24 properties in 6 years: How this investor did it from zero

From a $215,000 house in Brisbane to a 24-property portfolio in just six years, this investor's rapid scale-up shows what's possible when strategy, timing, and professional expertise collide. On this episode of The Smart Property Investment Show, host Liam Garman sits down with Andrew Havig, director of Arvon Property Group, to unpack the growth journey behind one of the market's more remarkable portfolios – and the buyer's agency he's since built off the back of it. Havig takes listeners back to his first purchase in late 2019 – a modest $215,000 house in Brisbane – through to 11 properties acquired in 2024 alone. He shares how a near miss with serviceability, after picking up two low-yielding lifestyle properties on the Gold Coast, taught him an early lesson in balancing cash flow against growth, one that continues to shape every deal he does today. The conversation also digs into how Arvon secures the bulk of its deals off-market, and what "off-market" actually means for investors trying to access opportunities that never make it to platforms like realestate.com.au. Havig breaks down the relationship building and volume of outreach behind genuine off-market access, as distinct from the claims some buyer's agents make. Looking at where the opportunities lie right now, Havig points to two standout plays: the Melbourne apartment market, trading around 6 per cent gross yields well below replacement cost, and commercial property, where he's seeing strong demand across retail, industrial, medical, and childcare assets. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts and by following Smart Property Investment on social media: Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn. If you would like to get in touch with our team, email [email protected] for more insights, or hear your voice on the show by recording a question below.