How Aman Built an $11M Property Portfolio in 5 Years

An $11 million portfolio.Eight properties. Five years. All while running a growing immigration and recruitment business.

Aman Sethi did not do this by chasing “as many properties as possible”. He focused on three things:

• A large, quality asset base

• Strong cash flow relative to price

• A clear division between emotion and decision making

For business owners and high income professionals, this is a blueprint for building serious wealth without derailing your main income engine.

What Happened

Aman is the founder of Jigs Australia, a business with two arms:

• Immigration and visa advisory

• Recruitment and job search coaching, particularly for migrants

He had:

• 2 properties held for many years

• A growing business

• Strong income and equity by 2020

But he was not yet in “portfolio builder” mode.

The switch in 2020

Around 2020, several factors aligned:

• His business was performing strongly

• Equity in existing properties was solid

• Lending capacity was high

• COVID shifted labour back onshore, supporting his recruitment business instead of hurting it

This created a window where:

• Business cash flow was strong

• Serviceability was available

• Risk felt manageable

That is when he decided to move from “I will build a portfolio one day” to “I am building a serious asset base now.”

With InvestorKit, he moved from 2 to 8 properties in a short span, across 4 states, mostly bought sight unseen.

Key Findings

1. Asset base first, property count second

Aman was clear that his goal was not “20 properties.”

His focus was:

Build a large, high quality asset base that compounds over decades.

He and the team prioritised:

• Value of assets over number of doors

• Quality locations and dwellings over “cheap and cheerful”

• Growth plus yield, not one or the other

Result:

• 8 properties across 4 states

• Approximate portfolio value of $11 million

• At a conservative 5 percent growth rate, that is around $550,000 in annual wealth creation on paper

This is the compounding engine that supports his long term choices as a business owner.

2. The COVID uplift and the power of timing

A key tailwind was the COVID period:

• He bought several assets just before and during the early stages

• Those properties saw 30 to 50 percent value uplift in a relatively short period

• That equity was then used to keep amplifying the portfolio

This shows:

• Starting from a position of strength matters

• Rapid but controlled accumulation can leverage a single strong cycle

• Equity growth can become a buffer and a funding source, not just a number on paper

3. Borderless investing works when the process is rigorous

Aman’s portfolio is spread across 4 states.Many properties were bought without him physically visiting them at the time of purchase.

What made this feasible:

• Local teams inspecting on the ground

• Detailed videos of each room and streetscape

• Analysis of nearby features, zoning, amenities and supply

• Use of maps and satellite imagery for context

Once that data and on the ground feedback came through, his nerves eased.

He now has:

• Properties interstate

• Confidence in quality and area selection

• The ability to buy where the data and conditions are right, not just in his backyard

4. The “ugly” Adelaide property that outperformed

One of the standout performers was:

• Bought around $550k–$600k in Adelaide

• Now worth close to $1 million

• Around 30–40 years old

• Not the prettiest in the portfolio

Yet:

• Long term tenants have stayed for 4–5 years

• Maintenance has been minimal

• Tenants are so settled they have enquired about buying it

This reinforced key points:

• Age does not equal high maintenance

• Older, well built homes can outperform newer stock

• “Pretty” is not the same as profitable

5. Executive homes in the middle ring, not trophies in the inner ring

Aman pushed hard on a theme: X factors.

For his higher budget purchases, the strategy focused on:

• Executive style homes in middle ring suburbs

• Features like a fifth bedroom, third bathroom, extra living areas, studies, or cinema rooms

• Properties that are clearly above suburb standard but not inner city trophy homes

Why this works:

• Inner ring with big budgets often means “entry level” houses on prestige land with very low yields

• Outer ring would let him buy many cheaper properties but create management and diversification complexity

• Middle ring executive homes create a sweet spot:

  • Better yield than typical high value homes

  • Appeal to affluent tenants willing to pay a premium

  • Strong owner occupier demand for resale

Example from his portfolio:

• Purchased around $1.175 million

• Original rent about $900 per week

• Now renting for about $1,250 per week

That is a strong yield for a high value asset relative to suburb averages.

6. Yield cannot be sacrificed for quality

Aman is clear:

• Yield matters if you want to keep buying

• Cash flow strain kills momentum

The approach:

• High quality assets, but not at the cost of permanently weak yield

• Test higher rent levels when the property truly offers something unique

• Always understand the “base case rent” and the “stretch rent”

He framed it as:

• Worst case: the property rents at normal suburb levels

• Best case: the X factors unlock a material premium

This allowed him to hold quality stock without facing crippling cash flow.

7. Emotion out, demographics in

Across the portfolio, one mindset shift stands out:

“We are not buying for our lifestyle.”

Examples:

• He would not personally live in a five bedroom home, but the local demographic will pay for it

• What a Sydney based professional values is often different from what a family in Adelaide or a regional city values

So, decisions were based on:

• Local demographic demand

• What tenants pay a premium for in that specific market

• Layout and features that match local household structures

Not:

• His personal taste

• How he would like to live

8. Property as a buffer for business, not a burden

As a business owner, Aman has experienced:

• Strong years with high cash flow

• Quieter periods as market cycles and regulations change

The portfolio functions as:

• A growing equity base that compounds in the background

• A buffer that can be tapped via equity when needed

• A reason he feels comfortable taking more calculated business risk

Key point:

• Accessing equity on property is often cheaper and more flexible than business loans, with longer terms and lower rates

Rather than golden handcuffs, the debt and assets have given him options and confidence.

9. Why many high income professionals stay stuck

From his conversations with peers, common blockers are:

• Preference for cash sitting in the bank

• Discomfort with even a temporary cash flow shortfall

• Comfort with volatility in shares or crypto, but not leverage in property

• Waiting for the “perfect big purchase” instead of building a repeatable system

Aman’s counter view:

• Residential property in Australia is a central pillar of the economy

• If that market truly collapses, most other things will likely be falling too

• Property has offered him a stable, leveraged way to build an asset base over 10–20 years

10. Buyers agents as insurance, not an indulgence

Aman was candid about how he used the InvestorKit team:

• He regularly sent properties he found himself

• Many were rejected due to factors he had not seen:

  • Major power lines

  • Substations

  • Nearby public housing concentrations

  • Heavy retail or traffic nearby

  • Large future land supply

He describes the fee as:

An insurance premium on a million dollar decision.

If a small percentage cost helps avoid one poor asset selection that drags on the portfolio for decades, it is a rational trade.

For a business owner short on time, this also allowed:

• Faster but still rigorous decisions

• Confidence that someone had walked the streets and checked the details

• A clear separation between his role as decision maker and the team’s role as researcher and negotiator

Lessons for Investors

For The Legacy Builder

• Focus on building a large, high quality asset base, not just stacking properties

• Target locations and dwellings that will still appeal in 10–20 years

• Use strong growth periods to create buffers that protect your family in leaner times

For The Busy Professional

• Borderless, data led investing lets you buy where conditions are best, not just where you live

• A professional team can handle research, inspections and negotiations while you stay focused on your career

• Think of expert help as risk management, not a luxury

For The Conservative Couple

• Older, quality builds in solid locations can offer low maintenance and stable tenants

• A mix of growth and yield can reduce stress and reliance on your wages

• Property can be your defensive core, even when other markets are volatile

For The Ambitious Climber

• Executive homes in the middle ring can combine scale with strong yield

• Using equity from 30–50 percent uplifts to fund the next step can accelerate your path

• A clear system lets you move quickly when conditions are favourable

Action Steps

1. Define your asset base target, not your property count

   • Decide what total portfolio value you want in 10–20 years.

   • Work backwards to how many properties and at what price bands you need.

2. Audit your current position like a banker would

   • Equity in existing properties

   • Business or employment income

   • Current borrowing capacity and buffers

3. Decide your lane: growth, yield, or blended

   • If your income is strong, a growth plus yield blend like Aman used can compound fast.

   • Clarify your tolerance for short term cash flow pressure.

4. Consider the executive home middle ring strategy if your budget allows

   • If you are working with a 1–2 million budget per asset, assess whether:

     • Inner ring yields are too low for your goals

     • Middle ring executive homes can give you better yield at similar capital growth potential

5. Remove emotion from selection criteria

   • Map what local tenants and buyers value in each target market.

   • Rank properties by that demand, not by your personal taste.

6. Commit to a borderless, data first approach

   • Shortlist markets using data on supply, demand, rents, and incomes.

   • Use on the ground teams to validate street by street quality.

7. Build a specialist team around you

   • Property strategist or buyers agent

   • Broker who understands business owners and investors

   • Accountant who structures for both business and portfolio

   • Property manager aligned with your yield and maintenance goals

8. Turn investing into a routine, not an event

   • Set a review rhythm for both your business and your portfolio.

   • Each year, ask: can I release equity safely and add another quality asset.

Ready To Build Your Own High Performance Portfolio?

If you are a business owner or high income professional and you want an asset base that can:

• Compound hundreds of thousands a year

• Support you through both strong and quiet years

• Give you confidence to take bigger steps in your career or business

then it is time to get strategic.

Book a free discovery call with InvestorKit and we will walk you through how to build a high growth, data driven portfolio without guesswork or emotional decisions.

👉 Visit investorkit.com.au and book your discovery call today.