Investment By Design

Shaun Craike
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  • Investing
  • Updated Daily

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.

  1. 1d ago

    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 increased by an extraordinary 59% over the past three years, compared with 26% nationally. Despite this growth, I believe 2027 could present some incredible opportunities for buyers and property investors in Far North Queensland.In this video, I break down the latest Cairns property market data, explain why the housing shortage could continue pushing rents and property values higher, and share where I'd be looking to invest in Cairns in 2027.🏡 What you'll learn in this Cairns property market forecast: Why Cairns real estate prices have outperformed Sydney and MelbourneWhether Cairns property prices could continue increasing in 2027Why Cairns rental vacancy rates remain below 1%How the $1 billion Cairns Hospital expansion could influence housing demandWhy rising construction costs are restricting new apartment developmentWhy established apartments could be among the best investment opportunities in CairnsHow the recent increase in properties for sale could create opportunities for buyersThe Cairns suburbs I'd be researching for property investment in 2027 📍 Where would I invest in Cairns in 2027? I share my thoughts on established apartments and investment properties in Cairns North, Manoora, Westcourt and Cairns City, including what investors should consider when comparing rental returns, body corporate fees, capital growth potential and purchase prices. I also explain how an apartment I purchased in Manoora for approximately $170,000 in 2019 has grown to an estimated value of $470,000 today. Past performance doesn't guarantee future growth, but understanding property replacement costs, housing supply and local rental demand can help investors make more informed decisions. 🏠 Looking to buy property in Cairns or North Queensland I'm a Cairns-based property investor and co-founder of The Buyers Co, an independent buyers agency helping home buyers and property investors find, assess and negotiate properties throughout Cairns, Port Douglas, Townsville and the Atherton Tablelands. We help local and interstate buyers purchase investment properties, family homes and off-market opportunities, with a strong focus on location, property fundamentals and negotiating the right price. Whether you're researching your first Cairns investment property, planning to expand your Queensland property portfolio or relocating to Far North Queensland, we'd love to help. 🌐 The Buyers Co: https://www.thebuyersco.com.au 🎙️ Investment by Design Podcast: Property investing insights, real estate market analysis and conversations about building long-term wealth through Australian property. 💬 Join the conversation Do you think Cairns property prices will keep rising in 2027, or is the market due for a correction? And would you rather invest in a house or an established apartment in Cairns? Let me know in the comments. Subscribe for regular Cairns property market updates, Queensland real estate forecasts, property investment strategies and insights from the ground as a local Cairns buyers agent. This video contains general market commentary and personal opinions, not individual financial advice. Property investment involves risks, and market forecasts are not guarantees.#CairnsRealEstate #CairnsPropertyMarket #PropertyInvestingAustralia

  2. Sep 24

    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, debt, property and lifestyle after building a portfolio of 10 properties over roughly 10 years.We cover:Why a high income does not automatically make you financially freeHow debt can either accelerate wealth or destroy cash flowThe 4 property pillars I believe need to be balanced: cash flow, capital growth, market forces and the ability to manufacture growthWhy long-term compounding matters more than short-term resultsThe hidden opportunity cost of expensive lifestyle purchasesWhy looking wealthy and actually being financially free are two very different thingsThe goal is not to stop spending money or avoid enjoying life. It is to build enough financial strength that your lifestyle no longer depends entirely on your next pay cheque.Need help buying the right property?At The Buyers Co, we help home buyers and property investors identify, assess, negotiate and secure property with a strategy built around their goals.We work across Cairns, Port Douglas, Townsville and the Atherton Tablelands, with a focus on making sure the property fits the bigger financial picture, not just the purchase itself.If you would like help with your next property purchase, visit The Buyers Co and get in touch.www.thebuyersco.com.auSubscribe for more straightforward conversations about property, investing and creating financial freedom.#PropertyInvesting #FinancialFreedom #AustralianProperty #RealEstateInvesting #WealthCreation #PropertyInvestment #TheBuyersCo

  3. Sep 17

    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 interesting property market setups we've seen in years. While headlines focus on falling prices and investor uncertainty, something else is happening beneath the surface: • Rental growth remains extremely strong • Vacancy rates remain critically low in many markets • Investor competition has reduced • Some vendors are becoming more negotiable • Yields on certain properties are improving • Population growth continues to place pressure on housing demand • New housing supply remains constrained I also explain why I believe the biggest losers from investors exiting the market could ultimately be tenants, and why some of today's buying conditions could look very different a few years from now. We'll look at: 🏠 The impact of the 2027 property policy changes 🏠 Investor borrowing capacity and negative gearing changes 🏠 Why rental yields are improving in some markets 🏠 The relationship between rents, prices and opportunity 🏠 Cairns property market observations from the ground 🏠 Population growth and housing demand 🏠 Construction costs and housing supply 🏠 Why some investors are waiting, and the risks of doing so 🏠 Whether 2026 could become a significant buying window for Australian property investors This isn't a prediction that prices can only go up. It's an exploration of what happens when sentiment turns negative while some of the underlying investment fundamentals remain surprisingly strong. If you're interested in Australian property investing, real estate market trends, rental property analysis, housing supply, population growth, property prices, negative gearing, rental yields and long-term wealth creation through property, this video is for you. 👇 I'd love to hear your view: Are investors making a mistake by stepping away from the market right now, or is this the start of a much bigger downturn? #AustralianProperty #PropertyInvesting #RealEstateAustralia #PropertyMarket #NegativeGearing #RentalCrisis #PropertyPrices #AustralianHousing #PropertyInvestor #InvestmentProperty #HousingMarket #RealEstateInvesting #PropertyNews #RentalProperty #AustralianEconomy

  4. Sep 10

    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 corrections, including the early 1980s recession, the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, the 2017–2019 credit tightening and the 2022 interest rate shock. Despite being triggered by very different events, these Australian property downturns have something important in common. In this video, I look at the history of **Australian house prices and property market crashes** to understand what's happening in the housing market today, including: Why Australian property prices fallWhat previous housing downturns had in commonHow interest rates and borrowing capacity affect house pricesWhy the 2022 property downturn eventually reversedWhy Darwin experienced a much larger property crashThe difference between a housing market correction and a genuine crashHow unemployment and forced selling could affect property pricesThe importance of population growth and housing supplyWhat would need to happen for Australian house prices to fall significantly furtherThe key property market indicators I'm watching in 2026 The big question isn't simply whether Australian property prices are falling. It's **what would need to happen for today's correction to turn into a genuine property crash?** History suggests falling borrowing capacity can start a housing downturn, but much deeper property crashes generally require something more significant to change in the balance between housing demand and supply. And importantly, there isn't one Australian property market. Conditions in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Darwin, Cairns and other regional markets can be very different. If you're a property investor, home buyer or simply interested in the Australian housing market, this video provides a framework for understanding what could happen next rather than trying to predict the exact bottom. Subscribe for straightforward Australian property, real estate and investing analysis. www.thebuyersco.com.au #AustralianProperty #PropertyMarket #PropertyCrash

  5. Sep 2

    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 adapting to higher housing costs at the same time as the economics of property investing are changing. We explore why:• Households may change their spending and living arrangements before rental demand disappears• Investor activity is pulling back• Higher-yielding properties could become increasingly attractive to investors• Larger family homes could face a very different rental supply problem• Today’s rental yield may not be the number investors should be focused on• Future rental growth could become just as important to analyse as future capital growth The big question isn’t simply whether rents can keep rising. It’s what happens when the properties tenants most need become the properties investors increasingly don’t want to own. For property investors, that could create both significant risks and opportunities over the next decade. #PropertyInvesting #AustralianProperty #RentalMarket #RealEstate #PropertyInvestment #Australia

  6. Aug 27

    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 Launceston, TAS Dubbo, NSW Sunshine, VIC Parramatta, NSW Rather than relying on opinions, hype or predictions, I compared each market using five measurable indicators that can help identify current market conditions: 1. Stock on market How much property is actually available to buyers? 2. Rental vacancy How tight is the rental market? 3. Supply constraints How difficult is it for new housing supply to respond? 4. 12-month price growth What is happening to prices right now? 5. Rental yield What return could an investor potentially achieve at current prices? Each location receives a score out of 50 before I reveal which market comes out on top. The result surprised me, and there was a much bigger gap between first and second place than I expected. This isn't about claiming one suburb will outperform every other market in Australia. Property selection, individual assets, price paid and due diligence still matter enormously. The aim is to compare five markets using the same framework and see what the numbers actually tell us. If you're considering investing around the $600,000 mark, this should give you a useful framework for comparing markets before deciding where to buy. The Buyers Co. Independent property buyers agency specialising in Cairns and North Queensland. www.thebuyersco.com.au #PropertyInvesting #AustralianProperty #RealEstateAustralia #PropertyMarket #InvestmentProperty Chapters: 00:00 Intro – Where Would 74,000 Investors Spend $600k? 00:57 #5 Parramatta, NSW 03:02 #4 Sunshine, VIC 04:51 #3 Dubbo, NSW 06:29 #2 Launceston, TAS 07:56 #1 Cairns North, QLD 10:39 Final Results & What the Scores Really Mean 11:45 The Most Important Investing Lesson 12:14 Which Property Would You Buy?

  7. Aug 20

    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 Cairns-based builder and property professional whose business delivers around 50 dwellings a year while also operating across property sales and rentals. We discuss whether building new still stacks up against buying established, the mistakes that can cost buyers thousands, what is actually driving construction costs higher and why new housing estates across Cairns and regional Queensland are increasingly moving towards smaller lots and higher-density housing. We also cover: Building new vs buying established The hidden costs and risks buyers need to understand before building Why Cairns house blocks are getting smaller What is driving construction costs across FNQ and regional Queensland How to design a new home with future resale value in mind What tenants actually want from a new investment property The rise of duplexes, triplexes and higher-density development Why Australia is struggling to build enough new homesWhat the next generation of housing could look likeWhat Ram would personally buy or build with his own money Although we use Cairns and Far North Queensland as the case study, many of the challenges facing builders, developers, home buyers and investors are being seen right across regional Queensland and Australia. If you're considering building a new home, buying a house-and-land package, developing property or simply trying to understand where the housing market is heading, this conversation is worth watching before making your next move. Subscribe for more discussions on Cairns property, FNQ real estate, regional Queensland property investing and the Australian housing market. #CairnsProperty #CairnsRealEstate #FarNorthQueensland #FNQProperty #RegionalQueensland #PropertyInvesting #NewHomeBuild #AustralianProperty #HouseAndLand #PropertyDevelopment

  8. Aug 13

    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 management expert, Adam Saitta from Benchmark Real Estate, to discuss why regional markets like Cairns could outperform some of Australia's larger capital cities, and what investors need to understand before buying their next investment property. Whether you're buying your first investment or growing a portfolio, this conversation covers the practical insights that can help you reduce risk and improve long-term returns. In this episode we discuss: Why the rental market has changed.Why fewer investors may enter the market.Why Cairns could outperform Melbourne.Current rental demand across Cairns.What tenants are really looking for.How professional property managers screen tenants.The biggest tenant red flags.Due diligence when buying a property with an existing tenant.What questions every investor should ask before going unconditional.The property features that attract quality tenants.Common mistakes investors continue to make.Where we believe the Cairns property market is heading. If you're interested in real estate investing, Cairns property, Melbourne property, property investing Australia, rental property, or buying investment property, this episode is packed with practical insights from professionals working in the market every day. If you enjoy evidence-based discussions about Australian property investing, subscribe for weekly episodes covering market trends, investing strategies, regional property opportunities and interviews with industry experts. 📩 Looking to buy property in Cairns or North Queensland? The Buyers Co helps home buyers and investors secure the right property through independent advice, negotiation and due diligence. 🌐 https://www.thebuyersco.com.au

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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 building your portfolio, you’ll find practical insights, inspiration, and real-world advice to help you invest smarter and grow with confidence.

Information

  • Creator
    Shaun Craike
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    49
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Shaun Craike
  • Show Website
    Investment By Design

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