Investment By Design

How I Made $74,892 Profit in 12 Months from a $420K Cairns Unit | Full Breakdown What does a real investment return look like in the Cairns property market right now? In this episode, I break down one of my own recent property purchases —a $420,000 Cairns apartment that produced $74,892 profit in the first 12 months . I walk through the numbers, the strategy, the cash flow, the set up, the yield,...

Is Cairns heading for a decade of growth or are major structural constraints beginning to bite? In this deep-dive episode, we sit down with Economist Pete Faulkner of Conus Business Consultancy to unpack the real forces shaping the Cairns economy today and into the future. With decades of experience analysing regional markets, working with councils, industry groups, and major businesses, Pete prov...

Is Cairns on the verge of a major transformation? In this in-depth conversation, we sit down with Sarah Mort, Managing Director of MiHaven Cairns, to unpack the real forces shaping the city’s future. With 20 years of experience in the Cairns economy and over $50 million in NDIS projects, 135 share house rooms, and multiple residential developments, Sarah provides rare insight into what’s really ha...

Thinking about buying an apartment in Cairns? Don’t overlook this investment class! Apartments and units can be one of the most affordable and high-potential property types for first-time buyers and investors alike, especially here in Cairns. In this episode, Cairns Buyers Agent Shaun Craike from The Buyers Co sits down with Apartment Sales Specialist, Tim Lyon, to break down: 🏙️ Why apartments ca...

Thinking about buying or investing in Cairns? In this 2026 Cairns property market forecast, we break down everything you need to know before making your next move from housing growth trends and rental vacancies to major developments and the region’s shift beyond tourism. The Cairns real estate market has outperformed many capital cities in recent years, and 2026 could be another breakout year. Whe...

In this week’s episode, we chat with Emma Craig, one of Queensland’s most respected property managers and the youngest Principal in the Professionals Network globally. Emma brings over a decade of experience managing investment properties across Cairns and regional Queensland, sharing powerful insights into what it really takes to build a successful property portfolio in today’s market. Whether yo...

In this episode of Investment by Design, we sit down with James Fennell, a self-made multi-millionaire developer who’s built projects worth hundreds of million across Cairns, Gladstone, and Townsville. James shares his raw and unfiltered journey from his first development with no plan to navigating the GFC, when the bank literally ran out of money mid-project. You’ll hear what it really takes to m...

Finding Real Value in Today’s Property Market (with Nicole Craike) In this episode, we unpack what it really takes to find value in today’s property market, even when everything feels expensive. I’m joined by Nicole Craike , and together we share the story of how we purchased a block of units that had been sitting on the market for over 200 days and why it turned out to be a true diamond in the ro...

In this episode of Investment by Design, I sit down with David Galloway-Penny, who proves it’s never too late to start investing in property. After buying his first investment property at 41, David has built a portfolio of four properties in just five years, all while navigating Australia’s changing real estate market. We dive deep into:✅ The real costs of property development and how they’re res...

In this episode of Investment by Design, I’m joined by my wife, Nicole, as we open up about our real property investing journey, the highs, the lows, and everything in between. We share the real story behind how we started investing in property, the mistakes we made, and the lessons that helped us grow a diverse portfolio across Cairns, Townsville, and Port Douglas. From overcoming the fear of deb...

In this episode of the Investment By Design Podcast, we sit down with Ken Turner, one of Cairns’ most respected real estate agents and an active property investor. Ken shares his incredible journey of buying six properties in just 12 months, revealing the mindset, strategy, and lessons that helped him build his portfolio. He also dives deep into the Cairns real estate market, discussing what’s dri...