We Bought 4 Properties & Increased Our Net Worth by $429,000 in Less Than a Year: Here's Exactly How
Property investing is simple, but not always easy.
We’re AUS Property Investors, helping you dip, duck, dive and dodge terrible property investments!
This Month’s Run Down:
😵💫We made $400K? Please recount that!
😱 How To Borrow More in 2025 💴
📗🥳 How To Invest Like the Top 1%
💵 The 80/20 Of Building Your $150K Passive Income Portfolio 🏡
🤫🤠 How Your Brief Changes The Data You Look At
🏙️ CBD Property Returns: When Facts Meet Fiction
🧰 FREE Property Tool Of The Month
Did We Just Make $400,000?
Imagine waking up one morning and realising you’ve added nearly half a million dollars to your net worth in less than a year, without winning the lottery, inheriting a fortune, or launching the next big tech startup.
Sounds like a dream…….or bullshit, right?
Well, that’s exactly what we did, and we’re here to show you how.
Nine months ago, we set out with a clear goal!
Build a property portfolio that would give us $150,000+ in passive income, this was back in June 2024 when we embarked on this journey of 10 years!
Spoiler alert, we will do it way before 10 years.
Since then, we’ve purchased four properties, strategically increased their value, and boosted our net worth by $429,000. No tricks, no overnight success, just smart buying, targeted renovations, and strategic deal making.
Now, before we get too excited, property investing isn’t always smooth sailing.
It’s messy, unpredictable, and some days, it feels like we’re playing a never-ending game of “give me a cheaper rate Mr Banker”
Or dealing with agents who think their property is across from the Taj Mahal, when it’s across from Barrys’ Chip shop!
But complicated? Only if you don’t have a plan.
We’re peeling back the curtain and breaking down exactly how the portfolio is going.
No gatekeeping, just a playbook that you can follow to start building real wealth through property.
Let’s get into it.
For The Newbies
A very warm welcome to all the new subscribers! We’re thrilled and honoured to have you as readers and truly appreciate your thoughts and feedback 🙏.
Each edition of this newsletter will contain a deep dive into the property experts, investors, and all-around legends that grace us with their time and energy for the Facebook lives we run in our Facebook Group Aus Property Investors.
Now Australia’s Largest Property Investment group with over 79,000+ members!
For those who need a catch-up when they aren’t free for an hour [or sometimes 2] at 7:30 pm Wednesday night (we know we’re not), we created this newsletter, along with recording the sessions on our Youtube channel.
February 2025 Live Guests!
Aaron Whybrow
Aaron is the “Bagpiping Mortgage Broker” playing great tunes heading up the Strategic Mortgage Brokers Team. Aaron understands the importance of providing the right guidance at the right time and prides himself in giving honest, tailored advise resulting in your objectives being met.
Having enjoyed 3 successful careers in his life, the learnings and skills from these have all come together giving you a mortgage broker with different yet highly essential skills.
During this session, our discussion centred around Lending Steps To Take in 2025 For Financial Freedom, with the juicy details unpacked along with heaps of practical key insights 💎!
Aaron: "When talking to your broker, one of the key things to do is make sure they are helping you think one to two purchases ahead to avoid getting “tapped out”"
This is a teaser of the gold 🏅 discussed in the How To Borrow More in 2025!💰 episode with more found by clicking the link below 👇
Kylie Walker
Kylie the Coach specialises in helping property professionals enhance their success by providing powerful mindset tools, tips, and resources. With over 20 years of experience in the property industry and 13 years in coaching, she understands the unique challenges and pressures property investors and developers face.
Her approach focuses on mental and emotional well-being, ensuring clients build resilience, confidence and a strong success-driven mindset. Whether you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed or looking to reach new heights in your property journey she has the tools 🛠.
This session’s conversation revolved around Overcome Challenges To Become Part of the Top 1% 💎!
Kylie: “Not taking action cost me millions of dollars in opportunity cost! I got stuck and the longer you stay stuck, the more it costs you. If you want to get the results in Property, you have to push through that fear and just start taking action.”
There are incredibly valuable insights in the The Mindset To Invest Like The Top 1% episode. Explore the wealth of information by clicking the link below 👇
Jef & Joe
Joe Tucker is one-half of AUS Property Investors and the Founder & Head of Research at Property Principles Buyers Agency. He is a preeminent buyers agent that specialises in residential and commercial property investing. Jef Miles is one-half of AUS Property Investors. As a person with 10+ years of experience in Financial Services incl Mortgage Broking & Building His Own Multi Million Dollar Portfolio. He is a talented Renovator and Property Developer, constantly breathing new life into tired and rundown properties, turning them into prized investments. The gents are now helping you do it for yourself with their guidance and mentoring, step by step, deal by deal with Level Up Property!
In this session, we focused on Revealing How You Build Your Own $150K Passive Income Portfolio with Our 80/20 Fundamentals Along with Unpacking an Area with Great Potential!
Joe: "You want to buy in markets where demand is rising and supply is fixed or growing at a slower pace. That’s how you set yourself up for Capital Growth!"
This is a glimpse of our discussion on The 80/20 of Building Your $150K Passive Income Portfolio episode. Dive into the many gems 💎 by clicking the link below 👇
Matija Djolic
Matija Djolic, Ph.D., is an expert in property data analytics and co-founder of HtAG Analytics, an Australian platform focused on identifying high-growth real estate markets. His expertise revolves around applying big data and machine learning techniques to property investment, helping both investors and professionals make data-driven decisions.
Djolic emphasises pattern recognition within real estate metrics and advocates for a practical and repeatable methodology in selecting top-performing locations. As a bonus we scored a 25% discount if you want to jump on HTAG here!
This session’s conversation revolved around Determining Where You Should Be Buying Based on Reviewing The Data That is Matching To Your Brief 💎🍎!!
Matija: “Affordability is one of the most crucial macro factors that drives purchasing patterns. The disparity between median income and property prices is at its highest since the 1970s and this directly increases demand”
There are incredibly valuable insights in the How The Data You Look At Changes Based On Your Brief episode. Explore the wealth of information by clicking the link below 👇
We Bought 4 Properties & Increased Our Net Worth by $429,000 in Less Than a Year: Here's Exactly How
Think building passive income through property is complicated?
Well… you’re not wrong.
It’s chaotic, sometimes stressful, and honestly, some days it feels like we’ve signed up as a full time baby sitter dealing with agents!
In the past nine months, since June 2024, we’ve scooped up four properties and added a casual $429,000 to our net worth.
How?
Bought below market! We focused in on undervalued deals in high-growth areas and if the area was more of a Warm Spot, where we can capture the full market upswing, we renovated to lock down equity right away.
Those renovations? Strategic! Only tackled upgrades that actually move the needle. No fancy Pinterest kitchens, just solid improvements that drive value fast.
What’s our goal in doing this all anyway?
$150K+ per year in passive income. Are we there yet? Not quite.
But we’re stacking the bricks, one deal at a time, and documenting every move.
Stick around, swipe our strategy, and let’s build wealth together.
Here's our progress so far:
Purchase Price: $2,586,000
Current Value: $3,000,000
Value Increase: $429,000
Equity: $812,750 (with $209,750 useable equity available to pull out and reinvest!)
LVR (Loan-to-Value Ratio): 73%
Loan Balance: $2,202,251
Interest Rate: 6.91%
Weekly Rent: $2,680
Building a solid portfolio isn't just about buying properties, it's about strategically selecting undervalued opportunities and maximising their potential.
Here's exactly how we did it:
1. Smart, Below-Market Buying:
We intentionally bought properties under market value in locations we knew were primed for growth (Melbourne), markets already heating up (Townsville) and showing strong appreciation.
2. Targeted Renovations:
By investing just $100,000ish strategically into renovations, we've managed to boost property values by $429,000, along with the markets organic growth.
Check out the Townsville deal we bought in June 2024, now $75,000 more than we paid for it just 9 months ago. No renovation or anything!
3. Strategic Financing:
With a 73% LVR, we're leveraging other people's money (OPM - The Banks) to amplify our returns without overstretching our cash flow.
4. Equity Recycling:
We're sitting on $209,750 in usable equity, this is equity we didn’t have to grind for, and we're about to deploy it again.
Don't just watch from the sidelines:
If you're still watching rather than acting, you're leaving money on the table. Interest rates have now started to drop and people who are sitting on the sidelines are quickly choosing their side.
Property investing isn't rocket science. It's about choosing the right markets at the right time, smart financing, and value-add investments.
Stay close, this journey is just getting started.
We're proving that if we can do it, you absolutely can too.
Sponsored By The Level Up Property Course
"If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball."
Never a truer word spoken in property investing, you either navigate the market with precision, or you’re knocked out of the game and cop a wrench in the face.
Simple.
Too many property investors enter unprepared, overwhelmed by information overload and distracted by misleading "gurus" with out dated strategies and ideas.
They waste countless weekends at open homes, spend months sifting through endless online listings, and repeatedly miss out on that dream investment that will change the game for them.
Sound familiar?
Here are the harsh industry stats investors faced recently:
Most investors take months (sometimes years) to make their first property decision
Spend countless hours on ineffective research….. and due diligence? Is that some sort of french cuisine?
Or just overpay just to stop the property hunt
Experience stress, confusion, and costly mistakes
Most end up with buyer’s remorse and worse a BS portfolio
Property is a game, but you need the right playbook to win.
That’s exactly why Joe Tucker (that’s me!) and Jef Miles, creators of Australia’s largest property investment community (with 79,000+ investors and counting), have built the ultimate step-by-step system
The Level Up Property Course.
Combining over 20 years of experience and $100M+ in property purchased, their course hands you powerful, actionable tools to navigate the market confidently:
Proven frameworks for identifying high-growth markets (We’re doing this right now!)
A deep dive into the essential "3 Phases of Due Diligence".
Masterclass strategies to negotiate below market value.
Free 6-month subscription to HTAG analytics (valued at $1,100+).
Group Coaching Calls with Jef & Joe every 3 weeks
Private Facebook Mentoring Community run by Jef & Joe
Direct Mentorship from industry-leading investors (only for first 20!).
Investors who’ve used these methods have gained as much as $768,000 equity in under 3 years!
Forget confusion, stress, and guesswork, it's time to level up your portfolio and invest with certainty.
Lucky for our Aus Property Investor Community, Level Up Property Course is offering exclusive access and the first 20 people direct mentorship where we guide you on your journey!
Yes, this course does cost money, it’s Joe & Jef’s life work.
Be apart of the countless investors already winning the property game.
Ready to change your investing trajectory?
*This newsletter is sponsored by our friends at Level Up Property Course.
It’s Not All Sunshine & Unicorns🦄: Melbourne Renovation Update!
As you know, we’re sharing all the good, the bad and the ugly of this portfolio. The Melbourne renovation is apart of it and it’s underway as we speak…..write…..read?
This from end to end should be completed in 4-5 weeks.
Oh and did we mention that we have never been to the property ourselves, this is all done remotely by a competent team!
It’s progressing exactly as planned, with all key structural work completed and finishing touches well underway.
We anticipated the flooring issues early on, so when the re-stumping quote came in at $15,600, it was well within budget.
Thanks to a pre-negotiated $10,000 discount following the pest and building inspection, we controlled costs right from the outset.
The bathroom was another area we knew would need a full overhaul.
The previous renovation had been designed around the outdated "spaceship" shower, meaning drainage was always going to be an issue once we removed it. No surprises there, our plan already factored in a complete bathroom upgrade, so we pushed ahead without hesitation.
Other planned improvements included removing the old wood heater, replacing ceiling sheets due to prior water damage, and converting the under-utilised space off the kitchen into a fourth bedroom.
That conversion has already been recognised in updated banking records, pushing the valuation up to $645,000! That’s some real money!
Financially, the numbers are stacking up exactly as we intended.
The property was secured for $530,000, and with an estimated $70,000 renovation spend, we’ve achieved an equity uplift of $115,000.
Additionally, we leveraged this increased value to negotiate a lower interest rate, shaving $4,672 annually off repayments, another epic outcome based on our lending strategy.
With the property now structurally sound and getting modernised, the final phase is underway painting, flooring, and finishing touches to ensure maximum appeal.
Everything is tracking according to plan and we are bloody loving it, I hope you are too.
This is how successful property investing is done and we teach you everything we know, if you want to Level Up!
Then only you can make it happen!
Join the Level Up Property Course Now!
That’s another Newsletter Wrapped up! Thanks for reading this Aus Property Investors Edition. Let us know your thoughts, share with friends & family to get the word out to the Property Crew! 🔥