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THE PROPERTY NERDS: From off-the-plan mistakes to a $7m portfolio

27 OCT 2026 • By Emilie Lauer • 1 min read • Investor Strategy

Their first off-the-plan apartments barely grew, but a Sydney doctor and lawyer built a $7 million portfolio by investing across regional markets and delaying their dream home.

On The Property Nerds, Arjun Paliwal speaks with doctor Rex Kwan and lawyer Melissa Tsui about turning stagnant off-the-plan apartments into a multi-state portfolio worth more than $7 million, with over $2 million in equity.

After their first properties delivered little capital growth and weak rental yields, the couple changed tack in 2021, buying across South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia, and Victoria, including properties they had never inspected in person.

They explain why they put their Sydney home dream on hold, how data helped them overcome doubts about unfamiliar regional markets, and the settlement drama that nearly derailed their latest Victorian purchase.

From starting young and choosing the right team to keeping cash flow and borrowing capacity in check, the couple share the lessons behind their portfolio growth and their plans to keep expanding.

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RELATED TERMS

Property
Property refers to either a tangible or intangible item that an individual or business has legal rights or ownership of, such as houses, cars, stocks or bond certificates.
Emilie Lauer

Emilie Lauer

AUTHOR

Originally from France, Emilie has been calling Sydney home for almost a decade. She began her career in a small French radio station before moving to community radio in Sydney’s Paddington, hosting and producing the drive show and covering local issues. She has also written for specialised magazines in the education sector, including The Australian. At Momentum, Emilie is interested in real estate and property investment, with a soft spot for first property buyers. Get in touch [email protected]

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