REVEALED: THE BIGGEST BLOCKERS TO PROPERTY SUCCESS
A clear strategy matters more than a high income, say two of Australia’s top property experts.
A clear strategy matters more than a high income, say two of Australia’s top property experts.
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 — not from bad decisions, but from the wrong beliefs.
Property commentators Bryce Holdaway and Ben Kingsley say mindset is often the biggest barrier, not money or opportunity. After two decades advising Australians on how to build wealth through property, and being investors themselves, they’ve seen how a few common myths can keep people stuck on the sidelines.
Here, they break down the six most damaging beliefs holding Australians back and reveal the mindset shifts that could make all the difference.
This is the most common belief that holds people back. Many assume property investing is reserved for high-income earners or people who already have significant wealth.
In reality, wealth is built by what you do with your income, not how much you earn. Holdaway and Kingsley have worked with teachers, tradies, nurses and young professionals who all started with modest savings. The difference? They followed a strategy aligned to their goals, avoided spruikers, and played the long game. You don’t need to be rich — just intentional.
Education matters, but perfectionism is progress’s worst enemy. They’ve met countless people stuck in a loop of reading books, attending webinars, and watching YouTube videos — and never taking the first step.
Property investing is a marathon, not a sprint. You don’t need all the answers before you begin. You need a clear goal and a trusted process.
We hear this every time the market rises. And yet people were saying the same thing 10, 20, even 30 years ago.
The truth? The best time to invest was yesterday — the second-best time is today. Property rewards time in the market, not timing the market.
Every investment carries risk, but inaction driven by fear is often the greater danger. In Australia, property represents more than investment; it’s stability, aspiration, and security.
Yes, buying the wrong asset in the wrong place is risky. But that’s a reason to get educated, not a reason to avoid the market altogether. When you buy investment-grade property in a good location with a long-term view, risk becomes manageable. You’re not gambling — you’re making a calculated decision.
Some investors chase a big portfolio. But the truth is, you only need enough income to live the life you want — and that often comes from two or three high-performing properties.
The authors have seen small, strategic portfolios outperform larger ones built on volume. It’s not about how many properties you own — it’s whether they’re working for you.
You’re never the wrong age to shape your financial future. Young investors often underestimate their greatest asset — time. Older Australians worry they’ve left it too late. But Holdaway and Kingsley say they’ve worked with people in their 40s and beyond who’ve built strong passive income streams later in life.
It’s not about age. It’s about clarity, action and alignment with your goals.
Bryce Holdaway and Ben Kingsley are co-authors of How to Retire on $3,000 a Week: The Property Couch’s Playbook for Passive Property Investing (Major Street Publishing RRP $32.99). They are two of Australia’s leading voices in property.
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Buyer demand, seller confidence and the First Home Guarantee Scheme are setting up a frantic spring, with activity likely to run through Christmas.
The spring property market is shaping up as the most active in recent memory, according to property experts Two Red Shoes.
Mortgage brokers Rebecca Jarrett-Dalton and Brett Sutton point to a potent mix of pent-up buyer demand, robust seller confidence and the First Home Guarantee Scheme as catalysts for a sustained run.
“We’re seeing an unprecedented level of activity, with high auction numbers already a clear indicator of the market’s trajectory,” said Sutton. “Last week, Sydney saw its second-highest number of auctions for the year. This kind of volume, even before the new First Home Guarantee Scheme (FHGS) changes take effect, signals a powerful market run.”
Rebecca Jarrett-Dalton added a note of caution. “While inquiries are at an all-time high, the big question is whether we will have enough stock to meet this demand. The market is incredibly hot, and this could lead to a highly competitive environment for buyers, with many homes selling for hundreds of thousands above their reserve.”
“With listings not keeping pace with buyer demand, buyers are needing to compromise faster and bid harder.”
Two Red Shoes identifies several spring trends. The First Home Guarantee Scheme is expected to unlock a wave of first-time buyers by enabling eligible purchasers to enter with deposits as low as 5 per cent. The firm notes this supports entry and reduces rent leakage, but it is a demand-side fix that risks pushing prices higher around the relevant caps.
Buyer behaviour is shifting toward flexibility. With competition intense, purchasers are prioritising what they can afford over ideal suburb or land size. Two Red Shoes expects the common first-home target price to rise to between $1 and $1.2 million over the next six months.
Affordable corridors are drawing attention. The team highlights Hawkesbury, Claremont Meadows and growth areas such as Austral, with Glenbrook in the Lower Blue Mountains posting standout results. Preliminary Sydney auction clearance rates are holding above 70 per cent despite increased listings, underscoring the depth of demand.
The heat is not without friction. Reports of gazumping have risen, including instances where contract statements were withheld while agents continued to receive offers, reflecting the pressure on buyers in fast-moving campaigns.
Rates are steady, yet some banks are quietly trimming variable and fixed products. Many borrowers are maintaining higher repayments to accelerate principal reduction. “We’re also seeing a strong trend in rent-vesting, where owner-occupiers are investing in a property with the eventual goal of moving into it,” said Jarrett-Dalton.
“This is a smart strategy for safeguarding one’s future in this competitive market, where all signs point to an exceptionally busy and action-packed season.”
Two Red Shoes expects momentum to carry through the holiday period and into the new year, with competition remaining elevated while stock lags demand.
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