McGrath Estate Agents has opened a new office in Mildura, appointing local operator Lukas Pedder as principal.
Lukas has worked in the Mildura property market since 2016, having previously sold real estate for McGrath in Melbourne.
He said returning to the network had been the goal since he left the city.
“After my time with McGrath in Melbourne, my sole focus was to bring the McGrath ethos back to Mildura,” Lukas said.
“I have a background in sport, coming up through the youth ranks of Bayern Munich as a junior soccer player. That time taught me to surround myself with winners who strive to succeed. That, as well as a people-first attitude, fits well with the McGrath values.”
McGrath’s Head of Franchise, Chris Mourd, framed the office as part of the group’s regional growth.
“Mildura is a strategic regional expansion for McGrath, led by a strong local operator in Lukas Pedder,” Chris said.
“This market is consistent and increasingly competitive, driven by lifestyle demand and solid fundamentals. Our focus is simple – deliver a premium service and become a trusted part of the local community.”
According to McGrath Research, Mildura ranked 11th out of 191 local east coast markets in March 2026 on a composite measure of demand, supply, pricing, rental dynamics and yields.
The group’s data shows sales in Mildura grew 13 per cent in the year to Q1 2026, with homes taking an average of 21 days to sell.
Prices rose 3.4 per cent to a median of $399,600, while weekly rents climbed 13.6 per cent, pushing the gross rental yield to 5.58 per cent.
Lukas said investors and buyers’ agents were only now discovering what locals had long known.
“I’m excited that investors and buyers’ agents have finally found Mildura. Locals have appreciated our quality of life for a long time now but newcomers are only just realising what this area has to offer.”
He pointed to demand from interstate buyers alongside local upgraders.
“Relocators see value for money in Mildura,” Lukas said.
“We see buyers from Adelaide, Melbourne, Queensland and Darwin. For local upgraders, an acre of land is still within reach. $750,000 to $1 million will buy a great family home. Anything over $1 million will buy an exceptional property.”
McGrath Mildura will service an area stretching from Wentworth in the north to Ouyen in the south, and from Robinvale/Euston in the east to the South Australian border in the west, covering key suburbs including Irymple, Red Cliffs, Merbein and Gol Gol.
Lukas said the region’s lifestyle, underpinned by the Murray River and Mildura Airport – the busiest in regional Victoria – was central to its appeal.
“It’s a strong and very connected community,” he said. “Much of that lifestyle is based around the river.”
The new office will operate a sales team alongside a property management arm.