When lifestyle pain equals property gain

In Australia, the pair noted that there is still a widespread idea that “you’re supposed to buy a house in the suburbs with a white picket fence”, but the two investors bucked this trend right from the start.

“We were on a mattress on the floor,” Ms O’Neill shared. Early in their relationship, the 23-year-old couple bought a “crappy old fibro house on the highway” in Sutherland.

“I expected her to say, ‘Yeah, this is hideous,’” Mr O’Neill recalled. “But it had a granny flat at the back and she asked, ‘What are the numbers?’”

This growth mindset is what distinguished the young duo from others of their age. With a tight budget, they had to ask themselves: “Would we buy a unit in the same suburb and negatively gear it, or buy this and have land?”

“Delaying the family home and being rent investors was probably key to where we got today,” asserted Mr O’Neill.

Purchasing 20 investment properties before settling into their family home required the pair to tolerate substantial doubt, uncertainty and short-term discomfort in order to secure future wealth.

“You spend your whole life feeling like you’re not wealthy at all, but you’ve got these assets,” Mr O’Neill explained. At the same time, he stressed that “you can’t only live for tomorrow”.

In the past, the couple completely “gave up on lifestyle. I was chasing whatever job paid better, whether it was an hour-and-a-half away from Sydney, and I drove every day, six day a week jobs,” Mr O’Neill said.

“We left family and friends just because that job paid 30 grand more.”

For Ms O’Neill, a childhood experience of frugality meant this attitude of sacrifice came naturally. “My dad lived in one room with 12 siblings,” and he taught her to “save, save, and make sure you have something for your future,” she shared.

Now, the O’Neills are finally seeing the fruits of their labour. The couple said they are excited to now “gain time back with family and friends”.

Their “strategic patience” has allowed them to finally build the family home of their dreams, one better than they would ever have been able to afford had they taken the conventional route, they revealed.

With an impressive commercial portfolio, a successful property business, and an upcoming book, the power couple are reaping the rewards of their long-game vision.

Reaffirming a comment made by Smart Property Investment’s Phil Tarrant, the pair confirmed: “The proof of the pudding is in the eating.”

Listen to the full rundown of the O’Neills’ journey to date here.