Property Mastermind Podcast with Bob Andersen & Hilary Saxton

Most developers think that once the loan is approved, the finance side is done. Bob Andersen and Hilary Saxton explain why that is not always true. Toward the end of a project things can shift: the build runs longer, interest eats into the cap, a variation creeps in beyond your contingency, or sales take longer to settle. Sometimes you need a top up. In this episode Bob and Hilary break down why e...

After 30 years as a chef, from Michelin kitchens in London to award winning restaurants in Sydney, Ollie Carruthers decided he wanted his time back. In this episode Hilary sits down with Ollie to trace his journey from head chef to full time property developer through the Property Mastermind Mentoring Program. Ollie shares the buyers agency proposal that made him think everyone was making money on...

This week Bob and Hilary step back and ask the big questions: what do the new developers who actually succeed do differently from the ones who stall? It comes down to six habits. 1. They get properly educated, so it is never a gamble. 2. They ask better questions and spot the pearl inside the oyster, and the way Bob once read a planning change to turn a four townhouse site into six. 3. They stop w...

In this episode Hilary sits down with Property Mastermind mentoring student Tom Evans, founder of Alva Property Group, to unpack the development that changed everything for him. Tom found a six-acre site about an hour from Newcastle that most people would have walked straight past. Spotting a 10% lot-size relaxation buried in the council's planning rules, he turned a one-into-two subdivision...

What happens when you put property developers through a 5-day audit of the foundations? You find the gaps they've been working around for years. Bob and Hilary recently ran a 5-day Property Development Challenge inside the PM Facebook group, and this episode is the takeaways recap. Across the five days we covered your why, the skills you already have, your risk profile, your financial situation, a...

There is an old saying in property development that you should always budget for the unexpected, but what happens when the professionals you trust completely miss the mark? Insurance is often treated as a background checkbox in a feasibility study, but getting it wrong can completely destroy a project before construction even begins. In Episode 256 of the Property Mastermind Podcast, hosts Hilary...

When you are mapping out a property development, it is easy to get caught up in the excitement of architectural designs, town planning approvals, and construction milestones. However, there is a silent profit-killer lurking in the background that can completely destroy your feasibility study if you get it wrong: Goods and Services Tax (GST). In this highly technical yet absolutely critical episode...

What if the next highly profitable property development site isn’t in a new suburb across town, but right on the very street you live on? Many everyday property owners are sitting on hidden goldmines without even realising it. These are known as "sleeper sites"—small, local opportunities that require a bit of creative thinking to fully unlock. In this episode of the Property Mastermind...

Are you waiting for the world to settle down before you finally start your property development journey? If you are constantly waiting for the "perfect time" to begin, you could be waiting forever. In this episode of the Property Mastermind Podcast, hosts Hilary Saxton and Bob Anderson expose the real reasons why aspiring developers sit on the sidelines. They break down five critical roadblocks: w...

Do you ever wonder if those massive property development profits are actually real? For beginners, it is easy to look at the numbers and assume they are either exaggerated or completely out of reach for everyday people. In this episode of the Property Mastermind Podcast, hosts Hilary and Bob provide the ultimate proof that beginners need to see. They break down a real-life case study from one of t...

When you are starting in property development, it is easy to look at massive apartment blocks and multi-stage subdivisions and think that "bigger is always better." But what if small, fast projects are actually the secret to a safer and more profitable portfolio? In this rapid-fire episode of the Property Mastermind Podcast, hosts Hilary Saxton and Bob Anderson unpack exactly when and why small de...

What is the difference between doing a property development and actually being a property developer? The answer is a pipeline. A pipeline is a continuous flow of projects that ensures a continuous flow of income, yet the vast majority of developers never manage to build one. In this milestone 250th episode of the Property Mastermind Podcast, hosts Hilary Saxton and Bob Anderson celebrate five year...

In property development, you do not want to be the most creative person on the market. Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel, success often comes down to observing patterns and replicating exactly what is already working in your specific patch. In this episode of the Property Mastermind Podcast, hosts Hilary Saxton and Bob Anderson discuss the massive financial benefits of replicating successful...

Finding a profitable property development site often means looking where your competitors aren't. In this episode of the Property Mastermind Podcast, Hilary Saxton and Bob Anderson reveal how developers uncover lucrative off-market deals. They explain the difference between on-market and off-market properties , and why dealing directly with a seller provides the ultimate advantage: less competitio...

There is an old saying in property development: the best deals you ever do are often the ones you walk away from. But how do you know when a problem is a minor hurdle, and when it is a complete deal killer? In this episode of the Property Mastermind Podcast, Hilary Saxton and Bob Anderson dive into the critical "Due Diligence Red Flags" that can destroy a property development deal. Using Bob's "tr...

Ever wondered if you can unlock your superannuation to fund a property development? It is a popular question, but the ATO rules are incredibly strict! In Episode 246 of the Property Mastermind Podcast, Hilary Saxton and Bob Anderson break down exactly what you need to know before using a Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) in the real estate game. Bob explains why investors leave industry funds to chas...

The first 12 months of your property development journey are often the most challenging, confusing, and critical. How you navigate this first year will determine whether you build a successful, profitable career, or simply add another expensive mistake to the statistics. In this episode of the Property Mastermind Podcast, hosts Hilary Saxton and Bob Anderson provide a roadmap for surviving and thr...

When developing property, design isn't just about aesthetics—it is a critical driver of your bottom line. A brilliant design can maximize your sale price, while a poor one can blow out your construction costs and leave your property languishing on the market. In this episode of the Property Mastermind Podcast, hosts Hilary and Bob explore the high-stakes world of design decisions. Inspired b...

Getting a "no" from a financier can feel like a punch in the gut, especially after you have poured time and money into finding what you think is the perfect development site. But before you take it personally, it is crucial to understand why the money didn't come through. In this episode of the Property Mastermind Podcast, Hilary and Bob pull back the curtain on the world of commercial property fi...

Walking away from a property development deal can be incredibly difficult, especially after you have invested significant time, emotion, and money. However, pushing forward with a flawed project or hoping the market will miraculously save your margins is a recipe for disaster. In this episode of the Property Mastermind Podcast, hosts Hilary Saxton and Bob Anderson discuss exactly when and why you...

Are you accidentally lying to yourself to make a property deal look good on paper? It is the most common, and most expensive, mistake new developers make. In this episode of the Property Mastermind Podcast, Hilary Sacks and Bob Anderson dissect the "lies" developers tell themselves when running a feasibility study. From assuming you can negotiate a builder's quote down by $250k, to inflating futur...

When you look at a property development feasibility, you see a dollar profit figure. But is making a profit enough to make the project viable ? In this episode of the Property Mastermind Podcast, Hilary Sacks and Bob Anderson dive into the critical world of Property Development Margins . They debunk the myth that you always need a 20% margin to succeed, explaining how project size, complexity, and...

How many life-changing decisions do you avoid because you're simply too tired to make them? In property development, indecision isn't just frustrating—it's expensive. In this episode of the Property Mastermind Podcast, Hilary Sacks and Bob Anderson tackle the silent killer of success: Decision Fatigue. They explore why delaying choices clutters your mind (like a stage filled with monkeys on...

Life rarely goes according to plan. When Mary lost her husband Mike in 2021, she faced a crossroads: let grief consume her, or honour their shared dream and keep moving. In this deeply moving episode of the Property Mastermind Podcast, Hilary sits down with Mary to discuss a journey that is about so much more than bricks and mortar. Mary opens up about starting property development in her "nanna y...

In property development, the old saying "time is money" isn't just a cliché—it is the difference between a profitable project and a financial disaster. With holding costs accumulating every single day, how do you ensure your project stays on track, or better yet, finishes early? In this episode of the Property Mastermind Podcast, Hilary Sacks and Bob Anderson dive deep into the critic...