Property Investing Roadmap Podcast

Building a successful property portfolio isn't reserved for high-income earners or seasoned investors. In this episode of Property Investing Roadmap, host Damian Collins is joined by Momentum Wealth clients Patricia and Ben Degafe  to share how they built a property portfolio worth nearly $3 million while balancing careers, raising a young family and navigating the challenges of everyday life.

Originally migrating to Australia from Kenya and Ethiopia, Patricia and Ben began their investing journey with a family home and a single investment property. With a long-term mindset, strategic guidance and a willingness to make small sacrifices along the way, they were able to significantly grow their portfolio and create substantial equity in just a few years.

This episode explores the power of taking action, leveraging equity, building the right team around you, and why successful property investing is often more about consistency and planning than earning a large income.

What you'll learn:

• Why you don't need to be a high-income earner to build a successful property portfolio
• The role financial structuring plays when scaling a property portfolio
• How equity can be used to fund future investment purchases
• Why location and underlying land value are key drivers of long-term growth
• Why building a strong team around you can help avoid costly mistakes
• The importance of having a long-term strategy when investing in property
• How small sacrifices can contribute to significant wealth creation

FREE RESOURCE

Want help building a diversified property portfolio aligned to your goals?
Discover how Momentum Wealth helps investors design, acquire and manage property portfolios with long-term performance in mind.
https://momentumwealth.com.au/resources/investor-pack/ 

Follow us:

Keep up to date with the latest news at Momentum Wealth:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momentumwealth/  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momentumwealth/ 

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/momentum-wealth 

T&Cs

The information shared on Property Investing Roadmap is general in nature and does not take into account your individual circumstances. It is provided for educational purposes only and should not be relied upon for investment or financial decisions. Always seek professional advice before deciding whether to invest.

Sometimes the best way to understand successful property investing is to follow a real investor journey from start to finish. In this episode of Property Investing Roadmap, host Damian Collins is joined by Momentum Wealth experts Caylum Merrick, Luke Jones and Brad Dunn to unpack the strategy behind a client who built a diversified property portfolio while working overseas and planning for retirement.

Starting with a clear 10-year goal, the clients worked with multiple Momentum Wealth teams to develop a strategy, secure finance, acquire investment properties, manage assets and diversify into commercial property funds. Along the way, they navigated lending challenges, tax considerations, relocation planning and portfolio diversification.

This episode explores how having the right strategy and expert team can help investors move from simply owning property to building a portfolio designed for long-term wealth creation and passive income.

What you'll learn:

• Why a clear long-term investment plan is critical to achieving financial goals
• How investor risk profiles influence property selection and portfolio structure
• The importance of balancing capital growth opportunities with cash flow considerations
• Why finance strategy can be just as important as property selection
• The value of off-market property purchases and how they can reduce competition
• How residential and commercial property can work together within a diversified portfolio
• The role commercial property funds can play in generating passive income for retirement
• Why collaboration between strategy, finance, buying and asset management professionals can improve investment outcomes

FREE RESOURCE

Want help building a diversified property portfolio aligned to your goals?
 Discover how Momentum Wealth helps investors design, acquire and manage property portfolios with long-term performance in mind.
 Investor Pack – Momentum Wealth

Follow us:

Keep up to date with the latest news at Momentum Wealth:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momentumwealth/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momentumwealth/  

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/momentum-wealth 

T&Cs

The information shared on Property Investing Roadmap is general in nature and does not take into account your individual circumstances. It is provided for educational purposes only and should not be relied upon for investment or financial decisions. Always seek professional advice before deciding whether to invest.

Technology is transforming almost every aspect of the property industry, from how investors analyse opportunities to how assets are managed and maintained. In this episode of Property Investing Roadmap, host Damian Collins is joined by Denis Leane, CFO at Cygnet West, to explore the growing role of proptech and artificial intelligence in real estate.

Prompted by a listener question about whether AI is genuinely changing the industry or simply the latest trend, Damian and Denis discuss how technology has enabled property investment to evolve over the past decade and where it’s likely headed next. They unpack the benefits of better data, automation and smarter systems, while highlighting why human expertise, local knowledge and professional judgment remain essential.

What you’ll learn:

• How proptech has transformed property management, sales and investment analysis
• Why access to real-time data is improving decision-making across the property sector
• Why human judgment remains critical when valuing and investing in property
• Why quality data is the foundation of effective AI and automation tools
• How AI is likely to enhance property professionals rather than replace them
• The opportunities and challenges investors should consider as technology continues to evolve

FREE RESOURCE

Looking to build a property portfolio backed by research, data and experienced advice?

Discover how Momentum Wealth helps investors design, acquire and manage property portfolios with long-term performance in mind.

FREE RESOURCE

Want help building a diversified property portfolio aligned to your goals?
 Discover how Momentum Wealth helps investors design, acquire and manage property portfolios with long-term performance in mind.
 Investor Pack – Momentum Wealth

Follow us:

Keep up to date with the latest news at Momentum Wealth:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momentumwealth/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momentumwealth/ 

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/momentum-wealth 

T&Cs

The information shared on Property Investing Roadmap is general in nature and does not take into account your individual circumstances. It is provided for educational purposes only and should not be relied upon for investment or financial decisions. Always seek professional advice before deciding whether to invest.

This episode’s guest is a representative of Cygnet West. Any opinions expressed are those of the individuals involved and are provided for educational purposes only.

Sometimes the most valuable insights come from answering the questions investors are already asking. In this episode of Property Investing Roadmap, host Damian Collins is joined by a Momentum Wealth Property Advisory Manager:  Robin Ram to tackle a rapid-fire round of questions submitted by clients and listeners. 

From interest rates and market selection through to investment strategies, costs and portfolio structure, this episode unpacks the practical realities of building a property portfolio in today’s environment. 

They also break down the true costs of owning an investment property, the trade-offs between yield and growth, and how investors can avoid common mistakes when structuring their portfolio. 

What you’ll learn: 

• Why market fundamentals and supply-demand dynamics matter more than short-term fluctuations 
• How to approach investing across different cities and the role of diversification 
• The key differences between buy and hold, renovation, development and flip strategies 
• The upfront and ongoing costs of owning an investment property 
• How to think about rental yield and the relationship between yield and risk 
• Why high-yield opportunities may come with higher volatility 
• The difference between buying fewer high-quality assets versus multiple lower-priced ones 
• How to identify whether a property advisor or buyer’s agent is truly working in your best interest 

FREE RESOURCE 

Want help building a diversified property portfolio aligned to your goals?
Discover how Momentum Wealth helps investors design, acquire and manage property portfolios with long-term performance in mind.
Investor Pack – Momentum Wealth 

Follow us: 
Keep up to date with the latest news at Momentum Wealth: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momentumwealth/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momentumwealth/ 

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/momentum-wealth 

T&Cs 

The information shared on Property Investing Roadmap is general in nature and does not take into account your individual circumstances. It is provided for educational purposes only and should not be relied upon for investment or financial decisions. Always seek professional advice before deciding whether to invest. 
This episode’s guests are representatives of Momentum Wealth Property Advisory Pty Ltd, Licensed Real Estate and Business Agent A82976. 

When Numbers Aren’t Enough: Investing with Logic and Instinct
 
In this episode of Property Investing Roadmap, host Damian Collins is joined by Ara Salomone, Co-Director of State of Kin Design & Construction, to explore how personal values, emotion and lived experience can play a powerful role in building a successful property portfolio.
 
From designing award-winning homes in Perth to navigating her own investment journey, Ara shares how aligning investments with your beliefs — not just the numbers — can lead to better long-term outcomes.
 
Together, they unpack the reality of balancing financial strategy with intuition, the challenges of lending as a self-employed investor, and how stepping back can sometimes be the smartest move forward.
 
They also explore how Ara built a diversified portfolio across residential development and commercial syndicates, including her experience investing through Westbridge.

What you’ll learn:

Why removing emotion from investing isn’t always the right approach

How aligning investments with your values can improve decision-making

The importance of tailoring investment strategies — not using cookie-cutter models

How self-employment affects borrowing capacity and lending outcomes

Why stepping back and restructuring finances can unlock better opportunities

What to look for in a high-quality development site

The benefits of combining residential investing with commercial diversification

How property syndicates provide access to larger commercial assets

Why relationships and trust matter when choosing an investment partner

Key Takeaways:

A good investment isn’t just logical — it also needs to feel right

Short-term sacrifices may be necessary to achieve long-term goals

The best outcomes often come from balancing data with intuition

Investing is a long-term partnership — not a one-off transaction

Sometimes the smartest move is to pause and wait for the right opportunity

FREE RESOURCE

Want help building a property portfolio aligned to your goals and values?
 Discover how Momentum Wealth helps investors design, acquire and manage high-performing portfolios:
 https://www.momentumwealth.com.au/resources/investor-pack/

FOLLOW US

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momentumwealth/

Website: https://www.momentumwealth.com.au

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/momentum-wealth

SUPPORT FOR INVESTORS

Looking for guidance on residential, development or commercial property investing?
 Explore tailored support through Momentum Wealth and Westbridge Funds Management:
 http://www.momentumwealth.com.au/

T&Cs

The information shared on Property Investing Roadmap is general in nature and does not take into account your individual circumstances. It is provided for educational purposes only and should not be relied upon for investment or financial decisions. Always seek professional legal, tax and financial advice.

Estate planning is one of the most important — and most delayed — parts of building long‑term wealth.

 In this episode of Property Investing Roadmap, host Damian Collins explores how investors can protect what they’ve worked hard to build and ensure their wealth continues to benefit their family for generations to come.

Prompted by a listener question, Damian is joined by Jemma Sanderson, Head of Self‑Managed Superannuation Funds & Succession at Cooper Partners Financial Services, to unpack estate planning beyond “just having a will”.

With more than 25 years’ experience advising high‑net‑worth families, business owners and property investors, Gemma explains how estate planning intersects with superannuation, trusts, companies and property structures — and why misunderstanding control can lead to unintended (and sometimes devastating) outcomes.

This episode covers the practical realities of succession, control, incapacity and wealth transfer — and why estate planning is about clarity, not pessimism.

What you’ll learn:

• Why estate planning is more than just writing a will
• How estate planning fits into long‑term property and wealth strategies
• The difference between asset ownership and asset control
• Why trusts, companies and SMSFs don’t automatically pass through your will
• What happens to superannuation when you die
• Who can legally receive superannuation death benefits
• How trustee discretion can lead to disputes
• Why joint tenancy property bypasses your will
• Why outdated wills often fail investors
• What testamentary trusts are and how they work
• Tax benefits of distributing income to minor beneficiaries
• Asset protection advantages of testamentary trusts
• Why advanced health directives reduce family conflict

FREE RESOURCE

Want help building a diversified property portfolio aligned to your goals?
Discover how Momentum Wealth helps investors design, acquire and manage property portfolios with long‑term performance in mind.
Investor Pack - Momentum Wealth

FOLLOW US

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/momentumwealth/ 

Website:
https://www.momentumwealth.com.au 

LinkedIn:
https://linkedin.com/company/momentum-wealth 

SUPPORT FOR INVESTORS

Looking for professional guidance on diversification, interstate investing or blending residential with commercial property?
 Explore the tailored support available through Momentum Wealth and Westbridge Funds Management:
http://www.momentumwealth.com.au/

T&Cs

The information shared on Property Investing Roadmap is general in nature and does not take into account your individual circumstances. It is provided for educational purposes only and should not be relied upon for investment or financial decisions. Always seek professional legal, tax and financial advice.
This episode’s guest is a representative of Cooper Partners Financial Services.

With lending rules constantly evolving, many buyers and investors are left wondering whether they can still move forward — or whether finance is now off the table altogether.

In this episode of Property Investing Roadmap, host Damian Collins breaks down what’s really happening in the lending landscape and what today’s changes mean for borrowers looking to buy, invest or refinance.

Driven by a listener question around borrowing through trusts and companies, Damian is joined by Max Miorada, Senior Credit Advisor at Momentum Wealth and one of Australia’s top 1% mortgage brokers by volume.

With more than $112 million in loans settled last year alone, Max brings frontline insight into how lenders are currently assessing borrowers, how debt‑to‑income ratios are applied, and why structure matters more than ever in today’s market.

This episode strips back the media noise to explain how lending actually works behind the scenes — and how investors can position themselves to keep moving forward despite tighter conditions.

What you’ll learn:

• How the lending landscape has changed over recent years
• Whether borrowing through a trust or company is still possible
• Why lenders assess trusts and companies differently to individuals
• How negative gearing works — and why it’s often lost inside entities
• The real impact entity lending can have on borrowing capacity
• When trusts can make sense — and when they can block portfolio growth
• The difference between tax efficiency and borrowing efficiency
• Why structure should be decided before buying property
• How debt‑to‑income (DTI) ratios are calculated by lenders
• Why actual cash flow and bank serviceability often don’t align
• Differences between major banks, non‑banks and private lenders
• How interest rate buffers affect borrowing — even on fixed loans
• The pros and cons of fixing versus staying variable
• How offset accounts work and why investors should use them
• How lenders assess self‑employed income
• Why timing matters when changing employment status
• What successful investors do differently when finance becomes tight

FREE RESOURCE

Confused by lending changes and borrowing limits?
Learn how Momentum Wealth helps investors structure debt, maximise borrowing capacity and navigate changing bank policies with confidence.
👉 Insert relevant guide or blog link here

FOLLOW US

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/momentumwealth/ 

Website:
https://www.momentumwealth.com.au 

LinkedIn:
https://linkedin.com/company/momentum-wealth 

SUPPORT FOR INVESTORS

Looking for professional guidance on diversification, interstate investing or blending residential with commercial property?
 Explore the tailored support available through Momentum Wealth and Westbridge Funds Management:
http://www.momentumwealth.com.au/

T&Cs

The information shared on Property Investing Roadmap is general in nature and does not take into account your individual circumstances. It is provided for educational purposes only and should not be relied upon for investment or financial decisions. Always seek professional advice before deciding whether to invest.
This episode’s guest is a representative of Momentum Wealth Finance.

Buying property through a self‑managed super fund can be powerful — or disastrous — depending on how (and why) it’s done.

In this episode of Property Investing Roadmap, host Damian Collins unpacks one of the most complex and misunderstood strategies investors consider: holding property inside a self‑managed super fund (SMSF).

Guided by a listener question, Damian is joined by Katie Timms, National Director of Superannuation & SMSF Services at RSM Australia, to break down when this strategy works, when it doesn’t, and what investors must understand before taking the plunge.

With decades of experience advising SMSF clients across residential, commercial and fund‑based property, Katie explains the rules, risks, structures and compliance obligations that many investors only discover after it’s too late.

This episode cuts through the hype to explain how SMSFs really work, why mistakes are so costly, and how property can (or can’t) fit into a long‑term retirement strategy.

What you’ll learn:

• What a self‑managed super fund is — and why control is both a benefit and a burden
• The key pros and cons of investing through an SMSF
• Why SMSFs are the most heavily regulated investment structure in Australia
• Annual compliance, audit and valuation obligations investors must meet
• The sole purpose test — and why holiday homes and personal use are strictly off‑limits
• Why arm’s‑length terms, market rent and formal leases are critical
• How limited recourse borrowing arrangements (LRBAs) work
• The role of bare trusts and why structure must be set up before you buy
• How SMSF rules differ for residential versus commercial property
• Common (and costly) mistakes investors make with SMSFs

Why SMSFs are not “the next step” for everyone

FREE RESOURCE

Want help building a diversified property portfolio aligned to your goals?
Discover how Momentum Wealth helps investors design, acquire and manage property portfolios with long‑term performance in mind.
Investor Pack - Momentum Wealth

FOLLOW US

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/momentumwealth/ 

Website:
https://www.momentumwealth.com.au 

LinkedIn:
https://linkedin.com/company/momentum-wealth 

SUPPORT FOR INVESTORS

Looking for professional guidance on diversification, interstate investing or blending residential with commercial property?
 Explore the tailored support available through Momentum Wealth and Westbridge Funds Management:
http://www.momentumwealth.com.au/

T&Cs

The information shared on Property Investing Roadmap is general in nature and does not take into account your individual circumstances. It is provided for educational purposes only and should not be relied upon for investment or financial decisions. Always seek professional advice before deciding whether to invest.
This episode’s guest is a representative of RSM Australia. References to SMSFs are general in nature and do not constitute personal financial advice.

Putting all your eggs in one basket can limit your growth — and expose your portfolio to unnecessary risk.

 In this episode of Property Investing Roadmap, host Damian Collins dives deep into property portfolio diversification and why owning the right mix of assets matters more than simply owning more properties.

Joined by Robin Ram, Department manager – Property Advisory, Acquisition & Research at Momentum Wealth, this conversation unpacks how investors can spread risk across locations, property types and market cycles to build portfolios that perform through different economic conditions.

From geographic diversification and dwelling selection, to navigating interstate investing, tenant legislation and even blending residential with commercial property, this episode provides a practical roadmap for investors at every stage — from first purchase to long‑term portfolio scaling and retirement planning.

What you’ll learn:

• What diversification really means in a residential property portfolio
• Why buying multiple properties in the same suburb or city increases risk
• How geographic diversification can smooth growth across market cycles
• The pros and cons of investing interstate
• Key differences in tenancy laws, compliance and holding costs between states
• How land tax, minimum standards and legislation can impact cash flow
• Why property type diversification matters (land, houses, apartments, development sites)
• How oversupply and investor-heavy suburbs affect rental performance
• The importance of tenant demand, liveability and owner-occupier appeal
• Common mistakes investors make when diversifying without proper research
• Why “top 10 suburb” lists can be misleading
• How to manage the risks of investing in locations you can’t physically visit
• Practical tools to monitor and protect interstate investments
• The role of landlord insurance and professional property management
• When it may make sense to diversify into commercial property
• Key differences between residential and commercial risk, return and vacancy
• How commercial property funds can offer diversification at lower entry points
• Why diversification strategies evolve as investors approach retirement

FREE RESOURCE

Want help building a diversified property portfolio aligned to your goals?
Discover how Momentum Wealth helps investors design, acquire and manage property portfolios with long‑term performance in mind.
Investor Pack - Momentum Wealth

FOLLOW US

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/momentumwealth/ 

Website:
https://www.momentumwealth.com.au 

LinkedIn:
https://linkedin.com/company/momentum-wealth 

SUPPORT FOR INVESTORS

Looking for professional guidance on diversification, interstate investing or blending residential with commercial property?
 Explore the tailored support available through Momentum Wealth and Westbridge Funds Management:
http://www.momentumwealth.com.au/

T&Cs

The information shared on Property Investing Roadmap is general in nature and does not take into account your individual circumstances. It is provided for educational purposes only and should not be relied upon for investment or financial decisions. Always seek professional advice before deciding whether to invest.
This episode’s guests are representatives of Momentum Wealth Property Advisory Pty Ltd, Licensed Real Estate and Business Agent A82976.

Host Damian Collins sits down with Brendon Ptolomey, Managing Director at Herron Todd White (WA/NT), to unpack property data in a way that’s practical, grounded and genuinely useful when making buying and investment decisions.

With more than 30 years’ experience in property valuation and market analysis, Brendan explains why different data providers report different numbers, what sits behind the statistics, and how buyers and investors should interpret the data without being misled by headlines.

Guided by listener questions, this episode explores individual property data versus broader market trends, valuation methodologies, growth figures, and why context is more important than any single metric when assessing value in today’s market.

What you’ll learn:

• Why different property data providers report different median prices for the same market.
• The difference between instant data, rolling medians and valuation-based models
• Which property statistics matter most – and which ones are just noise
• How to interpret suburb-level data when sales volumes are low
• Why checking actual sale prices beats relying on agent talk or media headlines
• How valuers assess land value versus building value
• The different types of valuations and how banks decide which one you’ll receive
• Why buyers should consider valuations earlier in the purchase process
•  How to compare homes with different sizes, layouts, bedrooms and bathrooms
•  The effect of location factors such as busy roads and secondary streets on value
•  Common mistakes buyers and developers make when assessing feasibility
• Why finish quality and design play a huge role in end property values

FREE RESOURCE
Want to learn how to build a professional property investment support team? Discover essential strategies for creating winning investment plans in Momentum Wealth’s free online guide, Property Finance Guide.

FOLLOW US

Instagram: @momentumwealth

Facebook: Momentum Wealth | Subiaco WA | Facebook

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/momentum-wealth

SUPPORT FOR INVESTORS

Looking for expert guidance when interpreting property data, valuing assets or making strategic buying decisions? Discover the tailored support available through Momentum Wealth and Westbridge Funds Management at momentumwealth.com.au

T&Cs

The information shared on Property Investing Roadmap is general in nature and doesn’t take into account your individual circumstances. It is provided for educational purposes only and should not be relied upon for investment or financial decisions. Always seek professional advice before deciding whether to invest. This episode’s guests are representatives of Momentum Wealth Finance Pty Ltd. Australian Credit Licence 384632.