialist, she drew on her years of in-depth market knowledge and keen understanding of clients’ needs to personally sell 113 apartments at The Pacifica, worth a total of NZ$186,000,000. This is both a remarkable personal achievement and a compelling demonstration of The Pacifica’s unique appeal.

 

We recently had the pleasure of interviewing this specialist in New Zealand luxury apartments and new-build developments, who shared her career journey and the secrets of her success.

 

Entering the property market: A challenging beginning

 

YIJU: Hello, Annie! Could you start by telling us how you entered the property industry?

 

Annie Xu： Of course. In February 2005, I came to New Zealand to study for an undergraduate degree in management at the University of Waikato. After graduating, I developed a strong interest in property and decided to try a new career direction. In January 2011, I obtained my real estate licence and began my career as a real estate agent. Initially, I was unfamiliar with the industry, but through continuous learning and practical experience, I gradually acquired the knowledge and skills I needed and came to love the work.

 

From beginner to expert: making progress step by step

 

YIJU: You have achieved remarkable success in real estate. Could you tell us about your development along the way?

 

Annie Xu： When I first started working as a real estate agent, I faced many difficulties and challenges. To serve my clients better, I worked hard to learn about the market and attended a range of training sessions and seminars. I also placed great importance on practical experience. Whenever I took clients to view a property, I listened carefully to their feedback to understand their needs. By continually building experience and improving my service, I strengthened my professional skills and earned the trust and support of more and more clients. My efforts have paid off over the past few years: I ranked first at Barfoot & Thompson’s City branch in 2021–2022, second at the branch in 2023–2024, and second company-wide in the two-person team category in 2024. To date, my sales total approximately NZ$780,000,000, with more than 1000 properties sold.

 

Barfoot & Thompson chairman Peter Thompson

pictured presenting an award to Annie

 

Focusing on luxury apartments and new-build developments: the secret to success

 

YIJU: You focus primarily on selling luxury apartments and new-build developments. What makes this field distinctive?

 

Annie Xu：Selling luxury apartments and new-build developments requires highly specialised knowledge and skills, as these projects generally involve larger investments and clients have higher expectations of quality and service. To meet their needs, I need to understand not only the market but also architectural design, building material selection and related areas. I am very familiar with market conditions in central Auckland, the North Shore, West Auckland and East Auckland, and particularly skilled at selling new apartment and townhouse developments, both off the plans and completed.

 

A success story: The Pacifica development

 

YIJU: Could you share a particularly memorable success story?

 

Annie Xu：Certainly. The Pacifica is a success story that stands out for me. Located in central Auckland, it targets the luxury residential market. In the early stages, we faced intense market competition and demanding client expectations. To ensure the development’s success, my team and I invested considerable time and effort, striving for excellence at every stage, from site selection and market positioning to brand promotion. Ultimately, we successfully sold numerous apartments and earned high praise from both clients and the developer.

 

Interior photographs of The Pacifica development

 

YIJU: What distinctive features of The Pacifica contributed to your success? How did you apply your strengths to the sales process?

Annie Xu: The Pacifica’s luxury penthouses, sky homes, tower suites and executive apartments each have their own distinctive features. The luxury penthouses offer expansive views and spacious, light-filled interiors, making them ideal for a high-quality lifestyle. The sky homes combine modern design with imported European appliances for exceptional comfort and elegance. The tower suites offer peaceful living above the city, with impeccable high-quality fittings and carefully designed interiors. The executive apartments suit those seeking a convenient lifestyle, with nearby amenities bringing energy and ease to everyday life.

When selling this development, I paid close attention to each client’s needs and provided tailored home-buying advice. By explaining the distinctive selling points of each apartment type in detail, I helped clients appreciate The Pacifica’s appeal first-hand. I also took them to see the lounge, library and cinema, along with the panoramic views on level 25, and the world-class facilities on level 7, including the swimming pool, spa, sauna and gym, helping them experience the lifestyle for themselves.

 

 

A comprehensive, end-to-end service: from site selection to settlement

Annie Xu: Our service covers the entire process, from site selection before development, market positioning, branding and promotion to contributing to project design and building material selection, identifying target customers and achieving successful settlement. Specifically, before a project begins, we conduct detailed market research to help developers select the best site. During the design stage, we take part in discussions about the plans to ensure they meet market demand. During the sales stage, we develop precisely targeted marketing strategies and seek potential clients through a range of channels, continuing through to successful settlement.