How we work
Making property investing the easy option.
From the first call to the keys, and long after, you'll know what happens next, how long it usually takes and what we need from you. We handle the research, the checks and the chasing.
Prefer to talk it through? Call us on 02 9782 2202.
Where we'll take you
What clarity looks like for your next 12 months
By the time we present a property, you'll have four things.
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Your position
Your income, savings, borrowing power and any property you already own. It's the starting point for everything else.
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Your strategy
Cash flow, growth or both, with the budget and time frame that suit you. Every opportunity is measured against it.
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The right opportunity
No scrolling through hundreds of listings. You see the property that fits your brief, with the research behind it.
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Your next step
You know the numbers, the steps and who does what, so when the right one comes along you can decide with confidence.
Step by step
Six steps from the first call to the keys
What happens at each step, how long it usually takes and what we'll need from you. Every property is different, so we'll give you a time frame for yours before you commit.
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Step 1: A call about your goals
A relaxed chat with our team, by phone or video. We want to understand what you'd like property to do for you, and what's holding you back.
- Your goals: cash flow, growth, or both
- Your budget, and where you are with finance
- Any questions or worries you have about investing
How long
About half an hour.
What you'll need
- A rough idea of your income, savings and debts
- Your pre-approval, if you have one. If not, we can introduce you to a broker; pre-approval typically takes around six weeks
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Step 2: Your strategy meeting
A longer conversation, in person or online. We show you what's worked for other clients, the locations and property types that suit your budget, and how the numbers come together.
- Real results we've achieved for clients
- Where the numbers work right now, and why
- Your brief: budget, the states you're open to and the type of property
How long
About an hour.
What you'll need
- Your questions (none is too basic)
- Anyone who'll be buying with you
- Your pre-approval, or where it's up to
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Step 3: We find the one that fits
We review new releases and check every suburb and property against our blueprint. When one passes, we bring it to you: usually one property, not a list of twenty.
- Your pack: suburb report, property brochure, rental appraisal and investment calculator
- We walk you through it and answer every question
- If it isn't right for you, we keep looking
How long
It depends on your brief and the market. We'd rather wait for the right one than rush you.
What you'll need
- Time to read the pack and ask questions
- Your accountant's or broker's view, if you'd like it
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Step 4: Secure the property
Happy to go ahead? We reserve the property for you and the contract goes to your solicitor to review. It may include a finance clause, depending on the state and the contract, so your lender has time to approve the loan. In most states there's also a short cooling-off period; your solicitor will explain both.
- We send your details through to reserve the property
- We keep your solicitor and broker in the loop
- We keep you updated until contracts exchange
How long
Three to six weeks to exchange. A finance clause usually runs 14–21 days.
What you'll need
- Photo ID, such as your driver's licence
- Your solicitor's details, or we can introduce one
- Company or trust details, if you're buying in a structure
- Your deposit, ready for exchange
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Step 5: Exchange, then the build
Once contracts exchange and your deposit is paid, it's yours to look forward to. For a new build, we keep you posted at every milestone, so you're never left wondering.
- Council approval
- Land registration
- Slab
- Lock-up
- Handover
Before handover, we line up a local property manager so they can start finding your tenant early. We'll also help you arrange a pre-handover inspection and a depreciation schedule.
How long
An established home typically settles about six weeks after exchange. For a new house, land registration dates vary, and the build typically takes 26–30 weeks once it starts.
What you'll need
- Your broker, to finalise the loan
- A little patience: weather can move dates, and we'll tell you as soon as anything changes
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Step 6: The keys, and long after
Handover day. You get the keys, and your property manager is ready to lease it, so the gap before your first tenant is as short as possible. Then we stay in touch.
- A review of what your property is worth, every year
- Regular emails on the market and on investing
- Help if anything comes up with the build after handover
Live 1 in 4 of our clients have bought more than one property with us.
How long
For as long as you own the property.
What you'll need
- Nothing. Enjoy it, and call us when you're ready to talk about the next one
What we check
Every suburb, checked against our blueprint
We review new releases from the builders and developers we work with, check the suburb and the property against our blueprint, and only present an opportunity we believe in.
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Population
Is the area growing? Where people are moving, and why.
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Infrastructure
Transport, schools, hospitals and shops: what's there now and what's on the way.
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Industries
Local jobs across more than one industry, so demand doesn't hang on one employer.
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Planned growth
The government and private projects that will shape the area in the years ahead.
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Vacancy
How quickly rentals are taken up. Low vacancy usually means tenants are looking.
Then, the property itself
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Rent against the suburbIs the rent strong for the price, compared with similar homes nearby?
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Time to rentHow long similar homes sit empty, and what tenants in the area look for.
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Build qualityThe builder's track record, and what's included in the price.
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Holding costsRates, insurance, strata and management: what it costs to hold, not just to buy.
I love reviewing suburb statistics and seeing what new opportunities are emerging in the property market… It's this kind of research and analysis that helps us identify the right opportunities before presenting them to our clients at Marvel Invest.
What you receive
Everything you need to decide
Every property we present comes with four pieces, so you can check the numbers yourself, or with your accountant or broker, before you commit.
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Suburb report
The research behind the suburb: population, jobs, infrastructure, planned growth and the rental market, in one report.
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Property brochure
The home itself: floor plan, inclusions, price and the figures that matter to an investor.
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Rental appraisal
An estimate of the weekly rent, so you can test the numbers before you commit.
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Investment calculator
Adjust the deposit, interest rate and rent to see what they mean for your cash flow.
Try our calculator
Rents, values and costs in every pack are estimates and general information only. Every property and market is different.
Choosing a property type
New build or established?
Both can work. The right choice depends on your goals, your budget and your time frame.
New build
Why investors choose it
- On a split house-and-land contract (land and build bought separately), stamp duty may only be payable on the land, depending on your state and how the contracts are set up
- Higher depreciation claims are usually available on a new home
- Lower maintenance in the early years
- Appeals to tenants who want a new, modern home
Keep in mind
- Rent starts after handover, so you wait for the build
- Usually a higher price point
Established home
Why investors choose it
- A quicker purchase: typically settled about six weeks after exchange
- Rent from day one if it's already tenanted
- Room to add value later, such as a granny flat or subdivision, where council allows
- Options across a wider range of budgets
Keep in mind
- Older homes can need more maintenance
- Depreciation claims are usually lower
General information only, not tax or financial advice. Stamp duty, depreciation and other tax outcomes depend on your state and your circumstances, so speak to your accountant before you decide.
Your team of professionals
The right people, in the right order
Buying an investment property takes more than one expert. This is the order we recommend talking to them in. We keep everyone working together.
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First
Accountant
Your tax position, and the right structure to buy in.
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Second
Financial planner
How property fits into your wider plan.
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Third
Broker
Your borrowing power and pre-approval.
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Fourth
Marvel Invest
Finding, checking and securing the property, and keeping everyone moving.
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Fifth
Solicitor
Reviews your contract and looks after settlement.
Already have your own?
Great: we'll work with them. Your accountant, broker and solicitor stay yours.
Need someone?
We can introduce you to the professionals you need. Later on, we also connect you with a local property manager and a depreciation specialist.
Questions we hear a lot
Before you call us
The short answers to what most people ask. Anything else, ask us on your free call.
Book a free callHow long does it take, from the first call to the keys?
It depends on the property. An established home typically settles about six weeks after contracts exchange. A new house takes longer: land registration dates vary, and the build typically takes 26–30 weeks once it starts.
Before you commit, we'll give you a realistic time frame for your property, and keep you updated along the way. See the six steps.
Do I need to live near the property I buy?
No. Many of our clients invest in a different city or state from where they live. Our view is simple: buy where it's growing, not where you want to live.
If you can't afford to buy where you'd like to live, you can rent there and invest where the numbers work. It's often called rentvesting.
Which states do your clients buy in?
We go wherever the numbers work. In the last 12 months our clients have settled properties in 6 states and territories: NSW, NT, SA, ACT, VIC and QLD.
Do you help with finance?
We're not a lender or a broker, but finance is part of the plan from the first call. If you don't have a broker, we can introduce you to one, and we stay in touch with your broker right through to settlement.
Can I invest if I already own my home?
Yes, many of our clients do. The equity in your home (what it's worth, minus what you owe on it) may help fund the deposit on an investment property.
Your broker can tell you how much you could use; we'll help you work out what it could buy.
What happens after I buy?
We don't disappear at settlement. We line up a property manager before handover, review what your property is worth every year and send you regular updates on the market.
If something comes up with the build after handover, call us and we'll help you sort it out.
Why do you focus on new builds?
New homes often suit investors: lower maintenance in the early years, higher depreciation claims and tenants who want a modern home. On a split house-and-land contract, stamp duty may only be payable on the land, depending on your state and how the contracts are set up.
But the right property depends on your goals, and established homes have advantages too: see how they compare. This is general information: speak to your accountant about the tax side.
Do you work with first-time investors?
Yes. Plenty of our clients are buying their first investment property, and we'll explain every step in plain English.
Eddie remembers that feeling well: “I still remember when I didn't know a thing about the property market.”
Do I have to buy the property you present?
No. You only go ahead if it's right for you. If it isn't, tell us why (it helps us find a better fit) and we'll keep looking.
Not sure where to start? Start with a call.
Tell us where you are and what you want property to do for you. We'll tell you honestly what your next step looks like.