estate firm.

Gibbons and White Real Estate is an offshoot of sorts from Gibbons and Outerbridge.

Gibbons and Outerbridge was run by Ms Gibbons and owned by her father, Harold, and Mr. John Outerbridge. That firm has stopped operating. The new company is based in the same offices off Chancery Lane, in Hamilton.

Ms White previously sold real estate for Butterfield Executor and Trustee Company, which is owned by the Bank of Butterfield.

Between them they have about 25 years of experience in the industry.

Both ladies specialise in different areas of real estate and have expertise which will complement each other, said Ms White.

"My experience lies primarily in selling whereas Jenny's skills are more in management and rentals,'' she added.

The new firm will offer a full range of services, including sales, rentals and management of commercial and residential properties.

Ms White said she and her partner were not put off by Bermuda's stagnant property market.

"It's a difficult time but we both have a lot of contacts,'' she said. "We feel that if we can survive through this it will be smooth sailing once the market bounces back over the next few years. There's always going to be people needing to exchange property.

"It's a good time to be buying now because prices have fallen so there are plenty of opportunities for buyers.''