Case studies

Four investor journeys.

Every real Australian portfolio maps onto the same four-stage arc. These are the modelled paths of four investors at different points on the map. Numbers are illustrative and drawn from real archetypes.

All numbers modelled in the tool. Not predictions, not personal advice.
STAGE 1Anchor0-1 property
STAGE 2Expansion1 property
STAGE 3Balance2-3 properties
STAGE 4Consolidation5+ / commercial
SR
Sam & Rachel
Stage 1 Anchor
Ages 32 & 30
Combined income $215k
Sydney PPOR $1.2M
Deposit saved $95k
First investment. Cautious.

The first move matters more than the first property.

Sam and Rachel had been saving for their first investment for three years and were stuck between a Sydney unit and a regional QLD house. The tracker showed the same $95k deposit put into a $600k Ipswich house delivered $280k more equity by year 10 than a $500k Marrickville unit under identical growth assumptions. Cashflow drag was $340/month vs $190/month. They moved 8 weeks later.

$95k
Deposit
$600k
Purchase
5.2%
Gross yield
$1.9M
Equity y10 modelled

What the tracker showed them

Year 1Buy $600k Ipswich house, 87% LVR, IO. Cashflow drag $340/month covered by salary.
Year 3$140k equity gain from Ipswich growth cycle. Refinance to release deposit for property 2.
Year 5Second property purchased. Combined portfolio $1.4M. Passive income $18k/yr.
Year 10Portfolio $2.3M gross, $1.9M equity, $52k passive income. On track for Stage 3.
"We were paralysed by the deposit question. Seeing the same $95k modelled three different ways made the decision obvious. The number didn't lie, we were just staring at the wrong property."
Composite, not one individual client. Past performance never indicates future results.
DH
David H.
Stage 2 Expansion
Age 41
Income $185k
Melbourne PPOR $1.6M
2 investment properties
Post-2025. Reform panic.

Two new-build purchases, reform-proofed. Legacy tax on established stock.

David had two properties bought in 2018 and 2021. The 2026 Budget reforms quarantine negative gearing on established residential acquired after 12 May 2026. The tracker showed the tax difference over 10 years: $147k in reduced holding costs if his next two purchases were new builds (exempt from the negative gearing quarantine) instead of established stock under the post-reform rules. He pivoted the brief to new builds. Property 3 settled November 2026, property 4 April 2027.

4
Properties
$2.6M
Portfolio
$147k
10yr tax saved
$4.4M
Equity y10 modelled

What the tracker showed him

Nov 2026Purchase 3: $685k Adelaide north house. New build, exempt from the negative gearing quarantine.
Apr 2027Purchase 4: $720k Brisbane south house. Locks in the 4-property base with exempt new stock.
Year 5Portfolio $3.1M. Passive income $65k/yr. Balance-stage acquired.
Year 8First commercial acquisition ($850k retail strip). Yield step-up begins.
"Everyone said 'wait to see how the reforms play out'. The tracker made it math. Two new builds instead of established was worth $147k over ten years. That's a house deposit. I moved."
Composite, not one individual client. Past performance never indicates future results.
KL
Kate & Luca
Stage 3 Balance
Ages 48 & 46
Combined income $340k
Brisbane PPOR $1.8M
4 investment properties
Serviceability wall. Yield pivot.

Serviceability said no. Commercial said yes.

Kate and Luca hit the residential lending wall at property 4. Their broker confirmed no further residential capacity for 18-24 months. The tracker's commercial pivot module modelled a $650k Gatton retail strip with net income $52k on a 12-year lease. Cap rate 8.0%, WALE 4.2 years. The property serviced itself and freed residential borrowing to be reallocated later. They bought 6 months later.

5
Properties
$3.8M
Portfolio
$78k
Passive/yr y8
70%
LVR commercial

What the tracker showed them

Year 1Commercial retail Gatton $650k. Net income $52k. Serviceable.
Year 3Rent step-up on lease review +4%. Yield rises to 8.3% on cost.
Year 5Residential 5 acquired ($780k). Portfolio $4.6M. Passive $95k/yr.
Year 10Debt-reduction cycle begins. Consolidation stage. Passive $135k/yr modelled.
"Every buyers agent said 'you're maxed out'. The StratMap model showed we were only maxed out residentially, and the commercial numbers still worked. Same portfolio, completely different next move."
Composite, not one individual client. Past performance never indicates future results.
MV
Michael V.
Stage 4 Consolidation
Age 58
Semi-retired
Perth PPOR $2.4M
8 properties + $1.2M shares
Portfolio built. Now what?

Selling is a strategy. So is holding. So is refinancing to pay down debt.

Michael had spent 22 years building an 8-property portfolio ($6.4M gross, $2.1M debt). The question wasn't how to grow, it was how to convert equity into replacement income without triggering a $780k CGT bill. The tracker modelled three scenarios side by side: sell 2 lowest-yielding + pay down debt, sell 4 mid-cycle + retire early, or hold + refinance for structured drawdown. Scenario 3 delivered highest lifetime after-tax income.

8
Properties
$6.4M
Portfolio gross
$185k
Passive/yr net
$780k
CGT if sold now

What the tracker showed him

Scenario ASell 2 lowest-yield, pay down $780k debt. Passive net $164k/yr from y2.
Scenario BSell 4, retire fully. CGT bill $520k. Passive net $148k/yr from cash + shares.
Scenario CHold all. Refinance $600k drawdown. Passive net $185k + $50k drawdown = $235k/yr.
ChoseScenario C. Modelled through to age 75. Estate planning conversation now with accountant.
"I know property. I don't know tax optimisation. Seeing three scenarios modelled side by side, then handing that to my accountant, saved us six months of back-and-forth."
Composite, not one individual client. Past performance never indicates future results.

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