From One Property to Many Possibilities
For many expats, buying property back home can feel like a puzzle. How do you balance investment growth, future relocation, and personal lifestyle goals, especially if you don’t know exactly when you’ll move?
Recently, I had the privilege of working with clients living in Singapore who were exploring their next investment property. Initially, the focus was purely on adding another asset to their portfolio. But after going through our Wishlist to Shortlist process, a far more powerful strategy emerged, one that would serve them in extraordinary ways.
The Big Picture Strategy
Through our consultation, we discovered a unique opportunity: purchasing a property on a large block in Melbourne with incredible long-term potential. Here’s the plan we tailored:
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Let the property appreciate naturally for the next few years while still being rented out, capturing market growth.
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Obtain plans and permits to demolish the existing home and construct two quality properties on the block.
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Time the relocation to coincide with project completion. The clients move into the smaller home for at least 12 months, triggering maximum capital gains tax (CGT) benefits on the premium property in the future.
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Transition into their forever home, the premium property of the pair, once the CGT window is optimally utilised.
This strategy is both versatile and fail-safe. Even if their plans changed, the original property could simply be sold, capturing steady appreciation while still offering a range of future options.
Why This Works
This is the kind of tailored strategy that defines The Shortlist:
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It aligns with the client’s long-term relocation plans.
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It maximises the value of the asset over multiple stages.
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It leverages tax efficiency and market appreciation simultaneously.
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It provides flexibility; a property like this can serve as a home, investment, or a combination of both.
It’s the kind of approach that turns a single property into multiple opportunities, giving expats a strategic advantage in Melbourne’s competitive market.
How We Found It
I recorded a demonstration of my exact process:
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Suburb selection using Wishlist to Shortlist
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Property evaluation for subdivision potential
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Master plan mapping, including relocation, building, and tax strategy
In the video, you’ll see exactly how we identify opportunities, evaluate the block’s potential, and tailor a plan to the client’s lifestyle and goals.
🎥 Watch the live walkthrough here: [Insert Video Link]
The Shortlist Difference
What excites me most about working with clients like these is the ability to tailor the plan to their life, not just the market. Every consultation focuses on your personal future, risk profile, and ultimate goals, ensuring you’re never locked into a strategy that doesn’t fit.
From Singapore to Melbourne, we help expats:
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Identify the right suburb and property type for long-term growth
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Pinpoint the most effective options for renovation, expansion, or subdivision
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Deploy a plan that is flexible, tax-smart, and aligned with eventual relocation
This isn’t just property buying, it’s future-proof planning for your Melbourne home and investment journey.
Takeaway
For expats unsure about where they’ll settle, this strategy offers:
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Peace of mind: knowing your property can pivot with your life plans.
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Multiple paths: live in it, rent it, renovate, subdivide, you choose.
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Financial efficiency: optimise CGT, enjoy market appreciation, and retain control over your investment.
This is exactly why I love what we do at The Shortlist. We don’t just help you buy a property, we help you create a strategy that fits your life, wherever you are in the world.