Total Beginner to $30M Developer

In this episode of Investment by Design, we sit down with James Fennell, a self-made multi-millionaire developer who’s built projects worth hundreds of million across Cairns, Gladstone, and Townsville.

James shares his raw and unfiltered journey from his first development with no plan to navigating the GFC, when the bank literally ran out of money mid-project. You’ll hear what it really takes to make it in property development in Australia, the lessons learned from some of the toughest market cycles, and the advice he’d give to his 18-year-old self starting out in real estate.

Whether you’re a North Queensland property investor, a first-time developer, or just curious about the Australian housing market, this conversation is packed with hard-earned insights and straight talk from someone who’s done it all.

💡 Topics Covered:
-Property development in Cairns, Townsville, and Gladstone
-North Queensland real estate trends and opportunities
-Subdivision costs and timelines in Queensland
-Lessons from the GFC for modern investors
-How to de-risk your property deals
-Australian housing crisis and potential solutions