In this episode of Investor Journeys, Iynka sits down with Connor Jackson, a commercial and mortgage broker at Origin Finance. Connor shares his transition from corporate banking at Macquarie Bank to building his own property portfolio and founding an independent brokerage.

1. The Transition from High-Risk Assets to Real Estate

• Moving Beyond Crypto & Shares: Connor reflects on starting his wealth-building journey 7–8 years ago in cryptocurrency, quickly realizing it was heavy speculation rather than true investing. He shifted focus to ETFs before turning to property.

• The Power of Leverage & Tangible Yield: The primary catalyst for Connor’s shift to real estate was the unique financial leverage property offers alongside consistent, tangible rental returns.

2. Strategic First Property Acquisition: Newcastle Case Study

• Location & Asset Selection: Connor purchased his initial investment property in Waratah, West Newcastle, close to Newcastle University.

• The Granny Flat Yield Strategy: To maximize cash flow and minimize holding expenses, Connor targeted a property with a granny flat. This added income stream helps offset monthly mortgage commitments.

• Navigating Due Diligence & Approvals: Connor warns investors about the abundance of unauthorized granny flats in regional markets. He details the intense due diligence required, diving deep into town planning, council approvals, CDCs, and DAs.

• Single vs. Dual Tenancy Management: Rather than splitting the property into two separate leases which would require costly electrical and water re-metering and create maintenance disputes over shared spaces Connor opted for a single lease agreement to preserve flexibility for intergenerational living.

3. Residential vs. Commercial Property Investing

• Evaluating Commercial Property Risks: Despite long lease terms, commercial properties carry higher vacancy risks and longer selling timeframes compared to residential real estate.

• Portfolio Staging Strategy: Connor and Iynka discuss why first-time investors should establish a strong foundation of 2 to 4 residential properties to build equity and secure cash flow before pivoting into commercial assets.

• Residential Deposit & Borrowing Advantages: Residential properties provide greater leverage opportunities with standard 10% to 20% deposits and lower vacancy exposure.

4. Small Business & Self-Employed Lending Solutions

• Traditional Banking Constraints: Self-employed borrowers often face strict servicing requirements under APRA regulations, requiring full financial statements and two years of income history.

• Utilizing BAS & Alt-Doc Lending: For newer business owners or those experiencing rapid growth, non-bank lenders offer Business Activity Statement lending, assessing recent 12-month cash flows to boost borrowing capacity.

• Commercial Debt & SMSF Structuring: Connor explains goodwill lending for service businesses and highlights how Self-Managed Super Funds are frequently utilized by business owners to acquire commercial premises via buy-and-leaseback arrangements.

5. Long-Term Property Outlook & Portfolio Expansion

• Time in the Market Over Timing the Market: Emphasizing a long-term hold strategy, Connor plans to retain his Newcastle asset for potential medium-term development.

• Future Acquisition Goals: Connor targets his next residential purchase within 24–36 months around the $1M price point, adhering to the core principle that timing the market is secondary to staying invested over time.

🎧 Stream the full episode now to hear Connor Jackson’s complete breakdown of leveraging debt, navigating council approvals, and structuring finance for long-term wealth.

If you found this discussion valuable, please take a moment to follow the podcast and leave a review on Spotify or your favorite podcast app to help us bring you more real stories from real investors!

How do you go from arriving in Australia with just two bagsto becoming a full-time property developer?

In this episode of Investor Journeys, Iynka sits down with Vanessa Kestelboim, a property developer, investor, mentor and mum who shares her journey through Australian real estate—from buying her first home in, to renovating properties, navigating COVID-era project challenges, and taking on a 2-into-4 subdivision in Brisbane.

Originally from Brazil and after spending years in Argentina, Vanessa first discovered the potential of property while working as a Portuguese-English translator for a real estate agency in Buenos Aires. Vanessa shares practical insights for both beginner and experienced Australian property investors, including how to identify opportunities in unrenovated properties, calculate the gap between purchase andpotential sale value, manage renovation costs, and understand why a property deal that looks good on paper may not always be profitable in reality.

Vanessa shares the realities behind property investing anddevelopment—the unexpected costs, difficult finance conversations, projects that don't go as planned, and the importance of learning how to solve problems as they arise.

Whether you're a beginner exploring your first propertyinvestment, considering a cosmetic renovation, researching subdivisions in Australia, or looking to move from residential investing into property development, this episode offers an honest look at what happens beyond the success stories.

Listen to the full episode of Investor Journeys withVanessa Kestelboim to hear the detailed numbers, lessons and stories behind her journey from migrant to full-time Australian property developer.

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving arating and review. It helps more listeners discover the podcast and learn from the experiences of investors who are willing to share both what worked—and what didn't.

This episode is for general information and educationalpurposes only and should not be considered financial, legal, tax or property investment advice. Always seek advice from appropriately qualified professionals before making investment decisions.

In this episode of Investor Journeys, Iynka sits down with Liam Carmody, General Manager at Palise Property and former civil engineer, to deconstruct the blueprint of a high-performing property portfolio. Liam shares his transition from building roads to building wealth, offering a masterclass in how to leverage an analytical "engineering brain" to identify value in both residential and commercial markets across Australia. 

From utilizing first-home owner grants in New South Wales to executing sophisticated commercial "value-add" plays in Perth, Liam’s journey provides a roadmap for investors looking to scale beyond traditional residential boundaries. 

Key Topics and Subtopics 

• The Transition from Engineering to Property Strategy 

• The Analytical Edge: How a background in civil engineering provided the data-driven foundation for tracking market growth, yields, and "days on market" via custom spreadsheets. 

• Shifting Priorities: Liam discusses the pivotal moment when family life prompted a career change from the rigid demands of engineering to the flexibility and opportunities of the property industry. 

• Strategic Residential Investing & Portfolio Restructuring 

• Leveraging Government Incentives: Utilizing first-home owner grants and stamp duty concessions to build a primary residence that eventually doubled in value, serving as a springboard for further investments. 

• Interstate Diversification: Insights into identifying growth corridors in Tasmania (Launceston) and Queensland (Townsville/Brisbane) to build a geographically diverse residential base. 

• The "Reset" Strategy: Understanding when to sell residential assets to clear debt, fund a "forever home," and pivot toward high-cash-flow opportunities. 

• Commercial Property & SMSF Wealth Creation 

• The Commercial "Value-Add" Play: Liam details a Perth warehouse acquisition where identifying unapproved mezzanine space and under-market rents led to a potential $600k profit in just a few years. 

• Valuation Methods: A deep dive into the difference between the "cap rate method" and "direct comparison method" when assessing commercial underlying value. 

• The Power of Superannuation: Using a Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) to acquire commercial assets that provide superior retirement income compared to residential holdings. 

• Advanced Property Development & Private Funding 

• Scaling to Development: Moving into high-end duplex projects on the South Coast, involving multi-million dollar land acquisitions and construction management. 

• Private Investor Relations: How to structure development deals using private loan agreements to provide competitive returns for investors while funding large-scale builds. 

• Navigating Market Challenges: Strategies for managing construction cost escalations and supply chain issues in the current economic climate. 

Liam emphasizes that while research is vital, the greatest hurdle for many—especially those with analytical backgrounds—is "analysis paralysis." His journey is a testament to the power of taking decisive action and maintaining a 10-to-15-year horizon to achieve true financial independence. 

Want to learn how to engineer your own path to property success? Listen to the full episode to hear Liam’s detailed breakdown of his most successful trades. If you enjoyed this conversation, please follow the podcast and leave us a rating on Spotify or your favorite platform—it helps us continue bringing you real stories from real investors 

Deep dive into the burning questions on finance impact resulting from the budget announcements.

In this episode of Investor Journeys, Iynka sits down with Shaun Balzan to explore the reality of transitioning from the "rat race" to a life of time freedom. After a 25-year career in retail, often working up to 60 hours a week, Shaun reached a point where his lifestyle was no longer sustainable. By building a strategic five-property portfolio over 15 years, he has successfully transitioned into a new chapter, reclaiming his time to focus on what matters most: family.Shaun shares the candid details of his journey from the early days of regional investing on a modest salary to the high-stakes construction of dual-living properties in Canberra.

This episode is a deep dive into the discipline, sacrifices, and long-term mindset required to join the "1% club" of property investors

In this solo episode of the IJ Podcast, Iynka stepsaway from the interview chair to share his personal Australian Property Investment Journey. Moving from New Zealand to Australia in 2010, Iynka reflects on over a decade of building a portfolio that is now approaching an eight-figure value. He provides a transparent look at the mistakes made, the lessonslearned from "buying in his own backyard," and the strategic pivots that led to massive growth in markets like Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth.

Join Iynka in this insightful episode of Investor Journeys as she sits down with Bobby Haeri, the former founder of The Investors Agency, to deconstruct a property journey that began at just 18 years old. From using a landscapingbusiness as a financial vehicle to navigating a $7 million property portfolio, Bobby shares raw, "no fluff" stories about the highs of aggressive scaling and the sobering lessons of emotional buying.

In todays episode, Iynka crosses the ditch to dive deepinto the dynamic New Zealand property market with guests Jith and Maaru of Vive Financial Advisers. Jith, a Mortgage Adviser, and Maaru, an Insurance Adviser, share their unique professional backgrounds and expert insights into current housing trends, finance, and the vital need for protecting your most valuable assets. This episode offers a comprehensive look at the current market realities facing Kiwi investors and first-time home buyers.

To connect with Jith and Maaru, visit Vive Financial Advisers.

https://www.vive.co.nz/

In this insightful episode of the IJ podcast, host Iynka welcomes his special guest and close friend, Nish Sethi, to discuss his remarkable journey from humble beginnings to building a successful property portfolio in Australia. Nish shares how he navigated career progression, pivotal life changes—including moving to Bangalore, India, and embracing the role of a stay-at-home dad—and ultimately shifted his mindset from daily survival to intentional wealth creation.

In this insightful episode of the IJ podcast, host Iynkawelcomes his special guest and close friend, Nish Sethi, to discuss his remarkable journey from humble beginnings to building a successful property portfolio in Australia. Nish shares how he navigated career progression, pivotal life changes—including moving to Bangalore, India, and embracing the role of a stay-at-home dad—and ultimately shifted his mindset from daily survival to intentional wealth creation.