The Story
Dane came to us with a clear ambition but an undefined timeline. He wanted to secure a premium Melbourne asset that could perform strongly as an investment now and seamlessly become his home when he eventually relocated.
That timeline might be two years.
It might be five.
And it might change.
This is the classic expat profile, and it is exactly what makes buying a dual-purpose property so challenging, especially from afar.
Personal lifestyle preferences often pull buyers in one direction while long-term fundamentals that drive scarcity and appreciation pull in another. Without structure, compromise creeps in early and outcomes soften.
Our job was to prevent that.
START - Defining what the property must do
At the beginning, Dane had no fixed view on location. Like many buyers, his initial thinking leaned toward familiarity. Early conversations explored Bayside options, and we inspected two properties that, while appealing, never quite aligned.
That was not time wasted. It was information gained.
Through START, we clarified the role of the property. It needed to function exceptionally as an investment without sacrificing future liveability. It also needed to remain relevant regardless of when relocation happened.
This clarity removed pressure. Once the purpose was defined properly, everything else became easier.
SMART - From broad suburbs to one clear target
With purpose locked, we returned to the SMART filter and rebuilt the search from the ground up. Dane’s lifestyle preferences began to crystallise. Walkability. Character. Transport access. Community feel.
One requirement stood out very early.
This had to be a heritage house.
Not as an ideology, but because of what heritage houses represent in inner Melbourne. They offer liveability, emotional appeal and critically, a powerful supply-demand imbalance. Premium houses in tightly held suburbs remain scarce and consistently sought after.
When we ran this logic through the Shortlist Matrix, the answer became obvious.
Brunswick.
A suburb that ticked the lifestyle box while offering deep rental demand, strong owner-occupier appeal, and long-term relevance.
The Property - A rare combination of character and versatility
The property itself was exceptional.
A two-bedroom heritage house with high ceilings, generous proportions, and excellent internal flow. The kitchen and bathroom were well resolved, storage was strong, and the home felt immediately livable.
What truly elevated it was versatility.
The property benefits from double street access. The rear of the property fronts a second street with secure dual parking accessed via an electric double garage door. This is an extremely rare feature for a heritage home and dramatically expands future use cases.
Add to that walking distance to train, tram, and a beautiful reserve at the end of the street, and the lifestyle equation was complete.
360 - Execution with protection and foresight
We secured the property strategically post-auction. This allowed us to negotiate favourable terms and insert conditions that provided full protection for Dane.
The 360 System was applied in full. Pre-inspection intelligence. Contract review. Risk checks. Strategy alignment. Every decision backed by both logic and data.
This framework gave Dane something tangible. Not just reassurance, but a clear, visible process he could follow from abroad.
Performance - Why the numbers mattered
While every property rents well in Melbourne at the moment, performance still matters.
This property was leased within two days of settlement at a gross yield of approximately 3.7 percent. For a premium landed heritage home, this is a very strong outcome.
The speed was not accidental.
We planned the leasing strategy during the purchase phase. Video footage captured during inspections was used to engage tenants early and secure quality occupants ahead of settlement. The process was transparent and intentional.
For Dane, this meant immediate cash flow certainty and confidence that the property was performing exactly as intended.
The Outcome - A true dual-purpose asset
A premium house in a high demand low supply pocket. Strong rental performance today. Exceptional future liveability. And flexibility for a timeline that may evolve.
The Shortlist Method allowed Dane to balance personal preferences with long-term fundamentals rather than choosing one over the other.
This is the backbone of our specialist approach for expats and remote professionals.
If you are living abroad and want to secure a property that works now and adapts as your life changes, join The Shortlist. I would love to help you build a clear plan and secure the right asset with confidence.
