Case studies

Our client was a first home buyer who came to us with his strategic plan. He had read all the Michael Yardney books and listened to all the podcasts and subscribed to our newsletters. 

First home buyers need Buyers Advocates to keep them focused on why they are buying. Their first home is more likely not their forever home, therefore the investment mindset is needed.

We negotiated and successfully purchased the home for less than intrinsic value. Comparable sales were $30-$40,000 higher.

Buying the first home for the client was refreshing for us. We were reminded of the raw and real emotions first home buyers experience.

The client was ready to purchase his first home and did not want to make any costly mistakes. 

The reason we focused on this property was a) its location and b) its accommodation and c) the value and price.

Off-market opportunity purchase for our repeated clients to add to their SMSF.

After a disappointing building and pest inspection on another property we were considering, we offered this property to our clients. 

The property was owner-occupied and offered many quality fixtures and fittings.  Accommodating and spacious within good school catchments and a great neighbourhood.

Our client, the vendor, is based and living in NSW.  She recently attended our wealth retreat seminar and engaged our Vendor Advocacy service to help sell her apartments in Melbourne’s inner North suburb of Alphington.

After much consideration, we appointed the right selling agent and within the month we sold both apartments.

We had 2 buyers on the 2-bedroom apartment within the first two (2) weeks of marketing.  And we achieved a sale price of $100,000 above comparable sales in the complex.

After her divorce, single mum Rebecca Windle was looking for a new home for herself and her boys to call home. Her search was very particular, as she needed the location to be convenient for the boys’ schooling and she wanted an extra ‘granny flat’ so that her father could come and stay also.

Through friends of friends, Rebecca was referred to me to see if we could help her find her dream home. She knew the suburbs she was wanting were very popular and the market was very hot. Within 4 weeks, we managed to find and secure a perfect home that the boys absolutely love. 

Finlay Casey was a single young male that was looking to purchase his first home. Before reaching out to us, he had been searching and making offers for over 6 months. Every time he kept missing out, the market was moving higher. It was after missing out yet again that he quickly realised that he needed help to secure a property. 

Within 2 weeks of signing up, he was very excited as we had managed to secure an off-market property that ticked all of his boxes. Results like this show the importance of using an experienced Buyers Agent that has lots of connections in the area you want to purchase in.

After selling their home to upgrade, Jonathan and Rebecca Staples quickly realised that the market was moving very quickly and their dreams of upgrading were harder than they thought.  Although they had a long settlement — they ended up homeless and living in the downstairs area of their parents’ home.  

Rebecca had all the online searches set up and was actively sending us through what she thought were great options. We thoroughly investigated each one and showed them why we were rejecting most. With our help and guidance, we kept them from panic buying a lemon property and secured their dream home in their dream suburb.  

Our clients came to us wanting to expand their portfolio with another investment property.  With only a small budget of $500,000, we recommended the purchase of a well-located townhouse, as close to the CBD as possible, rather than a house further out in an inferior location.
 
For $491,000, we secured this townhouse pre-market with long-term professional tenants that wanted to stay on.  Only 6km from the Brisbane CBD, this townhouse sits within a highly affluent suburb of Camp Hill.  In a small complex of only 4 townhouses, this three-bedroom townhouse sits on a large 303m2 corner block, ensuring a high land to asset ratio.   

An Agent that I had been working with for several years called me about an off-market listing in the highly sought-after suburb of Tarragindi. After inspecting the property with my client, we both decided it was a fantastic investment in a very tightly held location.

There were several reasons why this property represented a great opportunity including:

— Located 6kms to the CBD (12-minute drive)
— Highly sought-after location
— 100% land to asset ratio (we secured this property ta land value)
— Opportunity to renovate the house and develop equity
— 607sm site

The property was viewed off-market prior to the Auction campaign beginning, clients went through and liked the size, location the add-value potential. (Small security block, walk to the newly completed light rail, downhill walk to Coogee Beach, walk to UNSW, Walk to POWH and in a great school catchment area) so we prepared for the Auction. (Finance, contract review, strata review, budget set- we were ready). There were 5 registered bidders. We were successful on the day!

The clients have since renovated the bathroom and are very happy with their first home.

We carried out a private inspection during the week – whilst the rest of the market had to wait till the Saturday – that allowed us to do most of our due diligence prior and had an offer ready to make on the weekend. We were advised that there were multiple offers submitted – and that condition, as well as price, would ultimately get the property secured – we ended up winning on the day with the best conditions due to the prior due diligence. 

The reasons we focused on this property were a) key location, b) 708m2 subdivision potential due to it being within its proximity to the local shopping centre – c) great family appeal with highly ranked School catchments, and offering a long term hold with a brick highest home.

When l first viewed the property, it was under construction around 6 months from completion. My clients took a big leap of faith trusting my relationship with the builder whose reputation was triple-A to quickly negotiate the deal as the builder wasn’t aware that the property had now fallen into the new McKinnon Zone School catchment area that alone would add between 15-20% to the sale price.

The reason l liked the property was it was architecturally designed, and the finish was the high end which would make the property stand out when it came to achieving a strong rent. Also as mentioned it was in the school zone which will make it easy to rent. It has excellent access to parks, transport, shops, and lifestyle choices.

We bought the worst house in the best street in this high-end Brisbane suburb for our interstate (Melbourne) clients.

We viewed the property on Thursday — showed clients on Saturday — were advised that owners were open to offers prior to the auction so did all the due diligence and submitted the offer on Monday. The vendor was in Singapore so we had to wait for an overnight response but purchased it on Tuesday. We negotiated a later settlement due to Christmas shut down to avoid downtime and not being able to get trades in.

The reason we focused on this property was a) its location (close to Rushcutters Bay, parks, transport, shops, restaurants, cafes) and b) its rooftop terrace — as big as the apartment which has a Harbour & city view.

Strategy is the purchase of high-growth property assets and using the sale proceeds to reduce other properties’ debts.

Purchase price: $583,500 (Jan 2014)
Value: $976,000 (May 2021) ~ annual capital growth of 7.4% through the holding period.

Clients are 44 and 39 who are left out of the Sydney market because of unaffordability. As the clients are still at the early stage of building their portfolio, a recommendation was made to focus on building the foundation of their portfolio by getting exposure to high-growth property assets.

Purchase price: $580,000 (August 2020)
Value: $830,000 to $850,000 (September 2021) ~ 44.8% capital growth in a year.

A seasoned investor was looking to add an investment-grade property to their portfolio.

Given their time frame and passive income goal requirements, and after factoring in their existing portfolio, the recommendation was to purchase a property in Brisbane with development potential.

Property was purchased in 3/2020 for $832,500 and appraised in 6/2021 for $975.000 – $1,025,000.

Young Couples First Investment

Lily & Matt were busy young professionals looking to improve their circumstances by investing in property for their future. Their budget would not allow for a Sydney purchase, so we advised them to consider Brisbane.

We helped them locate a property 5km southwest of the Brisbane CBD, in one of Brisbane’s best-performing suburbs. Metropole assisted by being able to source and negotiate the property prior to the first open home.

The property was purchased for $740,000 in 2018. The average growth was 27% over that time. This property was revalued recently for $1.2mil a gain of 62%.

Invest for Retirement

Bill & Anita came to us in 2011 and wanted us to assist them to build a property portfolio to assist them to retire comfortably over the next decade. They had a $500,000 budget back then and were looking in Brisbane, but were not sure where to start.

We were able to find a property in a strong northside suburb 8km from the Brisbane CBD. The property is located close to schools, shops, and a small walk to local parks and green space.

The property was secured for $480,000. Fast forward a decade and the property just sold for $881,000 after receiving multiple offers.

Selina and John – busy professionals with a young family, who have never bought a home before knew it was important to have a professional on their side.

We viewed and shortlisted many homes prior to viewing 3 bayside properties with Selina and John, the 3rd property being the right fit.

Selina and John also took guidance from the Metropoles Construction Team and set out a plan of action on these items and had the work carried out prior to moving in.

Young couple looking to achieve financial independence in the next 20-30 years. Dona James-Wells purchased an investment-grade apartment for them in Marrickville in late July 2018 for $495K which was well below market value.

The estimated appraisal as of October 2018 (less than 3 months on) is $550K+ which represents a 57.12% appreciation. As a result, Ema and Sean are now in a position to proceed with another investment-grade property.

Kelly is a time-poor businesswoman looking to grow her wealth, so she did not have the time to research and attend open homes.

Metropole assisted by being able to source properties that were on market and also off-market. Our Buyers Agents were able to navigate and find a property where we could add equity with an immediate cosmetic renovation.

We were able to assist them with the project management of the renovation and hand it over to find a tenant. Estimated Equity upon completion of $45,000.

John and Lily — an older couple wanted their first home together after renting for their entire life. As they were older we had to be conscious of access and walkability considerations. Plus they wanted to be close to transport and lifestyle precincts.

We were able to purchase at auction an apartment for them:

— Two bedrooms
— Great ocean and district views
— Internal access to lock-up garage
— Internal laundry with the potential to add a second toilet
— Easy level access with short walking distance to all amenities

First time purchaser who was undecided between purchasing her first home or and investment.

Strategy options were discussed and it was concluded that the best strategy for her was to rentvest.

We found her a neat and tidy house that was immediately tenantable in Brisbane’s inner ring, and that she could add some value to at a later point.

Purchased in 11/2019 for $571,500 and appraised in 9/2021 for $800,000 – $850,000.

Stewart and Bree – rentvestors, who understood the importance of buying a house that would offer excellent long-term growth.

Initially, they were looking to purchase a large apartment within the CBD as they felt it would best fit within their budget, lifestyle, and family needs.

During our discussion, we suggested they consider a villa unit, which is similar to a small house that would allow them to obtain their own outdoor space and room for their growing family.

Family of 5, Paul and Virginia, and their two teenage daughters and one primary-school-age son. On looking to return to Melbourne they had lost touch with the market and what they would obtain for their budget and needs.:

— Schools to suit all three children that were a short drive or bus ride
— No more than 40 min Bike ride for Paul into the CBD
— 4 Bedrooms

Within 24hrs of Virginia arriving and taking her through three houses, we selected the most suitable one. In another 24hrs of negotiation, we were successful in securing the property along with lining up the settlement with the families moving time.

Jack and Melissa wanted to purchase their first home together in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The market was moving at a fast pace and they kept missing out.

Some of the important criteria that were given to us:

— Close to all amenities & easy commute to work;
— Potential to put their own stamp on the property;
— 2 Bedrooms
— Parking

There was stiff competition but we were able to secure a suitable property despite one of the competitors being the tenant.

Dave and Melanie wanted to buy their next home and at the same ensure it meets our strict investment criteria.

Some of their important criteria were:

— Primary school to be a short drive or walk;
— 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 cars;
— 2 living areas;
— Northside of Brisbane, close to the Airport

The purchase and renovation took place all within their budget and left them with an additional $40,000 in equity upon completion.

Stuart and Emma came to us looking to purchase their first investment property and to start their journey towards financial independence.

We purchased a house for them in a strong owner-occupier suburb on the north side of Brisbane, walking distance to some of the best schools in Brisbane. The suburb is in high demand and slowly gentrifying with more and more million-dollar homes.

We purchased the home for $530,000 back in 2013 and it has recently been appraised at $720,000. They have since re-financed which has allowed them to secure another high-growth asset to continue building their portfolio.

Lex and Nancy were looking for a home in close proximity to the city but also with ocean views and cafes on the doorstep. Moving to Sydney and not knowing the city, they have been looking for a while and couldn’t secure their ideal home. They were highly motivated as they had already been looking for themselves for some time but had been unable to secure anything.

We were able to purchase a family home for them that ticked all the boxes: two bedrooms, panoramic ocean and district views, internal access to lock-up garage, separate laundry, North, South & Eastern access – only one small common wall, 500M to beach & purchased prior to the auction!

Helping a couple who wanted to grow their lifetime wealth through property investment by taking the holistic Metropole 360 degree approach from purchase, to development and property management.

This side by side development was designed and built for a client, who like many of our clients, was time poor but understood the benefits on investing in high growth property in areas that out perform the market.

This build called for not only high-end selections, but also very specific finishes and attention to detail in order to delivery this duplex style investment property to a discerning market. 4x bedrooms, 3x bathrooms, gas fireplaces, multiple living zones, custom built American Oak stairs and flooring and outdoor kitchen.

Designed and built for investment, this side by side townhouse project ticked all the boxes for our client. Built in 10 months, following the planning approval process, this development was both designed and build to maximise both market and rental returns.

Build for a long-term repeat client, developments like this are our “Stock in Trade”. Having built in excess of 50x similar side by side developments, our team, processes, trade relationships and suppliers go a long way to the successful delivery of these projects.

Originally built in the 1960’s this cream brick block of flats not only undertook a significant makeover including new kitchen, bathroom, windows, new balconies and secure glazed foyer/entrance, we designed and obtained planning approval for an additional apartment within the under-croft carpark of the building. A 12-month project that completely transformed a tired and dated building into a modern and desirable investment property.

Frustrated with the process of a high-profile volume builder, we worked closely with the client to get the design just right for this luxury home client. The brief was for a modern, luxury family home to include 4x bedrooms, office, separate living area, both formal and casual entertaining areas and opulent swimming pool and alfresco space.

Our Sydney Buyers agent team helped a couple relocating from Melbourne to Sydney due to work.

Our clients preferred the Sydney Eastern Suburbs as they had a boat and wanted to get out onto the water but didn’t think they could afford a home close to the ocean and to the city, and thought they would have to live further out, but we surprised them with what we found.

We provided our client with the benefit of decades of research and analysis as we outlined why this particular property meets out strict search criteria. We secured the property prior to auction as our client wanted to avoid auctions.

We purchased this home which is approx. 3km to the CBD in the blue-chip suburb of Paddington in a quiet, tree lined street for one of our clients. It is within walking distance to all amenities and close to their work. The property has character and charm so they can live comfortably now but also provides a blank canvas and they can add value with future renovations.

We snared this property at a great price for one of our clients. The location was superb being around 6km from the Brisbane CBD in the suburb of Tarragindi. However we originally ruled this property out of consideration as it was priced around $100k over our client’s budget. Having originally gone under contract for close to that figure, the contract fell over and with the sellers needing to sell urgently and because of our strong relationship with the selling agent, we snared this property at around our client’s budget the very next day.

We purchased this property for our client in the highly sought-after school catchment of Bentleigh East. The existing house was able to be tenanted while we undertook the next steps in the development process thus ensuring a holding income, prior to commencing construction. End product of two luxury townhouses is in demand from young professionals and downsizers seeking a low maintenance lifestyle, close to all amenities.

We found this property for our client in the blue-chip suburb of Preston in their required school catchment in a quiet, tree lined street. It is an easy walk to schools, parks and amenities. The property exudes character and charm and have engaged our renovation services to add their personal touches to an amazing new home.

We sourced a new Townhouse in a high growth location, east of the Melbourne CBD. Ignoring off the plan and larger complexes, we sourced a stylish and spacious property in a small complex of only 3. A larger land component and an element of scarcity adds room for superior growth over the longer term.

Paul & Valerie were looking for a partner rather than just a service to invest in a new property. They feel that Metropole has helped them to ‘remove the blinkers’ and give them confidence to invest into a property development outside of their suburb and in fact in a different city.

The team at Metropole helped Tim purchase a property in Stafford, Brisbane with a future potential to develop multiple properties.

Grace tried to secure the right property herself, but then quickly realised how much time, research and effort it was costing her. What’s more she realised that there were simply parts of the property investment process that she did not know and understand. Listen how Grace shares her experience and what happened when she contacted the team at Metropole.

Buyers Agents were able to find a property where we could add value over the longer term, by developing the site. We purchased the property without the sellers or sales agent knowing it could be subdivided. By spending around $15,000 on the DA they would be sitting on around $50,000 worth of instant equity.

Our Buyers Agents were able find a site on the market where the agent, nor seller were able to identify the development upside. They were able to purchase a 726sqm site for $670,000 and spent $15,000 on approval for subdivision. The site would now be worth close to $750,000.

We purchased an investment grade 2 bedroom apartment for them in Leichardt in April 2009 for $358,000. The estimated appraisal as at August 2019 is $690,000 which is 9.04% average annual growth over 10.3 years.

We purchased an investment grade 1 bedroom apartment for them in Marrickville in May 2013 for $312,500 which was well below market value. The estimated appraisal as at July 2019 is $490K which is 9.33% average annual growth over 6.1 years.

We were able to assist our clients Laura and Binay and find them a home to which they could add value through some minor cosmetic upgrades which increased its liveability and “manufactured” around $30,000 of instant equity. Purchase price: $493,000. Upgrades: $17,000. New Value: $540,000.

We purchased an investment grade semi for them in Bronte in October 2016 for $1,992,000 which was well below market value. The estimated appraisal as at April 2019 is $2.5M which is 10.93% average annual growth over 2.3 years.

Our Buyers Agents were able to navigate and find a property where we could add equity with an immediate cosmetic renovation. We were able to assist them with the project management of the renovation and hand over to find a tenant. Estimated Equity upon completion of $45,000.

Purchased in 2013 for $656,000 –these type of sites now attract a price tag of between $930,000 -$950,000. A gain of almost $300,000 in a flat Brisbane property market.

Sydney couple grow their asset base to one day achieve a level of financial independence and supplement their income.

Ibrahim and Rachel had reduced their mortgage and wanted to start to grow their asset base with a purchase in a high growth suburb in Brisbane.

These buyers had been searching for the right home with long term investment potential for over a year before they found our services.

We helped our clients break into the luxury end of the market and into a strong school catchment.

This family had been our clients prior, we helped them buy their first investment property. With their family growing having 6-month-old twins it was time to find their first family home. We secured this townhouse within walking distance to a station and access to good schools.

This 2-bedroom apartment in Randwick purchased in 2012 at $655K which is now worth $1M+. This is $345K in growth in 6 years for an annual growth rate of 8.89%.

We purchased this property for our investor client for $610,000 in March 2017 and the property was revalued in June 2018 for $700,000+. This was an increase of $90,000 which equates to an annual growth rate of 14.75%.

After reviewing our clients’ existing property portfolio and their finance options we formulated a property strategy to help them take their next steps.

We purchased the Coogee apartment in May 2012 for $485K and as at Sep 2018 is now appraised at $760K+ which is 9.58% average annual growth over 5.9 years.

We secured a property that ticked all the boxes in one of the best performing suburbs on the south side of Brisbane, close to good schools, shops and train.

After reviewing our clients’ existing property portfolio and their finance options we formulated a property strategy to help them take their next steps. This strategy included of purchasing an established town-house in Melbourne up to $1.2m.

We secured this beautiful free-standing townhouse in the leafy suburbs for a young investor couple.

We secured this home prior to auction day for a growing family with no time to spare.

These first home buyers’ needed a property central to their work needs. We found the ideal home prior to auction.

This family needed access to high-quality schooling, so we found the ideal property in the right location for them.

We purchased this home for our client on the door step of the CBD and the Brisbane River off market.

We purchased this home for a young family to renovate in their preferred suburb, in a high demand school catchment.

Metropole assisted young family by selecting a property strategy based on our 6 stranded approach and were able to show client both on market and off market opportunities. We secured a property that ticked all the boxes in a strong performing suburb on the north side of Brisbane, close to good schools, shops and train.

The property increased in value by $75,000 with 12 months which significantly outperformed the averages for this asset class in its location.

We purchased this apartment in May 2014 for $415K which was well below market value. The estimated appraisal as at November 2018 is $ 590K + which is 9.19% average annual growth over 4.6 years.