Long-term wealth
Retire Earlier by Building a Property Portfolio
One investment property is a good start. A planned portfolio of four, seven or ten investment-grade properties, bought in the right order, can change what retirement looks like for you and your family.
Stephen Lazar
Why We Do This
“My passion in life is to help people grow and achieve their own goals and financial success. I love property and sharing how it can positively change the direction of your wealth, for you, your family and the next generation, so we can leave the world in a better place than when we arrived. That is my legacy, and I hope you help me work towards it. It is what gets me out of bed grateful each day.”
The portfolio approach
Four, Seven or Ten Properties
A single property works hard. Several, bought in sequence, can work harder: each purchase can help fund the next through growth in equity and rent, so the portfolio builds on itself rather than relying on your income alone.
How many you can hold, and how quickly, depends on your income, borrowing capacity, deposit, time frame and appetite for risk. The aim is the same: remove what keeps you up at night about retirement.
- Plan the sequence: balance growth properties with higher-yield ones so cash flow stays manageable.
- Use leverage carefully: borrowing magnifies growth and losses, so buffers matter.
- Choose the structure: personal name, trust or SMSF each change tax and borrowing.
- Review every year: equity, rent, interest rates and your goals all change.
An illustration
What the Numbers Look Like
The median new house and land package in the Queensland supplier lists we received from July to October 2026 was about $969k, with a median rent estimate of about $750 a week where suppliers gave one. On those figures, a portfolio looks like this:
4 properties
$3.88m
portfolio value at today’s median
each 1% of growth ≈ $39k
7 properties
$6.78m
portfolio value at today’s median
each 1% of growth ≈ $68k
10 properties
$9.69m
portfolio value at today’s median
each 1% of growth ≈ $97k
Illustration only, using median supplier prices from July–October 2026. It ignores purchase costs, interest, holding costs and tax, and is not a forecast or a recommendation. Growth is never guaranteed.
Next steps
Start With Your Own Why
Every portfolio starts with a clear goal. Download our Your Own Why workbook, check how much you will need to retire, and read the power of leverage and property investing for your future.
Then talk to us about a strategy, and to your financial adviser, accountant and broker about your borrowing capacity and structure.
“Whenever you apply emotion to any decision, especially when it comes to investing, you’re guaranteeing yourself a lower return on investment, but only 100% of the time.”
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How many investment properties do I need to retire?
It depends on the income you want in retirement, the debt you carry and the rent and equity each property produces. Many investors aim for a portfolio they can partly sell down or hold debt-free. We help you model it; your financial adviser confirms it.
Can I buy several properties in a short period?
Sometimes, if your borrowing capacity, deposits and cash flow allow it. Sequencing growth and yield properties helps, but lending rules and interest rates set the limits.
Is this financial advice?
No. This page is general information and an illustration only. Speak to a licensed financial adviser, accountant and broker about your circumstances.
Strategy Before Property
Talk to Us About Building a Portfolio
Book a complimentary strategy call with Stephen Lazar. We’ll talk about your goals, your strategy and the property types and locations that could fit it.
One Network. Nationwide Reach.
Part Of The properT network Family
Investment Property Queensland is one specialist site within the properT network group — the same independent advisory approach, applied across states and property types.
