In this episode of Inside Residential Property, host Liam Garman and Rethink Residential's James Thompson unpack the real story of 26-year-old engineer Charlie, who turned a $25,000 deposit and a spreadsheet into a property portfolio now worth over $2 million.

Charlie shares how he bought his first investment property in Wagga Wagga at just 21, before rapidly expanding into the Central Coast and Hunter Valley. Working multiple jobs through university, Charlie saved aggressively, researched regional markets, and identified cash-flow-positive opportunities that set the foundation for long-term wealth.

James dissects Charlie's three-property playbook, highlighting the balance between capital growth and yield, the role of strategic refinancing, and how investors can replicate this success even in today's tighter lending climate. Together, they discuss when to hold and when to sell, as well as the pitfalls of being equity-rich but cash-poor.

Listeners will gain insight into:

• Choosing the right regional markets and avoiding one-industry towns
• Financing and structuring portfolios for sustainable growth
• Balancing capital growth and cash flow in early investments
• Navigating lending caps and how to keep building when the banks say no
• Why goal setting matters, and how to move from accumulation to freedom

This episode offers an unfiltered look into the challenges and triumphs of starting young in the residential property game.