Five investment questions every Australian should be asking in a shifting market
From earning an average income to investing during uncertain times, here's what every aspiring property investor should know before making their next move.
There is a lot of noise and varying opinions being reported in the media, most of it off the back of the tax and housing reforms made in the latest Federal Budget.
It’s easy to let the often-ill-informed chatter, make you question your investment plan, but I’m hoping I can help ease some of those fears. After all, education is the best antidote for a lack of confidence.
Can you invest in property if you earn an average income?
One of the biggest myths about property investing is that it’s only for high-income earners. Most successful investors didn’t start with extraordinary incomes - they are teachers, nurses, emergency service workers and tradespeople.
Of course, your income matters because it determines your borrowing capacity, but that is only one part of the equation. Lenders also look at your expenses, existing debts, savings habits and overall finances.
The real question isn’t, ‘Do I earn enough?’ It’s, ‘Am I managing what I earn well enough?’
Building wealth is rarely about making one extraordinary financial decision. It’s about making a series of good decisions over many years. That’s where property can become such a powerful vehicle - it rewards consistency and patience.
The bottom line: Property investing isn’t reserved for high-income Australians. It’s available to people who are prepared to plan, save and think long-term building good habits along the way.
How much money do I need to start investing?
There’s no magic number; every investor’s circumstances are different, but you can get started with as little as $80,000.
The amount you’ll need depends on the property you’re looking to buy, your borrowing capacity and whether you’re eligible for any lending incentives. More importantly, you should be asking whether you have enough financial buffer to comfortably manage the investment - not simply enough to complete the purchase.
Too many people wait years trying to save the ‘perfect’ deposit, while property prices continue shifting. Sometimes delaying can cost far more than starting with a slightly smaller deposit.
Property investing shouldn’t stretch you to breaking point; it also shouldn’t require perfection before you begin. The goal is to enter the market with a strategy that’s sustainable over the long term.
The bottom line: Don’t focus solely on reaching a deposit target. Focus on building a financial position that allows you to invest confidently and hold the property for the long term.
What’s the biggest mistake first-time investors make?
Trying to buy the perfect property.
Many first-time investors spend months, sometimes years, waiting for the ideal suburb, price or market conditions. Unfortunately, many of us rarely find perfection.
Property investing isn’t about finding a flawless investment. It’s about purchasing an asset that meets your long-term objectives and allowing time to do the heavy lifting.
Another common mistake is allowing emotion to drive investment decisions. Investing in property should be treated differently from buying a family home. You’re buying future performance, not your dream kitchen or favourite paint colour.
Successful investors understand that time in the market consistently beats trying to perfectly time the market.
The bottom line: Don’t let perfection become the enemy of progress. A well-chosen property held long term will usually outperform years spent waiting on the sidelines.
Does buying during uncertain times create better opportunities?
History suggests that uncertainty often leads to opportunity - but only for investors with a long-term mindset.
Every property cycle comes with reasons why people think now isn’t the right time. Interest rates rise. Elections create uncertainty. Economic conditions change. Media headlines become overwhelmingly negative.
Yet when you look back, many of the strongest investment opportunities emerged during periods when confidence was at its lowest.
That’s because uncertainty tends to reduce competition. Buyers become cautious, negotiations improve and quality assets can become more accessible.
The key is remembering that property investing is measured in decades, not news cycles. If you’re buying an asset with strong long-term fundamentals, today’s uncertainty often becomes tomorrow’s forgotten headline.
The bottom line: The best time to invest often feels uncomfortable. Long-term investors focus on fundamentals, not fear.
What’s one financial habit that creates the biggest long-term difference?
Delayed gratification. Yes, I know it’s not the most exciting answer, but it might be the most important.
Building wealth is rarely about earning the highest income or finding the perfect investment. It’s about consistently choosing tomorrow’s financial freedom over today’s unnecessary spending.
Every financial decision involves a trade-off. The question successful investors ask isn’t, ‘Can I afford this?’ It’s, ‘What is this costing my future self?’
Whether it’s regularly saving, reducing unnecessary debt or reinvesting gains instead of spending them, small, disciplined decisions repeated over many years create extraordinary outcomes.
Most people overestimate what they can achieve in a year but underestimate what they can achieve over 20 years.
The bottom line: Wealth isn’t built through one big decision. It’s built through thousands of small, disciplined decisions that compound over time.
