PHOTO: Jess and Daniel Field. NEWS.COM.AU
How One Brisbane Couple Turned a $744K Investment Into a Nearly $3 Million Property Portfolio
A Brisbane couple who once feared they had been priced out of their dream home have built a property portfolio worth almost $3 million — while continuing to rent the home they live in.
Jess and Daniel Field, both 32, have used the equity from their first investment property to fund two more house-and-land investments, creating a three-property portfolio with a combined purchase value of around $2.5 million.
The couple’s strategy is a classic example of rentvesting — renting the home you want to live in while investing in property elsewhere.
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From Melbourne to Brisbane — and priced out of their dream home
The couple moved from Melbourne to Brisbane in 2023 with their two children and initially decided to rent while they worked out whether Queensland would become their long-term home.
But Brisbane’s property market moved quickly.
As property prices climbed, the type of family home the couple wanted became increasingly difficult to afford.
Rather than compromise on the size or location of their future home, they decided to take a different approach.
They would rent where they wanted to live — and buy property as an investment.
The couple enlisted Propell Property to help them purchase a house-and-land package in White Rock, Queensland, for $744,500.
The four-bedroom, two-bathroom property was completed late last year and was leased for $650 a week from January.
Then came the valuation.
Their first investment jumped almost $440,000
By May, the White Rock property had been valued at approximately $1.183 million.
That’s almost $440,000 above the couple’s original purchase price, based on the reported valuation.
The substantial increase in equity gave Jess and Daniel an opportunity to expand their portfolio.
They subsequently used equity from the property to purchase two more house-and-land investments.
One was purchased in Flagstone, south of Brisbane, for $918,083.
The second was purchased at Nambucca Heads on the NSW Mid North Coast for $843,000.
Together, the three properties have a combined purchase value of approximately $2.5 million.
Once the latest properties are completed, the portfolio is expected to be worth close to $3 million.
The couple still don’t own the home they live in
Perhaps the most interesting part of the strategy is that Jess and Daniel continue to rent their own family home.
They have two children, aged five and seven, and still intend to eventually purchase their own home.
But they don’t want to rush into buying a property that doesn’t meet their needs.
Instead, they are focusing on building their investment portfolio and increasing their equity before making that move.
“We do have goals for what we want,” Jess said.
“We’re just trying to build our wealth so we don’t have to borrow as much for our dream property and don’t have to compromise.”
Why new builds are part of the strategy
The couple’s investment decisions are also being made against the backdrop of upcoming changes to Australia’s tax treatment of property investment.
The reported changes from 2027 will affect the treatment of rental losses for investors purchasing established properties, while newly built homes will retain different treatment.
For the Fields, that distinction was one of the reasons they continued looking at new properties.
Jess said building new homes meant the changes would have less impact on their strategy.
Propell managing director Michael Pell said there was a misconception that changes to negative gearing had effectively killed rentvesting.
He argued that new-build properties remain attractive to some investors under the new rules.
What is rentvesting?
Rentvesting involves renting the home you want to live in while buying investment property elsewhere.
The strategy can allow buyers to live in a suburb or property they might not otherwise be able to afford while building an investment portfolio in locations where property prices or rental returns may be more accessible.
For the Fields, the strategy has allowed them to continue living their lifestyle while accumulating property assets.
But their story also highlights an important point:
A property portfolio can grow substantially without the owners actually living in the properties they own.
From one investment to three properties
The Fields’ journey started with a single $744,500 investment property in White Rock.
The reported valuation of $1.183 million provided significant equity, which they then used to help fund two additional investments.
Their three properties now span Queensland and New South Wales:
- 🏠 White Rock, QLD — purchased for $744,500
- 🏠 Flagstone, QLD — purchased for $918,083
- 🏠 Nambucca Heads, NSW — purchased for $843,000
Combined purchase value: approximately $2.5 million
Expected completed portfolio value: close to $3 million
The couple still plans to buy their own family home eventually — but for now, they’re taking a different route to get there.
🏠 PROPERTY NOISE
The Fields’ strategy won’t necessarily work for every Australian investor, and property valuations, borrowing costs, rental income and tax rules can all change.
But their story highlights just how differently younger Australians are approaching the property market.
Instead of buying the biggest home they can afford today, they’re renting their lifestyle and investing in property elsewhere.
And their ultimate goal remains the same:
Own the dream home — just not yet.
SOURCE: NEWS.COM.AU