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On paper, Ryan and Lauren look like any young professional couple.Both are physios in Darwin. Both started on regular incomes. Both began with simple savings habits their parents taught them.
By 30, they hold a $4.5 million property portfolio across five properties and three states.Most of it has been built in just five years.
This case study, from The Property Nerds podcast with Founder and Head of Research at InvestorKit, Arjun Paliwal, breaks down how they did it, what went right, what went wrong, and the main lessons for other investors.
Two physios, separate starts, same goal
Ryan’s interest in investing started around 2017 to 2018.He researched stocks and property, and kept coming back to one idea.
Property allowed him to use leverage to build long term wealth.The ability to control a large asset with a smaller deposit appealed to him.
Around the same time, Lauren was having money conversations with her dad and brother.They had some savings and knew leaving it in the bank long term was not ideal.
Their first move was a house and land package in Ballarat with her brother.It felt like a safe start, but there was no detailed strategy behind it yet.
So both had the interest.Both had some savings.Both were thinking long term.
They just lacked a clear, data backed plan and a specialist team.
From DIY to data driven: why they chose a buyers agent
Ryan is the classic research type.He will compare lightbulbs, insurance policies, and every fine detail.
That same mindset pushed him toward a buyers agent.He recognised that no matter how much he read, an experienced specialist team would likely make better calls than he could alone.
After connecting online with InvestorKit Founder and Head of Research, Arjun Paliwal, Ryan booked a coffee in Melbourne.His parents came along and treated it like an interview.
They wanted to see if this buyers agent was genuine, and whether he truly had their son’s best interests at heart.By the end, the verdict from his parents was simple.
Genuine. Data focused. Client first.
From there, Ryan decided not to operate solo.He would focus on his career and money habits, and let a professional team handle research, strategy, and negotiations.
The Brisbane house that doubled in five years
Ryan’s first purchase with InvestorKit was a house in Brisbane in 2020.Purchase price: $485,000.
Current estimated value: about $1,000,000.That is roughly $515,000 in capital gains.About 106% growth in five years.
Ryan has never seen the property in person.He has only viewed inspections and photos from the property manager.
That decision required him to step outside his comfort zone.He was living in Melbourne at the time, and Brisbane felt distant.
The key shift for him was this.Stop thinking like an owner occupier.Stop judging properties by kitchen colours or bedroom size.
Focus on the numbers, the data, and the plan.
InvestorKit used strict due diligence criteria at both market and property level.If the fundamentals stacked up, emotional details like decor or small quirks did not matter.
The result speaks clearly.A property he would never live in personally now carries over half a million dollars in gains.
Going regional with Bundaberg
After the Brisbane result, the next step was crucial.Stick with another big capital city, or follow the data into a strong regional market.
In 2022, InvestorKit identified Bundaberg in regional Queensland as a high potential opportunity.Purchase price: $390,000.Current estimate: around $620,000.
That is about $230,000 in uplift, or roughly 59% growth in three years.
At that price point, Ryan and Lauren could have bought a unit closer to home in Melbourne.Instead, they backed the numbers and went regional.
The choice was not driven by hype, headlines, or comfort.It was driven by the same data focused approach that guided their Brisbane purchase.
Ryan was confident enough by then that this Bundaberg property was one of the fastest decisions he made.No overthinking, no second guessing.The first suitable deal that met the brief was locked in.
When a property underperforms: Ballarat lessons
Not every property in their story is a standout performer.Lauren’s earlier house and land package in Ballarat has moved far slower in recent years.
They purchased around 2018 in the mid 500s.It had some early growth that helped her brother eventually buy his own home.
Later, Lauren bought out her brother’s share.The property then rolled into the couple’s joint portfolio.
Over the last five years, the value has sat roughly between the original price and the low 600s.Not a disaster, but not a star either.
Still, some important lessons came out of that asset.
- It showed the cost of buying without a holistic strategy
- It highlighted how poor communication between broker and conveyancer can add stress
- It proved that a “slow” property can still serve a purpose as a stepping stone
- It reinforced the value of patience, rather than rushing to sell
With InvestorKit’s guidance, Lauren chose not to panic sell. Ballarat has recently started to show signs of recovery, with volumes and interest lifting again.
While the performance is not as strong as Brisbane or Bundaberg, it no longer feels like a mistake.Instead, it sits as a reminder of why process matters.
Money habits behind a $4.5m portfolio
Big portfolios rarely come from property decisions alone.They usually sit on top of disciplined money habits.
Ryan and Lauren’s approach is simple and structured.
- Income from their physio roles lands in the offset account against their home loan
- Rental income also lands in the offset, increasing the daily interest savings
- They use a credit card for monthly spending, then clear it in full
- This keeps cash sitting in the offset longer, reducing interest
- They are both naturally frugal and avoid impulse buys
Lauren started working young, in casual jobs, and built early savings discipline. Ryan focused heavily on sport during school, then caught up later, but now matches that mindset.
Even on lifestyle, they think in value terms. For example, Lauren bakes gluten free bread at home because store bought loaves are expensive and Ryan eats a lot of it.
They also use their credit card points for flights, which helps fund trips while the portfolio grows in the background.
How they invest as a couple
A strong portfolio is one thing.Staying aligned as a couple is another.
Ryan naturally dives into research and ideas.He often brings multiple concepts, markets, or strategies to the table.
Lauren plays the filter.She slows the pace, helps prioritise, and keeps the bigger picture in view.
They share clear goals.
- Build wealth early
- Have kids without stressing about money
- Protect borrowing capacity before starting a family
- Aim for more time freedom later in life
Major decisions get made together. Ryan brings the data and scenarios.Lauren brings a different perspective and checks how each move aligns with their life plans.
They also rely on their professional team. InvestorKit coordinates with brokers, conveyancers, and property managers, which removed the stress Lauren felt on earlier solo purchases.
What five properties by 30 really delivers
Across Brisbane, Bundaberg, Melbourne, Ballarat, and Darwin, Ryan and Lauren now hold:
- Five properties
- Across three states
- Total portfolio value around $4.5 million
Using their portfolio plan with InvestorKit, they can see the long term impact.The properties alone are on track to support an inflation adjusted passive income target above $100,000 per year in retirement, before including super.
The key benefit is peace of mind.
They no longer feel like retirement is an open question.They know time is now working in their favour.
That confidence also changes how they think about work, family, and lifestyle.The portfolio is no longer just a set of houses.It is a structure supporting their long term choices.
Ryan and Lauren’s advice to newer investors
For someone thinking about a first or second investment, Ryan and Lauren share a few clear points.
- Have the conversation earlier than you think
Many people assume they cannot borrow yet.
Until a broker or specialist team runs the numbers, that is just guesswork.
Ryan and Lauren did not expect to reach five properties so quickly. - Trust data over décor
A good investment property is not a dream home.
You do not need to like the kitchen or the bedroom size.
You need a strong location, sound fundamentals, and numbers that stack up. - Accept that not every asset will be perfect
Ballarat did not race ahead, but it still played a role.
Patience and a portfolio view matter more than perfection. - Use specialists when the stakes are high
Coordinating banks, brokers, conveyancers, building inspectors, property managers, and negotiations is complex.
Trying to do everything alone adds stress and increases risk. - Focus on habits, not heroics
The portfolio rests on years of basic savings discipline, offset use, and sensible spending.
Those habits made it possible to strike when the right opportunities appeared.
Want help building your own plan?
Ryan and Lauren are not outliers with massive incomes.They are two time poor professionals who decided to act early, follow data, and use a specialist team.
If you want to:
- Build a borderless portfolio
- Use data to identify high performing markets
- Map a clear path toward long term passive income