From $1.76 in the bank to multimillion-dollar listings on Kiama’s coastline, the multi-talented Marnie Beauchamp has gone from rock bottom in 2005 to a post-pandemic renaissance.

Now back in her home town and thriving once again as a real estate agent, Marnie’s return marks a full-circle moment in a career defined by resilience.

During an interview with The Bugle last week, Marnie said: “It wasn’t the place that was the problem, It was the place I was in. I just needed time to heal.”

In 2005, Marnie faced a trifecta of devastating personal trauma: a divorce, a draining six-month court battle, and the sudden death of her father.

Her daughters were just five and eight when she sold her local real estate agency to spend more time with them.

But a dispute with the franchisor led to a Supreme Court lawsuit, which cost her everything she had worked so hard for and leaving her in serious debt.

“I remember sitting in the park one day and my girls asked for an ice-cream,” she recalled.

“I had $1.76 in my bank account. I couldn’t even afford that. That’s how bad it got.”

Bankruptcy and liquidating her company were options, but they weren’t options she could live with.

“I couldn’t give up on the company I’d worked so hard to build,” she said.

“And I didn’t want anyone else to suffer the financial hardship I was facing. So I made a promise to myself that I’d pay back every cent. And I did, even though it took me over 5 years to do so.”

Still reeling from the court battle, Marnie then lost her beloved father. He was her mentor and rock, and passed suddenly at just 58.

“I didn’t even get to say goodbye. It was horrific,” she said.

Despite the grief, she returned to work. Within a year, she was ranked number 12 statewide in her real estate network.

But the burnout that followed eventually caught up with her. By 2018, she stepped away from the industry and left the region.

“I did solo road trips, spent time overseas, sat on beaches… I basically hid from the world,” she said. “But that space gave me clarity.”

During that break, she wrote Unread Pages, a deeply personal book reflecting on trauma, healing, and the struggles behind public success.

She also developed a real estate app, began mentoring, and became immersed in wellness - physical and emotional. 

Today, she lives by the principles of fasting, whole foods, and natural therapies - habits that restored her energy and focus.

“When you give the body a break from toxins and constant consumption, it heals,” she said. “Just like your mind does with space.”

That renewed vitality brought her back to Kiama. And back to real estate.

She officially relaunched in November 2024. In less than a year, she has re-established herself, securing high-end listings and rebuilding a business largely through repeat and referral clients.

“The majority of my work is with people I’ve helped before. That’s a great feeling,” she said.

“It’s growing naturally, and I’m loving it.”

Marnie’s connection to the region runs deep. She moved to Kiama at 21 and spent five years working in property development, including early work on the Shell Cove estate and other major subdivisions in the region.

She said that Kiama was a “unique” property market.

“Kiama has always had a strength that other areas don’t,” Marnie said. “We’re surrounded by farmland and ocean. There’s only so much property. That limited supply, plus the lifestyle, means we tend to recover quickly from downturns.”

Despite broader economic pressures, she remains optimistic about the local property market.

“In the last four weeks, enquiries have definitely picked up,” she said.

“It’s still not translating to big sales volume just yet. But that always follows. I think we’ll see the Reserve Bank move to cut interest rates next month. That will trigger more confidence.”

She describes the current climate as cautious, a reflection of cost-of-living pressures more than property fundamentals.

“People aren’t going on holidays. They’re not spending freely. And that flows through to real estate,” Marnie said.

“But Kiama holds firm. During COVID, places like Gerroa saw 60 per cent growth in property values in a year. That’s huge.”.

“The market always rises. It just moves in cycles. Kiama is on the map now more than ever. People from Sydney and even overseas are looking here,” she said.

Her market outlook for the next year is promising.

“I think we’ll see renewed confidence before the end of the year,” she said. “Interest rate certainty will help. And Kiama always bounces quicker than most.”

For Marnie, coming back to Kiama was about more than business. 

“My kids were raised here. I’ve previously lived here for many years," she said.

“Coming back wasn’t just a career decision. It was about being where I feel most grounded.”