After years of building careers in Hamilton, Mark and Deb Crarer made the move to Raglan in 2022 to pursue a slower pace of life and a shared passion for helping people. Combining Mark’s real estate experience with Deb’s warmth and people skills, the couple have found their stride on the Coast—bringing honesty, humour, and heart to every home they help buy or sell.
How did you get started in Real Estate?
Mark began his real estate journey in Hamilton, spending 11 years in the industry through the late 1990s and early 2000s before pursuing other professional opportunities. Debbie, meanwhile, dedicated her entire career to being a successful hairdresser in Hamilton. The dream of moving to the “Coast” was always high priority. In early 2022, they made the move to Raglan, where a return to real estate provided the perfect opportunity to merge their unique skills and personalities. This new chapter allowed them both the flexibility to manage their time and to enjoy life away from city traffic.
What’s one thing people might be surprised to learn about your background?
Mark was part of a three-person team that, in 2016, developed and distributed software for farmers. This achievement earned the distinction of best new software for Fonterra in 2017. Debbie’s early life was shaped by her upbringing in Paraguay, where her missionary parents served, before she returned to New Zealand at age nine.
How would you describe your approach to working with clients?
Their approach to working with clients is rooted in treating everyone—clients included—the way they themselves wish to be treated: with honesty, integrity, and a good sense of humour.
What do you most enjoy about helping people buy or sell homes?
The most rewarding aspect of being in real estate is the chance to play a significant role in people’s lives. Rather than simply facilitating property transactions, they help individuals and families move forward into their next life chapters, striving to make the process as smooth as possible.
What’s one tip you might give to first home buyers?
For those buying a home for the first time, it can be wise to look for a property that needs work you are capable of doing yourself—such as painting or gardening—at low cost. By putting genuine effort and care into improvements and ensuring the work is done to a high standard, these enhancements can yield significant returns, often many times the original investment.
What’s the most rewarding transaction you have ever handled?
No single transaction stands out above the rest. However, achieving results for sellers in today’s challenging real estate market is always especially gratifying, as it enables both sellers and buyers to move forward with the next phase of their lives.
What do you most love about this community?
Raglan is a place quite unlike any other in New Zealand, offering a unique vibe and attracting a wonderfully eclectic mix of people from near and far.
For Mark and Debbie, the heart of the town lies with the long-time locals—the ones who give Raglan its roots and share its stories. These individuals are generally welcoming, friendly, and accepting, and being part of this community is something Mark and Debbie feel truly fortunate about.
How do you stay involved in the community and what do you support?
They both contribute to the community in ways that fit their time and abilities. Mark serves as a committee member for the Raglan Golf Club and assists there when possible, while Debbie supports the local Food Bank whenever she’s not working or spending time with her grandchildren.
