Property Investor Tales

2 Properties in 6 months (at 31) with Melissa Cowan

Melissa Cowan is 31 with two investment properties. After buying her first IP off the plan, she very quickly purchased her second.

How did she do it? It’s a great story of risk management and understanding your threshold for stress. So many of my previous guests have said “I wish I started investing earlier” - well here is that investor - and what a great story it is.

 

We discuss - 

1:44- Mel has always wanted to create financial independence

4:59- How Mel attended numerous free property seminars looking for answers

6:32 - Shares v real estate and why Mel loves the leverage of real estate

11:08 - Buying off the plan

15:00 - How Mel purchased her second investment so quickly after her first

17:04 - Mel’s plans for 2022 and her plans for a third property

Once you’ve listened to this episode, I’d love it if you hit the subscribe button so you get notified every time a new episode drops. 

I love hearing people's property investor tales so if you’d like to share yours then please get in touch with me via email at  propertyinvestortales@positivementor.com.au 

You can watch all of these podcasts over on YouTube at Positive Mentor or at positivementor.com.au

Buying The Wrong Properties & Still Winning with Dani & Craig Skinner

Dani & Craig Skinner have an incredible life and investing story to tell. Dani was born in Ghana and grew up in Zimbabwe, and met Tahree-born Craig in Newcastle before they courted in Sydney, got married, and moved to Brisbane. 

Before I knew of Dani and Craig, they had already purchased four investment properties. But they weren’t happy with their portfolio, which was a mix of older real estate in low performing areas. But having the wrong type of real estate didn’t stop Dani and Craig from keeping their eyes on the prize. Having felt like the bank “owned” them, Dani and Craig transformed their portfolio into higher performing assets and now have a sensational range of assets that is helping achieve their family, financial and lifestyle goals. 

You can’t help but be inspired by this power team. Enjoy!

We discuss - 

3:41- The love story - starting off as friends and courting in Sydney. 

6:45 - Purchasing four investment properties but not being happy with the portfolio

11:14 - Recognising the importance of depreciation (the hard way)

24:05 - Our major goal is to upgrade our PPR

29:59 - Reflecting on our first investment property 

33:52- Advice to 20 year old selves

Once you’ve listened to this episode, I’d love it if you hit the subscribe button so you get notified every time a new episode drops. 

I love hearing people's property investor tales so if you’d like to share yours then please get in touch with me via email at  propertyinvestortales@positivementor.com.au 

You can watch all of these podcasts over on YouTube at Positive Mentor or at positivementor.com.au

Divorce & Investing with Karen Chavez

Karen Chavez has been married, divorced and remarried. The highs and lows of property investing have been intertwined through her two marriages, and at the forefront of her decision making has been the wellbeing of her children. 

In this episode of Property Investor Tales, Karen gives details of her numerous investments, whilst also outlining a number of big lessons along the way. 

 

We discuss - 

2:00 - Investing journey started 21 years ago. Settled on the first IP two days after giving birth!

6:15 - Negotiating your terms prior to settlement

15:53 - Separating with partner and putting children first

30:14 - One of Karen’s biggest investing lessons

34:09 - Investing has changed our lifestyle for the better

36:30 - Consolidation is really exciting

 

Once you’ve listened to this episode, I’d love it if you hit the subscribe button so you get notified every time a new episode drops. 

I love hearing people's property investor tales so if you’d like to share yours then please get in touch with me via email at  propertyinvestortales@positivementor.com.au 

You can watch all of these podcasts over on YouTube at Positive Mentor or at positivementor.com.au

From Going Solo to Teamwork Investing with Kathy Petoumenos

Kathy had purchased her own home and an investment property in Sydney. But she wasn’t sure what her financial future held or what she was meant to do necessarily whilst she was “holding” on to her portfolio. Determined to take the next step, Kathy joined a team of mentors and coaches at Positive Real Estate to take her financial future to the next level - and she hasn’t looked back since. 

With a portfolio that now includes Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, Kathy shares her self-doubts, fears and lessons from her investment journey to date. 

 

We discuss - 

1:54 - Kathy’s global career 

3:57 - Having an investment property and not knowing what to do next

7:02 - Feeling alone in the property investing world

9:40 - Overcoming fears

11:20 - Don’t underestimate anyone

13:02 - The lessons I‘ve learnt along the way

16:13 - Having a portfolio that includes Australia’s three big cities 

 

Once you’ve listened to this episode, I’d love it if you hit the subscribe button so you get notified every time a new episode drops. 

I love hearing people's property investor tales so if you’d like to share yours then please get in touch with me via email at  propertyinvestortales@positivementor.com.au 

You can watch all of these podcasts over on YouTube at Positive Mentor or at positivementor.com.au

From Mortgage Disaster to Financial Freedom with Helen & Ian Morse

This is a story of courage and bravery. Of how naivety can lead to expensive mistakes (see margin loans being called on) to having the grit and determination to see it through to the end. Helen and Ian Morse have ridden this very rollercoaster, and whilst there’s a lot of heartache in the story, it has a very happy ending, with the couple’s financial independence allowing them to travel the world for over 12 months - with more bucket list dreams to come. 

 

3:46 - We were so naive!

7:40 - Your skill set is so important

10:00 - You can’t have courage without the fear

16:47 - Being a part of an inspiring group!

18:19 - Property can take time to perform

21:19 - Being able to travel to Africa for 4 months

24:07 - Ticking off your bucket list items

 

Once you’ve listened to this episode, I’d love it if you hit the subscribe button so you get notified every time a new episode drops. 

 

I love hearing people's property investor tales so if you’d like to share yours then please get in touch with me via email at  propertyinvestortales@positivementor.com.au 

 

You can watch all of these podcasts over on YouTube at Positive Mentor or at positivementor.com.au

Retired by 50 with Sharen Carruthers

Sharen Carruthers had a goal to invest in real estate and be retired by 50. She achieved her life’s dream with two weeks to spare, and then did as many retired people do. She travelled the world to all the places she wanted to. She gave her time to family and some business interests. And then ... she got bored. 

 

This exciting, inspiring and enlightening conversation with Sharen demonstrates that sometimes our goals and dreams are there to open up a new possibility of what’s next. It’s not always  the achievement of a goal that is the magic. It’s the opportunity that the achievement. And Sharen shares all of that on this episode of Property Investor Tales. Enjoy!

 

1:26 - Retiring at 50, and getting bored quickly

4:01 - Why we wanted you onboard

9:25 - Acknowledging the resistance

14:28 - Harmless incident

19:11 - Always good to have an opinion

24:59 - Playing the victim

30:53 - Getting the right support

35:27 - Dropping the fear

39:49 - Lessons learnt from investing

43:01 - The constant anxiety

 

Once you’ve listened to this episode, I’d love it if you hit the subscribe button so you get notified every time a new episode drops. 

 

I love hearing people's property investor tales so if you’d like to share yours then please get in touch with me via email at  propertyinvestortales@positivementor.com.au 

 

You can watch all of these podcasts over on YouTube at Positive Mentor or at positivementor.com.au

7 Properties & $5 million with Tavish and Jane Makin

Tavish and Jane have seven investment properties. Just that statement alone makes it sound unattainable for most people! But it’s not. When you listen to this episode and learn the struggle and discipline involved in prioritising real estate investing over other choices, you’ll see that with some forward thinking and a clear strategy, anything is possible.

On this episode we discuss -  

1:30-  The importance of getting help in the beginning

6:10 - Owning your business as well

10:31 - Setting big personal goals

17:52 - Advice to your younger self

21:54 - Creating a $5 million property portfolio

28:51 - When the portfolio doesn’t grow fast enough

33:08 - What is your contingency plan?

 

Once you’ve listened to this episode, I’d love it if you hit the subscribe button so you get notified every time a new episode drops. 

I love hearing people's property investor tales so if you’d like to share yours then please get in touch with me via email at propertyinvestortales@positivementor.com.au 

You can watch all of these podcasts over on YouTube at Positive Mentor or at positivementor.com.au

Investing Later Than Expected with Tom & Kathy McMullen

Tom & Kathy McMullen didn’t start investing straight away. A conscious decision to begin their investment adventure when their kids were older (and two wages were easier to sustain than one) has allowed Tom & Kathy to quickly accrue an impressive portfolio. They share all their lessons along the way which I’m sure you’ll find incredibly valuable. 

On this Property Investor Tale we discuss - 

1:23 - How many properties Tom & Kathy have purchased
4:25 - Choosing to invest when the kids get older
9:23 - Something we were not expecting
17:01 - Finding the strategy that suits you
18:12 - Building a team around you
21:19 - Our investment team is amazing
26:58 - How to start young

Once you’ve listened to this episode, I’d love it if you hit the subscribe button so you get notified every time a new episode drops. 

I love hearing people's property investor tales so if you’d like to share yours then please get in touch with me via email at  propertyinvestortales@positivementor.com.au 

You can watch all of these podcasts over on YouTube at Positive Mentor or at positivementor.com.au

How We Purchased 10 Properties with Donna Oakley-Davies and Brad Davies

Donna and Brad aren’t your typical married couple. Between them, they have 10 properties in Australia (plus one in England). It wasn’t always the plan to accrue so much real estate. 

Their respective upbringings encouraged very different strategies, including preserving cash, investing in shares, and buying big toys like boats and cars. 

But Donna and Brad have bucked the trend and instead forged ahead with an impressive portfolio that today has them in the 1% club of Australian investors who own more than 3 pieces of real estate. 

Enjoy this inspiring story. 

 

We discuss - 

3:39 - A romance blossomed

4:02 - How did they get into property?

6:29 - The philosophy around money

11:29 - It is very labour intensive

15:51 - We had different strategies

19:44 - Important to have an organised spreadsheet

22:05 - What are the fundamentals

25:02 - Flipside to taking an opposing view

26:00 - Amassing 10 properties

26:50 - All about Gladstone

27:40 - My mind was all about debt reduction

32:33 - Why do people often think there will be no problems

34:00 - Talking with friends about real estate

35:48 - Education and mindset

39:34 - What advice would you give your younger self?

 

Once you’ve listened to this episode, I’d love it if you hit the subscribe button so you get notified every time a new episode drops. 

I love hearing people's property investor tales so if you’d like to share yours then please get in touch with me via email at  propertyinvestortales@positivementor.com.au 

You can watch all of these podcasts over on YouTube at Positive Mentor or at positivementor.com.au

From Domestic Violence to Investing Security with Alison Newman

The following content contains references to and descriptions of a domestic violence incident. 

Parts of this episode may be hard to hear for some people. At the same time, it is a very inspiring and uplifting story about overcoming a challenge as destabilising as domestic violence. 

On this episode I have the privilege of interviewing Alison Newman. Alison is a single mum of two young boys who purchased her first property at the age of 23.

Alison hasn’t had it easy in life, but she hasn’t let that define her. Not only raising her two boys as a single parent, but going through a messy divorce after experiencing domestic violence is enough for most people to never really master their wealth. 

Throughout this episode you will hear Alison’s story and how she won’t let anything stop her from being a shining example to her children.

1:01- Being a single mother

6:44 - How Alison purchased her first property

11:49 - Making all the wrong mistakes

18:21 - Once the adrenaline kicked in

23:51 - It’s a very strange experience

25:53 - 1 in 3 women in Australia experience violence

28:10 - I had to be strong for something more than myself

31:08 - I had to put in a divorce

34:35 - 2020 was actually a good year

38:14 - You need to be determined to succeed

43:34 - Focus on your goals