The Property Mindset

In this episode of The Property Mindset, I’m joined again by Julian Nicolitsis, co-founder of Prop Moves Australia, who has helped clients purchase more than $1 billion in residential real estate across the country.This conversation is all about the first property decision, and how choosing between owner-occupier and investment can either create flexibility or limit your options moving forward.We unpack why so many people feel stuck at this stage, from analysis paralysis and social pressure through to the tension between lifestyle and long-term outcomes.We also discuss several key ideas:• Why the first property decision is often driven by emotion rather than strategy• The key differences between buying to live in versus buying to invest• How “rentvesting” can create more flexibility in high-priced markets• When government incentives can actually hold you back• Why over-leveraging on your first property can limit future opportunitiesThe episode also explores how experienced investors approach this decision, including how they think about borrowing capacity, cash flow, and asset selection, and why flexibility is one of the most important factors early on.By the end of the episode, the message is simple: your first property doesn’t need to be perfect, but it does need to align with where you’re trying to go, not just where you are today.Connect with me here: https://shorefinancial.com.au/matthewcurle

In this episode of The Property Mindset, I’m joined again by Julian Nicolitsis, co-founder of Prop Moves Australia, who has helped clients purchase more than $1 billion in residential real estate across the country.This conversation focuses on what strategy actually means in property investing, and why skipping this step is one of the biggest reasons people end up with underperforming portfolios.We break down the key elements that shape a strong strategy, including understanding your “why,” aligning with your partner, and building a plan that is both simple and adaptable over time.We also discuss several key ideas:• Why buying a “good property” without a strategy often leads to poor results• How risk tolerance and personal circumstances should shape every decision• Why copying other people’s strategies rarely works• How alignment (with your partner and your advisors) impacts long-term success• Why simple, repeatable strategies outperform complex onesThe episode also explores how experienced investors think about budgeting, cash flow, and long-term planning, and why property investing should be treated as a flexible, evolving process rather than a fixed plan.By the end of the episode, the message is clear: successful property investing isn’t about chasing deals. It’s about making decisions that align with your life, your goals, and your capacity to hold and grow assets over time.Connect with me here: https://shorefinancial.com.au/matthewcurle

One of the biggest misconceptions in property is that success comes down to luck. Buying the right suburb at the right time. In reality, the strongest outcomes usually come from experience, structured decision-making, and learning from patterns across many transactions.In this episode of The Property Mindset, I’m joined again by Julian Nicolitsis, co-founder of Prop Moves Australia and a seasoned property investor who has helped clients purchase more than $1 billion in residential real estate across the country.This conversation explores Julian’s journey into property, including his upbringing in Melbourne, his early career in FMCG and the fitness industry, and how those experiences shaped the disciplined and process-driven approach he now brings to property investing.We also discuss several key ideas:• Why many successful investors don’t come from wealthy backgrounds• How experience and process matter more than trying to perfectly time the market• Why delegating to experienced professionals can accelerate results• How the right property decision early on can shorten the path to the next investmentThe episode also explores how experienced investors assess markets, and why relying on a single metric like population growth can be misleading. Instead, strong decisions tend to come from looking at multiple fundamentals including supply, demand, economic activity, and rental pressure.By the end of the episode, the message is simple: successful property outcomes rarely happen by accident. They come from having a clear plan, surrounding yourself with the right expertise, and taking action rather than sitting on the sidelines.Connect with me here: https://shorefinancial.com.au/matthewcurle

Before finance and broking, I was working in construction on high-end renovations across Sydney. During one project in Vaucluse, I watched a client turn an $11 million purchase and a $4.5 million renovation into a $21 million sale in less than two years. Seeing that kind of wealth created through property completely changed how I thought about money and long-term financial security.In this first episode of The Property Mindset, I share the story of how that moment pushed me to buy my first investment property at 20, continue investing while running a building business, and eventually transition into mortgage broking.I’m joined by Julian Nicolitsis from Prop Moves, who flips the script and interviews me about my journey, how construction shaped my perspective on property, and why finance is often the backbone of successful property decisions.We also discuss the difference between transactional brokers and strategic brokers, why communication and proactive advice matter, and the types of clients I typically work with.To finish, I break down three of the most common property mistakes I see people make:• Upsizing their home without selling their existing property• Over-leveraging their first purchase and limiting future options• Small business owners reducing taxable income so much that it damages their borrowing capacityThis episode sets the foundation for the podcast and explains why getting the financial foundations right often matters far more than chasing the next opportunity.Connect with me here: https://shorefinancial.com.au/matthewcurle