Whether you’re starting out or scaling up, getting ahead with property isn’t about luck. It’s about mindset, a plan, and the right people in your corner. Alex and Awhina moved from New Zealand to Perth for work, more opportunity, and a better life for their family. In under two years, they’ve turned that decision into two investment properties before 30, and a plan to retire by 40.
“We just kept talking about our goals. Then one day it was, ‘Okay, let’s do it.’ There’s no trick. You just start.” – Awhina
Money talk wasn’t the norm, so they made it the norm
Alex and Awhina’s journey didn’t start with financial knowledge, in fact, it was the opposite. They grew up in families where talking about money felt off-limits, almost taboo. So, when they suddenly increased their income after moving to Perth, the responsibility hit quickly.
They realised that earning more wasn’t enough on its own. If they wanted life to look different for their son, they needed to break the cycle and start learning from people who were already doing better.
“We needed financial literacy – fast. So, we talked openly with friends who were already managing money well, and we reached out to experts.” – Alex
That openness led them to us, and to a framework that removed emotion from big decisions and focused on what works and duplicates.
The first step is the hardest (and most important)
Awhina admits she was the hesitant one at first. “We’d saved hard. I struggled with letting the money go, especially after just buying our own home.”
That first investment wasn’t a smooth, confident decision. It was emotional. For Awhina, saving that money took years of discipline, and watching it leave their account felt like stepping off a cliff. But through countless conversations, reassurance, and a shared vision for their future, they turned fear into action. It wasn’t easy, but it was pivotal.
Alex became the “driver,” breaking down the process and paperwork, and keeping them aligned.
“We try to be on the same page with everything. We talk it out. Then we act.”
Their strength as a couple is how they complement each other. Alex breaks down the data and the paperwork; Awhina brings caution and clarity. Together they balance emotion and logic, making decisions that strengthen their financial foundation rather than derail it. Their partnership is at the core of their success.
Strategy over emotion (and why simplicity wins)
Alex & Awhina loved how conservative the initial numbers were, and how reality ended up better than the budget.
“We were told to expect about $200/week holding costs on the first one. In practice it was closer to $50/week because interest rates came in lower and rent came in higher.”
That clarity made the second purchase a no-brainer.
Nothing prepared them for the moment they saw their equity position after just one year. They expected a modest uptick, maybe a deposit’s worth. Instead, they discovered over $150,000 in usable equity, a result that felt surreal. It was the light-bulb moment where everything clicked: the strategy worked, and their future could accelerate far faster than they imagined.
“We called just to see where we were at, next thing we are told we can go again. Melbourne, here we come.”
What moved the needle
- Talk openly, learn quickly. Surround yourself with people who have done it, then let the experts guide you.
- Keep emotion out of the buy. Friends who say property ‘didn’t work’ usually bought in their own suburb. We removed emotion and let the process work.
- Think in decades, not days. People look for short-term gains. We focus on what our choices mean in 10-20 years.
- Cash-flow discipline. Budget for conservative numbers. Celebrate when the actuals beat the plan.
- Shared vision at home. “I’m the passenger, Alex is the driver. That balance keeps us going.”
Why they share their story
As proud Kiwi’s with strong Polynesian family values, Alex and Awhina pay it forward.
“We’ve had lots of help. Now we help friends and family – no pressure – just options. Once they see its real, mindsets change.
Their vision for the future
Their dream is simple: retire by 40, travel freely, and enjoy life with their son. Not extravagant, not unrealistic, just intentional. They want to wake up to alarms that signal holidays, not work shifts. And property is the vehicle making that future real, not theoretical.
Looking back, they would not change their journey, except to start earlier. The mindset, the conversations, the guidance from us, and the willingness to take the leap: that is what created momentum. The earlier they could have begun, the more powerful the compounding would be, but they are grateful they began when they did.
For anyone stuck in research mode or waiting for the “perfect” moment, Alex and Awhina are clear: the first step is everything. Waiting feels safer, but it costs years. Once they started, once they trusted the process, the fear dissolved and the results became real. If they can do it, under 30, raising a child, starting from scratch – anyone can.
