6 Myths That Stop People Investing & Why They’re Wrong
Property experts Bryce Holdaway and Ben Kingsley unpack six common investing myths that keep Australians from building wealth – and explain why it’s time to rethink them.
2 min
When it comes to property investing, most people don’t fail because they picked the wrong suburb or mistimed the market. They fail before they even begin, buying into limiting beliefs that hold them back.
Here are six myths that stop people investing, and the reality behind them, according to property experts and authors Bryce Holdaway and Ben Kingsley.
1. You Need to Be Rich to Invest
Many assume investing is only for high-income earners. In truth, wealth is built through strategy and discipline, not salary size. Even modest incomes can support investing with the right plan.
2. I Need to Learn Everything Before I Start
Education is important, but waiting for perfect knowledge often leads to inaction. Investing is a long-term game, and you’ll learn more by starting than by endlessly researching.
3. I Missed the Boat
This fear pops up every time prices rise. But property markets reward time in the market, not perfect timing. Yesterday was the best time to invest; the next best time is today.
4. Property Is Too Risky
All investing carries risk, but avoiding it altogether can cost you more. The key is research, advice and a long-term approach focused on well-chosen, quality assets.
5. You Need 10 Properties to Retire
It’s not about quantity but quality. A few well-performing properties can generate the income you need without the stress of managing a massive portfolio.
6. I’m Too Young or Too Old to Start
Age is often used as an excuse. Younger investors benefit from time and compounding, while older investors can succeed with focus and clear goals. It’s never too early or too late to begin.
The Real Barrier? Mindset.
Most people don’t get started because they focus on what could go wrong. Shifting that mindset to focus on what’s possible is often the first and most crucial step.
Bryce Holdaway and Ben Kingsley are co-authors of the new book, How to Retire on $3000 a Week and co-hosts of The Property Couch podcast.
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2 min
A landmark Watsons Bay residence formerly owned by businessman Mark Bouris has returned to the market, bringing one of the harbourside village’s most distinctive homes back into play.
The five-bedroom property at 23 Robertson Place occupies 654 square metres opposite Robertson Park, within footsteps of Watsons Bay Beach, the ferry wharf and the celebrated restaurants lining the foreshore.
Its position places the home at the centre of one of Sydney’s most recognisable harbour villages, yet its substantial proportions, private outdoor areas and garaging give it a degree of separation rarely found so close to the waterfront.
The residence was previously owned by Bouris, the founder of Wizard Home Loans and chairman of Yellow Brick Road. Property records show it last changed hands in November 2013 for $7 million, having sold for $890,000 in 1995.
That 2013 transaction was handled by prestige agent Bill Malouf through Highland Double Bay. Bouris was the vendor when the home last sold.
Architect Malcolm Sholl designed the contemporary residence around a fluid connection between its interiors and outdoor entertaining areas. Extensive glazing draws natural light into the principal rooms, while district views take in the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Travertine flooring extends through the principal living areas and out towards the terraces, reinforcing the relationship between the home and its coastal setting.
At the centre of the residence is a marble kitchen equipped with Gaggenau gas appliances and an integrated Miele coffee machine. It connects to expansive open-plan living and dining areas designed for both family life and large-scale entertaining.
Five double bedrooms are accompanied by three bathrooms and a guest powder room. Informal living spaces include a home cinema.
Outside, there’s a 23-metre lap pool and an alfresco entertainer’s terrace. Internal access from the garage and accommodation for four cars are especially valuable in the tightly held village location.
The address also carries an unusual fragment of local architectural history. Woollahra planning material identifies portions of an early Victorian cottage dating from about 1839 within the contemporary three-storey residence, placing the property within the wider Watsons Bay heritage conservation area.
The home made headlines for another reason in January 2025, when a Ferrari left the road and struck the property. Two occupants of the vehicle were taken to hospital following the incident.
The Agency’s Ben Collier has a $20 million guide.
Watsons Bay remains one of Sydney’s smallest and most tightly held prestige markets. There have only been two house sales in the suburb so far in 2026. The suburb record was set late last year when yachtie Linda Goddard paid $35.5 million for a Pacific Street waterfront.
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