Real Estate Investing Under $500K (Full Case Study)
How I Made $74,892 Profit in 12 Months from a $420K Cairns Unit | Full Breakdown
What does a real investment return look like in the Cairns property market right now? In this episode, I break down one of my own recent property purchases, a $420,000 Cairns apartment that produced $74,892 profit in the first 12 months.
I walk through the numbers, the strategy, the cash flow, the set up, the yield, and exactly how this deal came together. No theory, no hype, just a transparent, step-by-step breakdown of the asset, the market conditions, and the decisions that drove the result.
Whether you're investing in Cairns, researching Queensland property, or simply want to understand how to identify these types of opportunities, this video gives you a clear, practical, and data-backed look at what’s possible in FNQ right now.
We cover everything: From the suburb choice and rental strategy to the purchase negotiation, value-add improvements, rental uplift and final 12-month return.
🔑 Key Topics Covered
00:00 - Introduction: Analysing a real Airbnb property purchased 12 months ago to see its real performance.
01:06 - Property Description & Appeal
03:59 - Purchase Details
05:10 - 12-Month Holding Costs Breakdown
07:42 - 12-Month Income & Net Profit
09:56 - Capital Growth
10:25 - Total First-Year Gain.
11:06 - Future Growth Projections.
13:11 - Key Lessons/Conclusion
📈 Cairns Market Snapshot (2025)Here’s where the Cairns market currently sits:
Strong Price Growth: ~Average of 18% pa growth over the past 3 years.
Extremely Tight Rental Market: Vacancy around 0.7% and yields regularly above 5%.
High Demand, Low Supply: Less than two months of stock on market.
Diverse, Resilient Local Economy: Health, defence, aviation engineering, tourism, and construction continue to drive employment and migration.
This environment creates a unique window for well-selected, cash-flow-positive, high-yield property.
🤔 Is This Kind of Return Achievable Again?
In this episode, I break down:
• Why this property worked
• The exact factors that drove the return
• What to look for if you're trying to repeat this strategy
• The biggest risks investors overlook
• Whether the Cairns market still offers similar upside
If you're looking at investing in Cairns, FNQ, or regional Queensland, this video will give you clear guidance on the types of properties performing best today.
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📚 Disclaimer
This video is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Always do your own research and seek advice from qualified financial, legal, and real estate professionals.
Want help buying real estate in Cairns? Get in touch with the team at The Buyers Co today.👉 www.thebuyersco.com.au
