← Australian Property Investment
Day 14 of 14
Putting It All Together — Your Brisbane Investment Plan
The Decision Framework
A good investment property decision rests on four pillars: financial viability (the numbers work at current rates with your serviceability), location quality (suburb fundamentals support 7–10 year appreciation), asset quality (the property itself is sound — not a money pit), and structural efficiency (the ownership structure maximises after-tax returns).
For Brisbane in 2024–2026, the highest-conviction plays are: houses in the 7–15km ring from CBD with existing infrastructure (train access, good schools), properties on 400m²+ blocks with development potential (especially RD3/RD4 zoning), and commercial property in SMSF if you're a business owner who can lease it back.
The biggest mistakes to avoid: buying off-the-plan apartments in oversupplied suburbs, over-leveraging on negatively geared properties with no serviceability buffer, buying without a building and pest inspection, using cross-collateralised loans, and ignoring depreciation schedules.
Your 90-Day Action Plan
Day 1–30: education and preparation. Get your finances in order — tax returns current, ATO debt nil, payslips or business financials ready. Meet with an investment-focused mortgage broker to understand your actual borrowing capacity. Get pre-approval. Identify two or three target suburbs and begin tracking them daily.
Day 31–60: active search. Set up alerts on realestate.com.au and Domain. Attend open homes — at least 10 properties — even if you're not ready to buy. Develop your eye for value. Talk to local property managers in your target suburbs to understand rental demand and vacancy.
Day 61–90: due diligence and offer. When you find the right property, move quickly with a conditional offer. Get your building and pest inspection, engage your conveyancer early, and review the depreciation estimate. If the numbers hold up through due diligence, proceed. If not, walk away without regret — the data will lead you to the next one.
Property is a long game. One good property held for 20 years with the right structure will deliver more wealth than five hasty purchases. Patience and process beat enthusiasm and speed.
⚡ Today's Action
Write your personal property investment policy statement — one page covering: your target suburb(s), your price range, your required minimum yield, your preferred property type, your holding period target, and your exit strategy. Share it with your accountant or broker. This is your filter for every property you consider.
💡 Pro Tip
Build your professional team before you need them: mortgage broker (investment specialist), accountant (property experience), conveyancer (SE Qld focus), buyer's agent (optional but valuable), and property manager. Having them ready means you can move fast when the right property appears.