Ep 226 - From Easy Wins To Hard Lessons- The Reality Of Property Development

Property development is often sold as a straightforward path to wealth, but what happens when the market turns, a builder goes broke, or a global pandemic shuts down your site? While "easy wins" build confidence, it's the hard lessons that build character and true resilience.

In this episode of the Property Mastermind Podcast, Bob and Hilary get real about the highs and lows of a development career. They share candid stories of persistence paying off, like chipping away at a deal for 18 months, and contrast it with an incredible "windfall" deal that seemed too good to be true. They also dive into the tough realities—navigating market corrections, managing builder nightmares, and surviving unexpected delays—revealing why a healthy profit margin isn't just a goal, it's your most critical buffer. This episode is a must-listen for understanding the true nature of property development.

 

Links

• Attend the 3 Day Workshop on the Gold Coast: https://bit.ly/3UmDhjo 
• Chat to Hilary about the current investment opportunity we have: https://link.propertymastermind.com.au/book-a-call
• Join the Ultra-Urban Database for upcoming investment opportunities: https://bit.ly/45sqO2F
• Head on over to our website to find out more about our workshop and education options: Our Website
• Connect with handovers.com: https://handovers.com/

 

Episode Highlights

01:12 - Tip of the Week: How a typo on an airline ticket teaches the #1 rule of property development—persistence. 
04:42 - "Chipping Away": Bob's story of securing a 29-lot subdivision after 18 months of persistence.
08:56 - The power of rapport: How to deal directly with owners and build the trust needed to get a complex deal done.
11:54 - The Ultimate "Easy Win": Bob's story of finding a for-sale sign in the mud and trading the site for a new house and a Rolls Royce.
15:34 - Why you make your own luck: The "easy win" wasn't just a windfall; it required a series of specific actions.
17:44 - Bob's Hardest Early Lesson: The market doesn't always go up—understanding cycles and corrections.
21:00 - How a "good" project became "great": Turning a 4-pack site into a 6-pack by finding a way to build to three storeys.
25:14 - The Developer's Nightmare: What happens when you get tied up with the wrong builder. 28:13 - Surviving the Unpredictable: How COVID-19 shut down Hilary's site for seven months and what she learned. 32:20 - The "Bad News" Silver Lining: How one developer's project delays during COVID led to a 60% profit increase.
34:20 - The Critical Buffer: Why your profit margin isn't just a goal—it's your defence against the hard lessons.
35:45 - The Final Takeaway: "Easy wins build confidence, hard lessons build character."

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