THE PROPERTY NERDS: Doctor builds a $6m portfolio

A divorce, six properties, and four states: here is how one investor rebuilt and grew a $5.8m portfolio through interstate investing, diversification, and careful asset selection. On The Property Nerds podcast, Arjun Paliwal is joined by Sudesh Piyatissa, who shares his investment journey behind his six-property portfolio, now spanning Victoria, Queensland, NSW, and Western Australia. Piyatissa shares how he rebuilt his financial position after his divorce in 2021 and why stepping outside Melbourne became a turning point in his investment strategy. The pair explore how Piyatissa moved from buying close to home to investing interstate, with markets including Toowoomba and the Gold Coast becoming key parts of his portfolio. They discuss why each property needs to serve a purpose, and how thinking about a portfolio as a whole can change the way investors assess individual assets. With a demanding career leaving little time for property research, Piyatissa explains why building a trusted team became critical to his ability to keep investing and making decisions across multiple markets. The conversation also looks at the lessons Piyatissa has taken from his journey, including why investors should not let market uncertainty stop them from acting when the right opportunity comes along.