'Long-term investment, high standards and exceptional client outcomes': Northern Ireland family-run, single-branch estate agency posts double-digit growth
Newtownabbey estate agency reports strongest performance to date, with turnover up 20% and national recognition across sales and lettings categories following sustained expansion
McMillan McClure, the sole-branch Newtownabbey estate agency, has reported its strongest financial and operational performance to date as it secured major UK and NI industry awards.
For the financial year ending September 30 2025, the firm achieved 20% year-on-year turnover growth. Performance was driven by a sharp uplift across all primary divisions, with resale turnover up 27%, mortgage revenue up 42%, and rental turnover up 7%.
Operationally, McMillan McClure, which recently celebrated its 24th anniversary, continues to lead the Northern Ireland market in residential activity. Online listings platform PropertyPal ranks the firm as one of the most active estate agencies in Northern Ireland for listings, sales agreed and rental activity.
Last year it sold over 400 properties and manages more than 350 rental properties.
Barrie McClure, director, McMillan McClure, said: "Our market-leading performance as a family-run, single-branch business is driven by a strategy focused on long-term investment, high standards and exceptional client outcomes, rather than volume alone.
"Operating in a highly competitive market, these results underline our ability to lead on both performance and professionalism. Performance in the current financial year has remained resilient, while recent multi-award wins across Northern Ireland and the UK continue to demonstrate the strength of this model and the depth of talent within our team."
The positive momentum has continued into the current financial year, with a 20% increase in sale agreed revenue recorded at the end of May 2026 compared to same period last year.
McMillan McClure’s strong performance can be attributed to recent investment projects, including more than £50,000 invested in technology, CRM and marketing infrastructure.
The company also secured a substantial contract to act as sole selling agent for Ardkeen Manor, Upper Road, Greenisland, a 20-unit residential development.
Industry recognition throughout last year validated the company’s commercial performance and market leadership. At The Negotiator Awards 2025, one of the UK’s longest-running independent agency awards programmes, McMillan McClure achieved a rare awards sweep at the prestigious London event, winning Regional Agency of the Year (Northern Ireland) – Gold, Regional Lettings Agency of the Year (Small, UK) – Silver and Overall Agency of the Year (Small, UK) – Bronze. In the sales category, the agency competed against 35 businesses and, in lettings, against 28 firms.
Locally, the agency also secured the 2025 Residential Estate Agent of the Year – Sole Branch title, building on a series of Northern Ireland property awards from 2022 to 2024.
Internally, McMillan McClure continues to build capacity through staffing, training and governance. Headcount has increased from 11 to 13 over the past three years, supported by an annual Ulster University placement programme, and the team now carries more than 130 years of combined professional experience.
Customer satisfaction indicators remain sector-leading, with more than 850 five-star Google reviews (TBC) and an average rating of 4.9/5, positioning the agency among the most trusted sole-branch operators in the UK market.
McMillan McClure also maintains a strong CSR profile, having donated more than £200,000 to local charities, clubs and social enterprises since inception, including £18,000 over the past three years.
McMillan McClure’s recent trajectory follows its £15,000 rebrand in 2022, which introduced the current leadership structure and signalled a shift towards scaled digital infrastructure and broader market coverage.