HOW TO GROW from 1 to 5 Investment Properties in 10 Years

Owning one investment property is a milestone. But if you stop there, you're leaving serious wealth on the table. The real magic of property investing happens when you scale — when you let equity, rental income, and time work together to fund your next purchase, and the one after that. Growing from one property to five in a decade is absolutely achievable. It doesn't require a six-figure salary or a family inheritance. What it does require is a clear strategy, financial discipline, and the willingness to treat your portfolio like a business.

Year 1–2: Lock In Your First Property and Build the Foundation

If you already own your first investment property, congratulations — you've done the hardest part. Now the focus shifts to optimising it. Maximise your rental yield. Ensure your property is rented at market rate. A property manager can help you benchmark rents and reduce vacancy periods. Even a $20–$30 per week increase compounds significantly over a decade.

Get your finances investment-ready. Pay down high-interest personal debts. Build a cash buffer of at least three to six months of holding costs. Lenders want to see clean serviceability when you apply for your next loan, so now is the time to tighten your financial position.

Understand your equity position. Equity is the engine of portfolio growth. If your first property has increased in value — even modestly — you may already have usable equity to fund a deposit on property number two. Speak with a mortgage broker who specialises in investment lending to understand your borrowing capacity.