James is a Director and Accredited Auctioneer who has lived, studied and worked locally throughout his life. With more than a decade in real estate and strong community ties, James brings clear communication, detailed follow-up and genuine passion for the bayside lifestyle to every campaign he leads.

What's your personal connection to the neighbourhood?

I have lived in the area my whole life, went to school locally and have always worked around here. After more than 10 years in real estate, I still love helping people move into the area and enjoy the beachside lifestyle.

What do your clients commonly say you do differently?

Clients often value the level of service I provide from listing through to settlement. I focus on communication, follow-up and explaining the process clearly so they feel informed the whole way through.

Tell us about any community initiatives you're proud of

I am proud of our involvement with Aspendale Life Saving Club and the Club to Club Swim Challenge, as well as the All Fired Up Fun Run. Both are great local events that support the community and encourage an active lifestyle.

What's something only locals know about this area?

Locals know just how special the beaches are. I have seen coastlines around the world, but Edithvale still has some of the best beach views and sunsets anywhere.

Reviews

5.00

James has a 5.00 star rating, according to realestate.com.au.

Last updated: June 2026

Great communication throughout the sale. Exceeded market price due to James’s premier negotiation skills. Went over and above to achieve the best result for us. Highly recommended.

Kelly Stephens

I met James at an open home when I was researching the market. I was still deciding which agent I would use for my sale. In the end I chose James because I found him to be genuine and honest, which is really important to me. During the sale process James and his team were so efficient. He could not have been more hard working, easy to contact and able to work around my busy schedule. Even after my home was sold he offered to help me negotiate my own new home purchase. He went above and beyond.

Susan Heggie

I listed with James due to a referral from a friend of mine who had dealt with him from a purchasing side. I found James to be a good communicator and an excellent negotiator. He secured me a result prior to auction well beyond my expectations. His property video and online marketing really helped to maximize the price and he did countless inspections at all sorts of hours. He’s now helping with the buying side for me. I wouldn’t hesitate to refer him or use him again.

James Combie

James French helped us sell our property by Auction in Aspendale. His knowledge of the local real estate market is fantastic and his advice about the Auction was a key factor in getting a great result. Many thanks for the professional management of the sale.

Helen Dalton

Choosing an agent is never an easy task however as soon as I met James, I knew he was the perfect choice. James has exceptional market knowledge and experience in the area. He went above and beyond to get the best result for us and in fact got a record price for our townhouse in Chelsea. He was an absolute pleasure to deal with and his advice was always honest from the get go. I highly recommend him!

Olivia Hajigeorgi

James was amazing at selling my house. James made the process extremely stress free and a positive experience. He was genuine and excellent with his communication, professionalism and work ethics. Having sold previous properties, I can’t recommend James enough as he has been by far the best real estate agent I have had in selling my property.

Julia S

I contacted James first when I was looking to sell my property as I had dealt with him twice previously when buying. Despite also seeking sales appraisals from other agents, James stood out with his clear knowledge and excellent attitude towards selling my house. He provided excellent advice through the process and keep me suitably informed. If I was looking to buy or sell in James' area again, I would contact him first as I believe he is truly interested in achieving a good result for all.

James L

James was accommodating & attentive. Made me feel at ease and calmed my nerves during the purchase of my new home. A pleasure to deal with.

Jessica G

Purchasing through James was a smooth process. He acted honourably, negotiations were fair and resulted in an outcome both parties were satisfied with. Thanks!

Ben S

We could not recommend James more highly. From our initial meeting through to the sale of our property James was responsive, professional, knowledgeable and overall a great communicator. He made himself available to both ourselves and prospective buyers whether it be queries, or repeat inspections. His skills as an agent and auctioneer came to the forefront on auction day achieving a fantastic result. We cannot thank James enough for making the process as smooth as possible.

Angie R

I highly recommend James & will definitely refer him. He is a fantastic realtor that sold my home so smoothly and professionally. He has so much knowledge, expertise of the market and the area. At all times he guided me in the right direction. With his negotiation skills, he got me a price that I’m thrilled with. He also gave me wonderful advice in what to look for in purchasing a property. Thankyou I’m very grateful.

Maria S

Very highly recommend James if your considering who to sell with. He is very hard working honest and professional in all his dealings and he was able to achieve a incredible result for us in selling our mums house - wouldn’t hesitate in using his services again.

Steven S

James and Herron from Buxton Chelsea were terrific. They were clear, helpful and prompt in their communication and always happy to answer questions. It’s been very straightforward dealing with them which I really appreciate.

Marion O

James’ knowledge of the market was spot on. I was sceptical at the beginning of the the campaign believing we had set too high a goal but James delivered and then some. Very happy

Robert M

James was excellent at communicating with us constantly.

Jason R

It has been a pleasure to do business with James for the second time in recent years. James has excellent communication skills which kept us up to date and informed through the entire selling campaign. He is reliable, efficient and has an attention to detail which helps every step of the way. I would not hesitate to engage James again for future buying and selling.

Katie B

James & Tara were great from start to finish. Excellent communication throughout. Both very professional & approachable. Highly recommend

Luke R

A big thank you, to James & Tara, for the sale of our apartment. Very friendly, very professional. Always approachable. Returned our communication, promptly Constantly, coming up with different ideas. An amazing, hardworking team. We highly recommend James & Tara and will definitely use, the team again.

Rick M

James has been an absolute pleasure to deal with when purchasing our new home. He is professional , knowledgeable, quick to respond and always “on”. Having not bought anything for over ten years, he has made the experience so far , so easy and helped us through every step of the way! Could not recommend a better agent. 10/10. Thanks so much for everything James! You’re an absolute legend!!!!

Danny S

James and Tara are outstanding. Any concerns were met with support and professionalism. The communication between them and us was top notch. They constantly discussed things with us and had our wishes at the forefront of their mind. We couldn’t recommend James and Tara anymore highly. We really appreciate the dedication and integrity that James and Tara put into selling our home.

Kerrie and Neale D

James was very responsive to enquires and moved things along quickly and efficiently. He was credible and knowledgeable and very pleasant to deal with.

Laura M

James did a stellar job selling our house - he was in constant communication with us, and was always available to answer questions. We particularly appreciated his professionalism, market insights, and his reliably quick responses to questions

Luke T

I would say that James was knowledgeable. In what ourselves and vendors were hoping to achieve. He was friendly, prompt with replying to our questions regarding property and professional at all times.

Gillian S

James was absolutely fantastic throughout our purchase process. Efficient, available, kind and ready to help every step of the way. It made the difference in our acquisition experience. Thanks for all your support.

Marcelo M

James's name is posted all around the 3196 area, for good reason: he is a suburb specialist. He is a clear communicator, responsive and efficient and an area expert, that knows his market (Sells the most houses!)

Kathryn H

Very helpful! Informative, respectful and made us feel very comfortable purchasing our first property,

Nick M

James was very helpful throughout the process and answered all our questions we asked being our first home purchase he made it very easy and smooth process.

Courtney P

We are in the process of purchasing our family home through James and it has been a pleasure so far. He is very flexible and accommodating, and was great communicating when we put the offer in until it was accepted!

Leena S

James was highly responsive and excellent to deal with. Direct and upfront communicator making it an easy process. While been unsuccessful in an original offer, James ensured to keep us in the loop with potential properties that would of our interest. Which made our lives a lot easier.

Nathan T

Couldn’t be happier with James and his team. Professional, Hard working and a highly skilled Real Estate Professional. Provided great advice, took control but also acted on our instructions. I would highly recommend a chat with James, you will not be disappointment. Amazing Auctioneer as well.

Daniel K

James was great to deal with, extremely helpful and responsive. Keeping me up to date which each step and really made the process easy. Thanks again!

Dan F

Highly recommend James! Super responsive and easy to work with on such an important purchase process. Thanks for the direct and prompt information throughout the entire process! Have dealt with other agents that drag their heels, and James certainly is the opposite of that. Looking forward to receiving the same level of service from the rental arm for the property purchased via James ;)

Jessica G

Edithvale

I found James to be very professional and extremely pleasant, he went above and beyond and kept me informed throughout the process of selling my home. I would definitely recommend James.

Tracie B

Chelsea

We found James to be an excellent communicator with prompt responses to any queries. His knowledge of the market was very good and his ability to engage with purchasers and us as vendors was great. His advice in presentation of the property is well considered and helpful enabling the best possible outcome for the sale.

Annette F

Aspendale Gardens

The sale of our unit in Edithvale was a bit tricky but James was able to pivot and work with us and the purchaser brilliantly. He got us the best outcome possible and we’re thrilled! Thank you James

Alex O

Edithvale

James was very helpful throughout the process and very professional as well. He made the whole buying process very easy.

Nitesh S

Aspendale Gardens

James was great to deal with! He will do anything to make the experience as easy and pleasant as he can for you! 10/10!

Tate H

Edithvale

James was truly excellent in managing this sale. Very proactive and professional. Easy to communicate with and very transparent. Highly recommended.

Matthew L

Aspendale

It was a delight having James sell a property in Edithvale, especially as he had to overcome many challenges with the building itself, but remained positive and transparent throughout. Extremely efficient with prompt feedback post each inspection. Highly recommended!

Lou L

Recently purchased from James. His knowledge of the market and his response time is second to none. James made our purchasing experience extremely enjoyable and we knew we were in safe hands.

Bailey B

Aspendale

We recently purchased a property from James, we were super impressed with how hard he worked to get the deal completed, well into what should have been his downtime he made the call to let us know we had a deal! Very impressed with his willingness to dig deep! Thanks James

Pam B

James was fantastic handling our recent sale, he was knowledgeable about the market and open and honest in his, always timely, communication.

Pam B

Aspendale

James was wonderful to deal with. Very enthusiastic to match the house to the buyer. Checking in with us to make sure everything was travelling well before the auction. We are very appreciative of his efforts.

Jade L

Aspendale

James made our buying process very easy and was great to deal with.

Ryan T

James is reliable, dedicated to his clients and hardworking. He has been honest and provided important advice that we trusted. I would recommend James if buying or selling property

Chris H

Bonbeach

James was a pleasure to work with! Very responsive, professional and reliable. Highly recommend working James for all your property sales and purchases. Well done James!

Hayaat S

Working with James was an absolute pleasure. His knowledge of the area and response time- just outstanding! He truly went above and beyond to help me sell my property and calm my nerves. I highly recommend James to anyone looking to buy or sell property. You are in great hands! Thank you James 😊

Stella I

Chelsea

James was fantastic to work with. James is professional, reliable and gave us realistic advice through every step. This was the second time we chose James to support us with selling a property. If you’re looking for an agent, I highly recommend James.

Sineaid G

Parkdale

Have both bought and sold with James now . His knowledge of the local area and market was great. He made the whole process easy and answered all our questions with professionalism and integrity, nothing was too much trouble. Happy to recommend James

Joanne O

Carrum

I have brought and sold through James and he has always been very professional and made both processes seamless.

Lewis A

Edithvale

James was absolutely fantastic. He was honest, trustworthy, and very helpful. I would not hesitate to recommend him. Would use him again without hesitation, very easy and comfortable experience.

Jennifer M

Frankston

James has been an absolute pleasure to work with. Communication is great, absolutely fabulous result. I would recommend James to anyone.

Polly P

Bonbeach

Selling our home was an absolute breeze thanks to James. The process was smooth from start to finish, and the property sold much faster than we expected. Professional, efficient, and a pleasure to work with—highly recommend!

Hung H

Chelsea

James helped us hugely in securing a family home in an area that we loved. His communication was prompt, efficient and sensitive to our needs. An excellent outcome with thanks to James and his team at Buxton

Adam L

Edithvale

We had an outstanding experience with James who sold our house for a great price. He was incredibly professional, providing honest communication and valuable feedback throughout the entire process. Their expertise and dedication made the sale smooth and successful. Highly recommend!

Robyn A

Edithvale

James was fantastic to work with during our home-buying process. He was knowledgeable, responsive, and genuinely cared about helping us find the right property. His guidance made everything smooth and stress-free. Highly recommend him to anyone looking to buy a home!

Matt C

Chelsea

James was easy to talk to and great to work with. We ended up with a perfect home in a superb location for a great price! Highly recommended!

Tim I

Chelsea

James sold my property in Seaford. His guidance made the whole process stress free. James has a great knowledge of the market . He is friendly ,a great communicator and negotiator. He kept me informed at all times .His advice on staging the property and marketing it was invaluable. James French achieved a great result for my house and I would recommend him to anyone interested in selling or buying.

Bradley L

Seaford

They say selling your home is one of the most stressful times in your life but this couldn’t have been further from the truth with James. James maintained a constant dialogue with us throughout the sale, was extremely professional and incredibly knowledgeable about the market. We always felt like our best interests were the top priority. If you’re looking for someone you can trust to sell your home, James is your guy.

Luke S

Professional, trustworthy

Doug Z

James made this experience smooth and simple. He responded quickly to requests and went out of his way to ensure I was kept informed and comfortable with how the purchase was proceeding. He was also very accommodating with getting access to property for measurements etc.

Nicki H

James was very professional & went above & beyond to get me my apartment with great negotiation skills.

Lisa R

Great experience with our purchase. James is professional and so prompt in communicating with any questions we had. Highly recommend James.

Kathryn A

James was realistic and transparent about pricing and market conditions, which gave us confidence. His communication was outstanding — we were kept informed at every stage, with honest feedback and thoughtful guidance. We always felt James was genuinely working in our best interests. There was no pressure, no over-promising — just steady, professional advice and a clear commitment to achieving the best possible outcome. We are so grateful for his integrity and diligence and would recommend him.

Carmel A

Edithvale

Very streamlined and stress free buying process. Would be very happy to buy or sell with James again. Thank you James!

Thomas H

Bonbeach

James and Ryan were very helpful in every way with the purchase of my home. It was a unique situation where it was a new build and also organised early occupancy. James was very professional and helpful, he and Ryan went above and beyond helping me with all the things I didn’t k ow about and really helped a stressful time buying a new home, run smoothly. I was very impressed with them both. Thank you.

Carla S

Bonbeach

We recently purchased a property with James. He was very professional and an excellent communicator. We felt he was genuine and knowledgeable. We would definitely recommend him for anyone who is looking to buy or sell.

Elise P

Happy with the services, will choose your service again in the future. Thanks

tony L

Bentleigh East

I purchased the property through James in 2020 and found him to be professional and he and Ryan Hammer visited me and gave me a property report, so I went to his office to discuss the sale and marketing and I signed up with them off market for a period of two months James went on holiday but still responded to my phone calls through Ryan.

Malcolm M

Frequently Asked

Here to help

Your Buxton agent will cover the details - here’s a clear view of what an appraisal involves.

We approach appraisals as a practical conversations, grounded in real data, local insight and what matters most to you.

Speak to us

Your Buxton agent visits your property, considers its features, location, and market conditions, and combines that with recent sales data to give you a clear, realistic view of its value.

We analyse comparable properties, current market trends, and your home’s unique qualities. From there, we provide a considered range that reflects what buyers are likely to pay.

Not at all. An appraisal is simply insight - a way to understand your home’s value and your options before making any decisions.

Typically, we recommend an in-person appraisal so we can assess your property fully. In some cases, a virtual appraisal can provide a helpful initial guide.

Agents weigh factors differently - recent sales, market conditions, and property features. At Buxton, we combine local insight, data, and experience to provide a balanced, realistic appraisal you can trust.

Get in touch

Reach out to James for property advice and local support.

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