Dynamic, flexible and perfectly positioned to become South Africa’s next iconic real estate brand, Tyson Properties has grown from one of Kwa-Zulu-Natal’s most successful real estate franchises into a national company that is poised to ride a massive wave of change in the country’s real estate market.

The company was birthed in Durban in 2005 by respected real estate entrepreneur, Chris Tyson, and his business partner, Gavin Cunningham. Determined to lead by example and inject transparency and integrity into a sector that was riding a wave of change and firmly on the road towards greater professionalism at the time, the partners started out with a single office and a staff of just six.

Chris Tyson’s founding vision was to create a specialist agency that was not only in tune with the needs of the KwaZulu-Natal property market but one that offered clients exceptional service and agents a platform to excel. To attract the best property professionals, he provided a happy and professional working environment, together with training, resources and innovative operational systems.

Proof of the efficacy of this approach is the fact that Tyson Properties currently has 420 agents that have built up a strong network of business associates and an extensive referral base. The company has won numerous awards and has a reputation for professionalism and integrity, making it the brand of choice for property investors in KZN over the past 17 years.

“Our focus has always been on quality service and working together to achieve a winning solution,” says Tyson.

Every year, Tyson Properties has exceeded its forecasts, grown its footprint and increased its market share. In addition to marketing residential, commercial and rental properties, Tyson Properties has expanded its service offering in Durban to include a property management division that specialises in the administration of exclusive properties and sectional title developments.

The strong foundation on the East Coast paved the way for national growth and, in 2010, offices in Johannesburg and the Western Cape opened almost simultaneously. Aggressive growth across all three markets and the roll out of new offices has positioned the company to benefit from accruing strong market share within a very short timeframe.

Over the years, Tyson Properties has navigated a number of challenges – including a global recession in 2008 and the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite the resulting economic fallout from the latter, Tyson registered its best growth year ever in 2021 with turnover increasing by 25 percent. Currently, the company finds itself in an exciting transition stage. It is perfectly positioned to handle future growth.

The pioneering approach to doing business and sound business principles for which it has become known over nearly two decades remains. To complement these tried and tested values, the company has embraced state-of-the-art technology and led the way in innovative marketing of properties for which it has secured mandates.

In 2022, Tyson Property Holdings was created to support and grow the company’s regional operations in Gauteng, the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Nick Pearson, the regional director of the Western Cape region, was appointed CEO overseeing national operations whilst Chris Tyson became chairman, responsible for fine tuning the strategic direction of the company.

Going forward, Tyson expects Tyson Properties to cement its position as a leader in both the provincial and the national property sectors. “We’re not just an estate agency, we are redefining our industry. We embrace change and continually challenge tradition. We do business differently, giving our clients the winning edge. Our vision is to continue to build our reputation as an exclusive agency that represents quality service, honesty and integrity. We want to grow our business by partnering with the right people who will live our brand. To be known not as the biggest, but as the best,” he says.

Pearson adds that, as a brand, Tyson Properties is heavily invested in the South African market. “We are here to make some changes, even ruffle a few feathers – but, ultimately, we want to grow into our potential
which is to be SA’s next iconic real estate brand. To do
that, you have to believe in your country, grow with
it and be flexible enough to identify and meet the
market’s needs.”