Investment By Design

Are new builds actually the better investment… or are investors being distracted by tax benefits? In this episode we break down the REAL numbers behind established vs new build property investing in Australia, including:* negative gearing* depreciation* cashflow* construction holding costs* rental income* property growth* land value vs building value* and why location still matters more than tax d...

The 2026 Federal Budget may have just changed Australian property investing forever. The government says these changes are designed to improve housing affordability, yet Treasury is forecasting 35,000 fewer homes as a result of the policy changes. At the same time, Cairns has secured major infrastructure funding including upgrades to the Western Arterial Road, education investment, and regional de...

Is the Cairns property market heading for another boom, or are buyers about to get caught out? In this episode of Investment By Design, I sit down with Cairns-based mortgage broker Stacey from Zory Financial Solutions to break down what is really happening with borrowing capacity, buyer behavior, lending conditions, and property opportunities in the Cairns property market in 2026. With Cairns hous...

Everyone says we just need more housing… but in Cairns, there are already approved developments that never get built. So what’s actually stopping them? In this episode, I sit down with James McPeak from McPeak Town Planning to break down the Cairns housing market, land supply, and the real reasons developments stall—even after council approval. If you’ve ever wondered: -Is there really a land shor...

If you’ve ever wondered how to buy property with your super in Australia , this episode breaks down the process in a clear, practical way. In this episode of the Investment By Design Podcast , we unpack the 5 key steps to buying property with super , including how an SMSF property investment works, the structures involved, the common mistakes people make, and what you need to understand before tak...

Most property investors think wealth is built when the market is rising… But the truth is, real wealth can be built in any real estate market. In this episode of the Investment By Design Podcast, we sit down with Todd Sloan from Pizza and Property to break down exactly how investors can continue to grow their portfolio, create equity, and build long-term wealth even in a slowing or declining prope...

In this episode of the Investment by Design Podcast , we sit down with Alesha Wilson from Ray White Cairns to unpack her journey from army life to building a property portfolio in one of Australia’s most talked-about markets. After moving to Cairns in 2020, Alesha didn’t just settle into a new lifestyle — she took action. Within just 3 years, she secured 3 investment properties and built a strong...

In this episode of the Investment by Design Podcast, I sit down with Natasha Whalley‑Thompson — one of Cairns’ leading real estate agents who has sold over 130 properties in the past 12 months and consistently ranks among the top Ray White agents in Australia. Natasha shares what she’s seeing on the ground in the Cairns property market right now — from first home buyers turning to units, to auctio...

Over the last few years something interesting has been happening in the Cairns property market. Interstate buyers are arriving, billions of dollars are being invested in infrastructure, and property prices are beginning to move. So the question is: Why is everyone suddenly talking about Cairns? In this video we break down the real forces reshaping the city including migration trends, major infrast...

In this episode of Investment by Design, we unpack the bigger story unfolding across the Cairns property market, the Cairns real estate market, and the wider Cairns economy. For years, Cairns has been viewed primarily as a tourism city. But is that still the full picture? With major investment flowing into health infrastructure, education, airport upgrades, housing growth, defence and major events...

Across Cairns, Far North Queensland, and Australia more broadly, we see investors make smart moves… at the wrong time, in the wrong structure, or without a long-term plan. This episode breaks down why that happens and how strategic planning changes everything. In this in-depth conversation, we sit down with financial planner Ben Cole to unpack the realities behind financial advice in Australia, wh...

Why do so many property investors in Cairns and regional Australia get stuck after one or two properties even when prices are rising and rents are strong? In this in-depth conversation, we sit down with Kurt from Blue Collar Money to unpack the finance mistakes we see repeatedly holding investors back across Cairns, Far North Queensland, and Australia more broadly. Working with investors on the gr...

Most investors think tenancy issues come down to “bad tenants.” Experienced property managers know that’s rarely the real problem. In this in-depth conversation, we sit down with Adam Saitta from Benchmark Real Estate Cairns, a local property manager with 20 years of hands-on experience, to unpack where investors most commonly go wrong with tenancies and how those mistakes quietly erode returns ov...

Are you at risk of making an expensive property mistake? In this in-depth conversation, we sit down with Keegan Lake, a Cairns-based real estate sales expert with 8 years of industry experience and lifelong local knowledge, to break down the 5 biggest mistakes buyers make when purchasing property and how to avoid them. Whether you’re buying your first home, investing interstate, or researching reg...

Buying an investment property can feel like an emotionalroller coaster… good properties move fast, the market feels competitive, and by the time you find “the one,” it’s already under offer. In this episode, I break down the 5 essential steps everyAustralian investor needs to follow to buy smarter, avoid costly mistakes, and set themselves up for long-term wealth, regardless of whether you’reearni...

In this in-depth conversation, we sit down with David Murphy, Director at Ray White Cairns & Cairns Beaches , to unpack what’s really happening across the residential and commercial property markets in Far North Queensland. With an economics degree , decades of industry experience, and an office that manages over 2,000 properties while selling both residential and commercial real estate , Davi...

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...