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From migrant to multimillion-dollar real estate expert: How one man cracked the property code
A migrant from India has revealed the practical steps that helped him build a multimillion-dollar property portfolio, combining careful planning, calculated risks, and a deep understanding of the Australian property market.
Rohit Gelot shared his insights on The Smart Property Investment Show with Phil Tarrant, explaining how determination, research, and strategic decision-making shaped his journey from newcomer to experienced investor.
He first secured Australian permanent residency in 2015 while working with Macquarie Bank in Gurgaon, India, but chose not to make the move. Two years later, encouraged by a friend to seize the opportunity rather than live with regret, he migrated to Australia.
“I think the only and the biggest regret is the chances that you didn’t take right in your life,” he reflected. “So I thought, I want to be a proven failure rather than anticipating.”
“So I thought, I’ll give it a try. I Took the PR then came here.”
Arriving with a wife and two young children, Gelot navigated contract roles and tight budgets while learning about property through podcasts, forums and library books, building his knowledge before making his first purchase.
“I was always told that I don’t have the borrowing capacity because being single learner, I’ve exhausted most of it in this,” he said. “That was the time when I got interested but didn’t have the funds.”
”When you have got nothing, when you really can’t act, all you can do is learn. I used to spend until midnight binge watching, binge commenting.
”But see, I didn’t have any money, so what? What else I could have done? So kept learning.”
His first major investment in Kellyville sparked interest in property. Strategic refinancing and careful selection of growth markets allowed him to expand into Brisbane, Perth and Townsville, building a portfolio valued at $12.5–$13 million.
”Last week we secured our 12th purchase. It is actually the first commercial purchase, which is an office purchase for our business.”
He credits disciplined planning, mentorship and willingness to step outside comfort zones for his success, urging aspiring investors to focus on strategy rather than short-term gains.
”I’m a very big fan of Tony Robbins. In order to capture the island they say you have to burn your boats, and that is the exact advice I keep giving to people,” he said.
”I was living a comfortable life there and never had any purpose, never had any goal because I was being spoon-fed.
”Once you leave everything that you have got behind and you have nothing to lose but everything to gain, then I think that you start experiencing things which you otherwise would have thought are impossible for you.”
Gelot’s journey highlights that property success in Australia requires research, patience and smart decision-making, offering a clear model for others aiming to grow wealth through property investment.