The Misconception: Time is the greatest barrier to investing in property
If you’re a professional juggling a demanding job, family responsibilities, and limited hours in the day, property investing can feel impossible, or at least something you "should get around to someday."
I know that feeling. I lived it.
For over almost two decades, I worked in the 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, I managed to build a $6 million property portfolio, and it completely changed the course of my life.
Here's how I did it, without quitting my job or spending every weekend at auctions.
Step 1: I Started Slow—And Made Mistakes
I 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 PPR
Before 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 Changed
The 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 dualtenancies
It 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 Financing
Although I have always had P&I loans, based on the goal of paying off the properties before I retire, the $480k line of credit gave me the freedom to secure deals before formal finance was even in place, critical for accessing off-market opportunities.
I never cross-collateralised, and I kep tmy structures flexible for future growth and risk management.
However, with hindsight, the use of interest only loans would have enabled me to build my portfolio even faster due to the lower cost of servicing the loans. This is where modelling your goals to determine your tailored portfolio plan, using an accountant to determine the best structure for your assets, and getting good mortgage broking advice, can be game changers.
Step 5: I Stacked Value Through Strategic Assets
Between 2020 and 2022, I:
· Bought a property in the Gympie region that had multiple dwellings and very high cashflow
· Secured a property that had dual-tenancy potential in Glenfield Park, NSW, a more regional area that had good long-term capital growth and cashflow potential
· Took advantage of an opportunity presented to me by a buyer’s agent to purchase a house in Mandurah, WA that needed a full renovation. This was just before the boom in Perth ad had all the dynamics for great capital growth and cashflow!
These were carefully chosen with help from buyer’s agents, with potential for:
· Outstanding capital growth
· Rental yields above 5%
· Granny flat additions or multi-dwelling configurations
Today, 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 strategic decision-making.
The biggest myth I see holding people back is this idea that they need to do it all themselves. But the truth is, 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 of waiting.
· 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 but managing the cash flow enables you to scale faster.
· Focus on progress over perfection. That “perfect property” doesn’t exist—what matters is momentum.
Property investing doesn't have to mean ….
Property investing doesn't have to mean spending every weekend at open homes or glued to realestate.com.au. If you're a busy professional, there is a smarter way—and it starts with clarity,confidence, and the right team.
If you’re sitting on untapped equity or just don’t know where to begin, let's talk.
Visit brickstowealth.com.au or connect with me here on LinkedIn to book a no obligation introductory call with me.
You don’t need more time. You just need the right team and strategy.
