The Story
This client joined us from Saudi Arabia as an experienced investor with a clear sense of direction. They already owned a successful investment property in Frankston and had developed strong confidence in the bayside market.
Naturally, when it came time to purchase again, their instinct was to stay close to what they knew. Frankston, or somewhere nearby, felt safe, familiar, and proven.
But as with many repeat buyers, the real challenge wasn’t finding another property. It was making sure the next purchase actually strengthened the portfolio rather than simply repeating the past.
START – Understanding what this purchase needed to do
From the outset, the brief seemed straightforward: a bayside investment, close to Frankston, with solid long-term performance.
However, when we unpacked the role of this second property, it became clear that “similar” didn’t necessarily mean “identical”.
The Frankston property had already done its job. It provided the client with strong performance and confidence. This next purchase needed to complement that success, not dilute it.
During the early search, we identified a property in a highly desirable location with excellent land potential. On the surface, it looked like a strong opportunity. But once it was assessed through our due diligence checklist, key issues emerged.
It wasn’t the right fit.
That moment reinforced exactly why the framework exists, not to slow the process down, but to prevent the wrong compromises from creeping in early.
SMART – Refining the shortlist beyond familiarity
With clarity around the purpose of the purchase, we widened the lens and revisited the shortlist criteria.
What the client truly wanted was:
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Bayside appeal
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Long-term demand and scarcity
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A performance profile that worked alongside their Frankston asset
When we filtered the search through those lenses, Mornington stood out quickly.
It delivered the coastal lifestyle and owner-occupier appeal the client valued, while offering a different, but highly complementary market dynamic. Importantly, it allowed the client to remain in a bayside market they trusted, without overexposing their portfolio to a single suburb profile.
At the same time, we knew the market we were operating in was competitive. Quality stock in this segment is limited, and when the right properties appear, they are often secured before hitting the public market.
To stay ahead, we worked closely with one of the largest local agencies, setting up a structured schedule for pre-market, off-market, and on-market opportunities that aligned with the refined shortlist.
The Property – Secured off-market
Not long after, the right opportunity surfaced: completely off-market.
We were the first buyers given access to the listing.
The property aligned cleanly with the shortlist criteria and offered the quality, location, and long-term fundamentals the client was seeking. Acting quickly was essential, but speed never replaced discipline.
During due diligence, several items were flagged. Rather than pushing through and hoping for the best, we ensured each issue was properly documented and addressed through special conditions in the contract.
This allowed the client to move forward with confidence, knowing risks were identified and managed, not ignored.
360 – Protecting the client through execution
The protection didn’t stop at contract exchange.
At the final inspection prior to settlement, we identified discrepancies between the condition of the property during sale and its condition at settlement. In many transactions, this becomes a difficult and often unprovable conversation.
In this case, we had records, inspection evidence, and a clear process already in place.
That preparation allowed us to address the issue immediately and protect the client’s position without dispute.
This is where the 360 approach matters most. Not just in finding the right property, but in managing every stage of the process so risks are minimised and outcomes are controlled.
👉 Get to know our Remote Inspection Formula and Building Inspection process.
The Outcome
A high-quality bayside investment secured off-market in Mornington. A purchase that complements an existing Frankston asset rather than competing with it. And a transaction executed with speed, structure, and protection at every step.
Because properties of this calibre are genuinely scarce in the Mornington market, tenant demand was immediate. The home was leased within a week, reinforcing exactly why quality, location, and discipline matter — even in strong rental conditions.
This wasn’t a coincidence.
It was the result of a framework designed to balance familiarity with forward-thinking and discipline with decisive action.
If you’re investing from overseas and want clarity, confidence, and protection throughout the buying process, START SMART 360 exists for exactly this reason.
