PODCAST · business
Investment By Design
by Shaun Craike
Welcome to the Investment By Design Podcast, where we sit down with successful and up-and-coming real estate investors from Cairns and across Australia.Each episode uncovers their journey, the lessons they’ve learned, and the strategies that led to their success.Whether you’re just starting out or building your portfolio, you’ll find practical insights, inspiration, and real-world advice to help you invest smarter and grow with confidence.
Episodes
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Ep 49. Cairns Real Estate 2027 Forecast: Is Another Property Boom Coming?
Will Cairns property prices keep rising in 2027, or has the market already peaked? In this Cairns real estate market forecast, we explore what's next for property prices, rental yields, housing supply and the best property investment opportunities in Cairns, Queensland.Cairns property prices have...
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Ep 48. 7 Rules I Used to Create Financial Freedom
Most Australians are taught the same financial formula: get a good job, earn more, buy a house, upgrade your lifestyle and hopefully retire comfortably.But that path does not automatically create financial freedom.In this video, I break down the 7 rules that have shaped how I think about money,...
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Ep 47. Australian Property Investors Are Disappearing. Here’s What Happens Next
Australian property investors are disappearing. But what if they're leaving at exactly the wrong time? In this video, I break down why investor confidence has been hit by recent government policy changes, how borrowing power has changed, and why many Australians may be overlooking one of the most...
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Ep 46. Is This the Australian Property Crash We've Been Waiting For?
Is the Australian property market heading for a crash in 2026, or is the current fall in house prices simply another correction? Australian property prices are falling again, but this isn't the first time. Over the past 60 years, Australia has experienced multiple major housing market…
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Ep 45. Australian Rents Can't Keep Rising. So What Happens Next?
Australian rents can’t keep rising forever… can they? Rental affordability has deteriorated dramatically across Australia, but the assumption that rents are simply approaching a hard ceiling may be missing something important. In this video, I look at what could happen next if households continue...
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Ep 44. I Asked 74,000 Property Investors Where They’d Spend $600k
What would 74,000 property investors do with $600,000? I asked one of Australia’s largest property investing communities where they believe the best buying opportunities are right now. From their responses, I selected five markets and put them to the test. The five contenders: Cairns North, QLD...
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Ep 43. Building New Has Changed | Here’s What You Need to Know
Building a new home has changed. Higher construction costs, smaller blocks, changing buyer expectations and pressure on housing supply are reshaping what it means to build in Cairns, Far North Queensland and regional Queensland. In this episode, I sit down with Ram Singh from Five Rivers Group, a...
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Ep 42. The Property Market Has Changed: Here's Why Cairns Could Beat Melbourne
Has the Australian property market entered a new phase? With tighter rental regulations, changing investor sentiment and evolving tenant expectations, many investors are asking the same question: where are the best opportunities now? In this episode, I'm joined by a leading Cairns property...
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Ep 41. The New Rules of Property Investing | Cairns Experts Debate
The property investing playbook that worked ten years ago may not work today. Borrowing capacity has tightened, ownership structures matter more, SMSF investing is under pressure, tax strategies are being questioned and simply buying any property and waiting for it to grow is becoming…
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Ep 40. Buy Now or Wait? What Cairns Property Experts Would Buy
Is now the right time to buy an investment property in Cairns, or should investors wait another 12 months? In this episode of Investment By Design, Shaun Craike is joined by financial planner and former accountant Ben Cole, mortgage broker Stacey Hart, and top-performing Ray White real estate…
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Ep 39. Pay Off Your Mortgage or Buy Property? | My Real Result In Cairns
Should you pay off your mortgage or buy an investment property? In this video, I compare mortgage reduction with property investing over 10 years, using current Australian interest rates, historical property growth and two real Cairns property results from my own portfolio. In 2024, after selling...
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Ep 38. Townsville vs Cairns: Which City Wins Over 20 Years?
Townsville property market vs Cairns: where would I invest $700,000 if I had to purchase one property and hold it for the next 20 years? In this detailed Townsville real estate comparison, I analyse Townsville vs Cairns across eight categories, including market fundamentals, historical price...
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Ep 37. The 5 Most Expensive Mistakes Cairns Buyers Make
Buying property in Cairns can be a great opportunity, but the wrong decision can cost you tens of thousands of dollars. In this video, I break down five costly mistakes Cairns property buyers keep making, including failing to compare insurance quotes, overlooking council planning overlays,...
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Ep 36. The $54M Bet That Changed Cairns. What's Next for Our City?
In this episode of Investment by Design, we look at Cairns property investing through a different lens: Cairns tourism, local business growth, major development, the Cairns Aquarium, the Cairns economy, and what these forces mean for the future of the Cairns real estate market and North…
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Ep 35. Cairns Property Market Warning: How New Taxes Could Hit
Cairns property investors are facing a new wave of uncertainty as government tax changes and shifting property policies continue to impact confidence across the market.In this Cairns property market update, we discuss how recent tax changes, legislative inconsistency and poor communication from...
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Ep 34. 5 Cairns Suburbs I’d Buy and Hold Forever plus 1 I’d Avoid
In this video, I break down the 5 best suburbs to buy property in Cairns and 1 suburb I’d be very careful investing in right now. If you’re looking at the Cairns property market, Cairns real estate, or trying to understand where to buy an investment property in Cairns, this video will help you...
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Ep 33. 4 Top Cairns Agents Debate Where to Invest Before It’s Too Late
Cairns property investing is one of the most talked-about opportunities in the Queensland property market, but is Cairns still good value for investors, or has the easy money already been made? In this episode, I am joined by David Galloway-Penny, Ken Turner and Tim Lyon to debate where they…
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Ep 32. Everyone Told Me Not To Buy This Property
Everyone told me not to buy this property. My wife hated the complex. Most investors would have walked away. On paper, it looked like the kind of property you avoid. But I saw something different. Seven years later, that $165,000 purchase is now worth approximately $470,000 and generates around...
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Ep 31. Would You Bet Your Future On This Market?
Would you bet your financial future on one property market Every property investor is making a bet, whether they realise it or not. Buying is a bet. Waiting is a bet. Sitting on the sidelines is also a bet. In this episode, I break down how I would think about choosing a property market in 2026,...
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Ep.30 Biggest Property News of the Month: Dashdot, Budget & Market Sentiment
In this episode of Investment by Design, we launch a new monthly segment: Beers and Business. Each month, three Cairns locals working in the property, finance and investing space sit down to unpack the biggest stories shaping the Australian property market, business landscape and investor...
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Ep 29. Cairns Property 2026: Is the Upside Worth the Risk?
Is Cairns property still worth the risk in 2026, or has the market already run too far? In this video, I break down the Cairns property market through the lens of risk vs reward, and more importantly, asymmetric returns. Most investors ask the wrong question. They ask, “Will property prices keep...
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Ep 28. The Brutal Truth About Auctions & Multiple Offers
Most property buyers think the hard part is finding the right property… But the reality is the way you BUY property can completely change the outcome you get. In this episode, we break down the brutal truth about: Private Treaty Multiple Offer Situations Property Auctions We discuss how buyers...
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Ep 27. Established vs New Builds: What Actually Creates Wealth?
Are new builds actually the better investment… or are investors being distracted by tax benefits?In this episode we break down the REAL numbers behind established vs new build property investing in Australia, including:* negative gearing* depreciation* cashflow* construction holding costs* rental...
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Ep 26. 2026 Budget: Bad News for Cairns Renters?
The 2026 Federal Budget may have just changed Australian property investing forever. The government says these changes are designed to improve housing affordability, yet Treasury is forecasting 35,000 fewer homes as a result of the policy changes. At the same time, Cairns has secured major...
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Ep 25. Cairns Property: Boom or Bust? A Mortgage Broker Breaks It Down
Is the Cairns property market heading for another boom, or are buyers about to get caught out? In this episode of Investment By Design, I sit down with Cairns-based mortgage broker Stacey from Zory Financial Solutions to break down what is really happening with borrowing capacity, buyer behavior,...
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Ep 24. Why Cairns Housing Isn’t Being Built (And What It Means for Prices)
Everyone says we just need more housing… but in Cairns, there are already approved developments that never get built. So what’s actually stopping them? In this episode, I sit down with James McPeak from McPeak Town Planning to break down the Cairns housing market, land supply, and the real…
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Ep 23. $150K+ Sitting in Super… Here’s How to Turn It Into Property
If you’ve ever wondered how to buy property with your super in Australia, this episode breaks down the process in a clear, practical way. In this episode of the Investment By Design Podcast, we unpack the 5 key steps to buying property with super, including how an SMSF property investment works,...
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Ep 22. If the Property Market Crashes… This Is How You Build Wealth (With Todd Sloan)
Most property investors think wealth is built when the market is rising… But the truth is, real wealth can be built in any real estate market. In this episode of the Investment By Design Podcast, we sit down with Todd Sloan from Pizza and Property to break down exactly how investors can continue…
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Ep 21. 3 Properties in 3 Years: From Army to Investing in Cairns
In this episode of the Investment by Design Podcast, we sit down with Alesha Wilson from Ray White Cairns to unpack her journey from army life to building a property portfolio in one of Australia’s most talked-about markets. After moving to Cairns in 2020, Alesha didn’t just settle into a new...
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Ep 20. The Property Mistakes Even Smart Buyers Make
In this episode of the Investment by Design Podcast, I sit down with Natasha Whalley‑Thompson — one of Cairns’ leading real estate agents who has sold over 130 properties in the past 12 months and consistently ranks among the top Ray White agents in Australia. Natasha shares what she’s seeing on...
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Ep 19. Why Everyone Is Suddenly Talking About Cairns
Over the last few years something interesting has been happening in the Cairns property market. Interstate buyers are arriving, billions of dollars are being invested in infrastructure, and property prices are beginning to move. So the question is: Why is everyone suddenly talking about Cairns?…
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Ep 18. Cairns’ Billion Dollar Transformation: The Untold Story
In this episode of Investment by Design, we unpack the bigger story unfolding across the Cairns property market, the Cairns real estate market, and the wider Cairns economy. For years, Cairns has been viewed primarily as a tourism city. But is that still the full picture? With major investment...
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Ep 17. Why “This Is Not Financial Advice” Is Costing Investors Millions | Financial Planner Ben Cole
Across Cairns, Far North Queensland, and Australia more broadly, we see investors make smart moves… at the wrong time, in the wrong structure, or without a long-term plan. This episode breaks down why that happens and how strategic planning changes everything. In this in-depth conversation, we…
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Ep 16. Why Most Aussies Get Property Investing Wrong
Why do so many property investors in Cairns and regional Australia get stuck after one or two properties even when prices are rising and rents are strong? In this in-depth conversation, we sit down with Kurt from Blue Collar Money to unpack the finance mistakes we see repeatedly holding investors...
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Ep 15. Investors Get This Wrong With Tenancies (And It’s Costing Them Thousands Every Year)
Most investors think tenancy issues come down to “bad tenants.” Experienced property managers know that’s rarely the real problem. In this in-depth conversation, we sit down with Adam Saitta from Benchmark Real Estate Cairns, a local property manager with 20 years of hands-on experience, to…
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Ep 14. 5 Property Mistakes Most Buyers Make (And How to Avoid Them)
Are you at risk of making an expensive property mistake? In this in-depth conversation, we sit down with Keegan Lake, a Cairns-based real estate sales expert with 8 years of industry experience and lifelong local knowledge, to break down the 5 biggest mistakes buyers make when purchasing property...
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Ep 13. 5 Steps Every Aussie Property Investor MUST Know Before Buying Real Estate
Buying an investment property can feel like an emotionalroller coaster… good properties move fast, the market feels competitive, and by the time you find “the one,” it’s already under offer. In this episode, I break down the 5 essential steps everyAustralian investor needs to follow to buy…
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Ep 12. Commercial & Residential in Cairns: Where the Smart Money Is Going in 2026
In this in-depth conversation, we sit down with David Murphy, Director at Ray White Cairns & Cairns Beaches, to unpack what’s really happening across the residential and commercial property markets in Far North Queensland. With an economics degree, decades of industry experience, and an office…
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Ep 11. $74,892 in 12 Months From a $420k Cairns Unit
How I Made $74,892 Profit in 12 Months from a $420K Cairns Unit | Full Breakdown What does a real investment return look like in the Cairns property market right now? In this episode, I break down one of my own recent property purchases—a $420,000 Cairns apartment that produced $74,892 profit in...
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Ep 10. Is Cairns About to BOOM? Economist Pete Faulkner's Real Outlook
Is Cairns heading for a decade of growth or are major structural constraints beginning to bite? In this deep-dive episode, we sit down with Economist Pete Faulkner of Conus Business Consultancy to unpack the real forces shaping the Cairns economy today and into the future. With decades of...
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Ep 9. The Future of Cairns: Airport Boom, Population Crisis, Changing Economy.
Is Cairns on the verge of a major transformation? In this in-depth conversation, we sit down with Sarah Mort, Managing Director of MiHaven Cairns, to unpack the real forces shaping the city’s future. With 20 years of experience in the Cairns economy and over $50 million in NDIS projects, 135…
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Ep 8. Thinking of Buying a Unit? Here’s Why Apartments Make Smart Investments in Cairns
Thinking about buying an apartment in Cairns? Don’t overlook this investment class! Apartments and units can be one of the most affordable and high-potential property types for first-time buyers and investors alike, especially here in Cairns. In this episode, Cairns Buyers Agent Shaun Craike from...
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Ep 7. Buying in Cairns 2026: Why This Market Could Outperform Every Capital City
Thinking about buying or investing in Cairns? In this 2026 Cairns property market forecast, we break down everything you need to know before making your next move from housing growth trends and rental vacancies to major developments and the region’s shift beyond tourism. The Cairns real estate...
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Ep 6. Investor Success Blueprint | Emma Craig on Long-Term Rentals, Airbnb & Smart Buying Strategies
In this week’s episode, we chat with Emma Craig, one of Queensland’s most respected property managers and the youngest Principal in the Professionals Network globally. Emma brings over a decade of experience managing investment properties across Cairns and regional Queensland, sharing powerful...
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Ep 5. Total Beginner to $30M Developer - Real Estate lessons from a Self-Made Property Developer
In this episode of Investment by Design, we sit down with James Fennell, a self-made multi-millionaire developer who’s built projects worth hundreds of million across Cairns, Gladstone, and Townsville. James shares his raw and unfiltered journey from his first development with no plan to…
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Ep 4. The property everyone ignores could make you a fortune | What You’re Missing in North Queensland!
Finding Real Value in Today’s Property Market (with Nicole Craike) In this episode, we unpack what it really takes to find value in today’s property market, even when everything feels expensive. I’m joined by Nicole Craike, and together we share the story of how we purchased a block of units that...
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Ep 3. Started Investing at 41: How David Built a 4-Property Portfolio in 5 Years
In this episode of Investment by Design, I sit down with David Galloway-Penny, who proves it’s never too late to start investing in property. After buying his first investment property at 41, David has built a portfolio of four properties in just five years, all while navigating Australia’s...
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Ep 2. Fear of Debt to Building a North Queensland Real Estate Portfolio | Nicole Craike's Investing journey
In this episode of Investment by Design, I’m joined by my wife, Nicole, as we open up about our real property investing journey, the highs, the lows, and everything in between.We share the real story behind how we started investing in property, the mistakes we made, and the lessons that helped us...
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Ep 1. 6 Properties in 12 Months | Discussing how to grow a real estate investment portfolio fast!
In this episode of the Investment By Design Podcast, we sit down with Ken Turner, one of Cairns’ most respected real estate agents and an active property investor.Ken shares his incredible journey of buying six properties in just 12 months, revealing the mindset, strategy, and lessons that helped...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome to the Investment By Design Podcast, where we sit down with successful and up-and-coming real estate investors from Cairns and across Australia.Each episode uncovers their journey, the lessons they’ve learned, and the strategies that led to their success.Whether you’re just starting out or building your portfolio, you’ll find practical insights, inspiration, and real-world advice to help you invest smarter and grow with confidence.
HOSTED BY
Shaun Craike
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Investment By Design have?
Investment By Design currently has 49 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Investment By Design about?
Welcome to the Investment By Design Podcast, where we sit down with successful and up-and-coming real estate investors from Cairns and across Australia.Each episode uncovers their journey, the lessons they’ve learned, and the strategies that led to their success.Whether you’re just starting out or...
How often does Investment By Design release new episodes?
Investment By Design has 49 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Investment By Design?
You can listen to Investment By Design on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Investment By Design?
Investment By Design is created and hosted by Shaun Craike.
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