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🎙️ In this episode of the Property Trio, we tackle a fantastic listener question from James — and it sparks a really rich conversation about life stages, investment timing, and how to juggle both effectively.

James and his fiancée are in their late 20s to early 30s. They’ve done well already: they bought their long-term home in Keysborough about 18 months ago for $950,000, using a 10% deposit. They’ve got around $820,000 owing on the loan, and they’re earning a strong combined income of between $230,000 and $250,000 a year. So far, so good. But here’s the question: with a wedding on the way, a honeymoon planned, and hopes to have two children in the next five years — should they consider investing before all of that, or wait until life settles a little and they're back to two incomes? 

It’s a great question, and the kind that gets to the heart of balancing personal milestones with long-term wealth-building.

Cate introduces the idea of “runway” — if you’ve got a couple of decades or more ahead of you in the workforce, the earlier you start investing, the more time your asset has to grow. But that only works if you’re not financially, (or emotionally) stretched too thin in the short term. Developing your plan and considering the numners is key.

Mike highlights that James and his partner clearly have good financial habits — they’ve already shown discipline in saving, and they’re asking all the right questions. That’s a huge asset. He also points out that whether they go ahead now or wait a few years, they’re well ahead of the curve compared to most people their age.

The conversation also dives into how best to fund a future investment — should they use savings in their offset account, or aim to release equity? Dave breaks down why borrowing against your home, if possible, is often more tax-efficient than dipping into savings — but also flags the reality that they may not yet have enough equity to make that work without incurring LMI again.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer here, and that’s part of what makes this episode so valuable. The trio all agree: if the numbers stack up and the couple feels comfortable with the risk, then investing sooner is ideal. But if they need a few years to tick off life events and build equity or buffers, that’s an important path too. From cheap registry office weddings to fancy winery blowouts, the Trio are candid with their ideas and forthcoming with some great options for our listeners to consider.

And our gold nuggets!..... 

Cate Bakos's gold nugget: While they are young, with one property in the portfolio, now is a great time to consider investing in a property plan.

Dave Johnston's gold nugget: James and his fiancee are really good with their money! Dave encourages them to keep up that habit. Good money management habits will set them up for success.

Mike Mortlock's gold nugget: Knowing the numbers is the key to making the decision. Without the visibility, the decision is much harder to make.

Shownotes: https://www.propertytrio.com.au/2025/07/28/balancing-family-dreams-and-property-investment/