The Misconception: Time is the greatest barrier to investing in property
If you’re a professional juggling ademanding job, family responsibilities, and limited hours in the day, propertyinvesting can feel impossible, or at least something you "should getaround to someday."I know that feeling. I lived it.For over almost two decades, I worked inthe pharmaceutical industry in Australia. I was time-poor, raising two kids,and building a life with my wife after moving from the UK. Despite the chaos, Imanaged to build a $6 million propertyportfolio, and it completelychanged the course of my life.Here's how I did it, without quitting myjob or spending every weekend at auctions. Step 1: I Started Slow—And Made MistakesI really suffered from analysis paralysisand though about buying an investment property for years. And when I finallypulled the trigger, my first investment was a unit I found on the Gold Coast in2016. To be fair, it wasn’t the best investment!I bought based on emotion, not data. Thestrata fees were high and killed the cashflow, the growth was slow, and Iquickly realised it wasn’t the kind of asset that would help me achieve mygoals. My key learning was the importance of opportunity cost – I could haveinvested in an asset that would have performed so much better and set up myportfolio for quicker growth.But I held onto it, learned from it, andmost importantly, kept moving. I also learnt that paying for good advice can payitself back many times over, by investing in the right market and the timesaved by getting expert advice to choose the right property rather than tryingto do it all myself. Step 2: I Built a Foundation with My PPRBefore I started scaling my investmentportfolio, I purchased our principal place of residence in 2011 in the NorthShore of Sydney. Over time, that home grew in value significantly. I used thisequity to unlock a $480,000 line of credit, which became one of my most powerful tools inscaling my portfolio faster over time. Step 3: I invested in the experience of a Buyer’s Agent, builtmy A-team…..And Everything ChangedThe turning point for my portfolio growth wasin 2020, when I purchased a three-bedroom house in the Beenleigh region, southof Brisbane—with the help of a buyer’s agent.That property:· Cost $260,000· Had granny flat potential· Has since doubledin value to over $500,000· Generates strong rental cash flow from dualtenanciesIt was a complete game changer.The buyer’s agent helped me overcomeanalysis paralysis, find an off-market deal, and move quickly—something Icouldn’t have done alone. I also built my ore team around me to enable me to structuremy portfolio and move fast. Step 4: I Focused on Smart FinancingAlthough I have always had P&I loans, basedon the goal of paying off the properties before I retire, the $480k line ofcredit gave me the freedom to secure deals before formal finance was even inplace—critical for accessing off-market opportunities.I never cross-collateralised, and I keptmy structures flexible for future growth and risk management.However, with hindsight, the use ofinterest only loans would have enabled me to build my portfolio even faster dueto the lower cost of servicing the loans. This is where modelling your goals todetermine your tailored portfolio plan, using an accountant to determine thebest structure for your assets, and getting good mortgage broking advice, canbe game changers. Step 5: I Stacked Value Through Strategic AssetsBetween 2020 and 2022, I:· Bought a property in the Gympie region that hadmultiple dwellings and very high cashflow· Secured a property that had dual-tenancy potential inGlenfield Park, NSW, a more regional area that had good long-term capitalgrowth and cashflow potential· Took advantage of an opportunity presented to me bya buyer’s agent to purchase a house in Mandurah, WA that needed a fullrenovation. This was just before the boom in Perth ad had all the dynamics forgreat capital growth and cashflow!These were carefully chosen with help frombuyer’s agents, with potential for:· Outstanding capital growth· Rental yields above 5%· Granny flat additions or multi-dwellingconfigurationsToday, my portfolio is:· Worth over $6million· Producing $209,000+in annual gross rent· Supported by a loan balance of approximately $1.28 million, resulting in an LVR of~21% What Made It Possible?Not time!Systems, support, and strategicdecision-making.The biggest myth I see holding people backis this idea that they need to doit all themselves. But the truthis, you just need a clear plan and the right people in your corner. What I’d Tell Any Time-Poor Professional Today· Start sooner. The biggest cost is the opportunity cost ofwaiting. · Leverage expertise. Get the right buyer’s agent, accountant, mortgage broker,and solicitor.· Structure your portfolio for scalability. Capital growth has to be the primary goal butmanaging the cash flow enables you to scale faster.· Focus on progress over perfection. That “perfect property” doesn’t exist—what mattersis momentum. Property investing doesn't have to mean ….Property investing doesn't have to meanspending every weekend at open homes or glued to realestate.com.au. If you're abusy professional, there is a smarter way—and it starts with clarity,confidence, and the right team.If you’re sitting on untapped equity orjust don’t know where to begin, let's talk.Visit brickstowealth.com.au or connect with me here on LinkedIn tobook a no obligation introductory call with me.You don’t need more time. You just need theright team and strategy.