Fear of Debt to Building a Large Real Estate Portfolio

In this episode of Investment by Design, I’m joined by my wife, Nicole Craike, as we open up about our real property investing journey, the highs, the lows, and everything in between. We share the real story behind how we started investing in property, the mistakes we made, and the lessons that helped us grow a diverse portfolio across Cairns, Townsville, and Port Douglas.

From overcoming the fear of debt to finding off-market opportunities and managing risk, this conversation is an honest look at what it really takes to build wealth through Australian real estate.

💬 In this episode we cover:
Our worst investment moments (and what we learned)
How we’ve found and secured off-market properties in North Queensland
Balancing risk and reward as a couple
The fear of debt and how to move past it
What advice Nicole would give her 18-year-old self about money and property

If you’re an Australian property investor or you’re thinking about buying in Cairns, Townsville, or Port Douglas, this episode will give you genuine insights into what it takes to build a successful property portfolio in North Queensland.