Episode 1
WTF is Property Investment?
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Key Points of the Podcast
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Property investment is income plus long term growth
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Banks lend against rental property, which enables leverage
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Numbers matter more than emotion
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Equity in your home can be a starting point
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New builds reduce maintenance risk
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Market cycles create entry opportunities
Ever wondered what property investment actually means, and why every Kiwi seems obsessed with it?
Property investment is one of New Zealand’s biggest talking points, yet many people struggle to explain what it actually is. In this episode, Mike and Matt sit down with the team from Staircase Financial to break it down in plain language. They discuss how property investment works, who it’s for, and why it’s more achievable than most people think.
What Property Investment Really Means
Property investment is the process of buying real estate to generate income and build long-term wealth. It’s not about flipping houses for a quick profit or buying a dream home. It’s about using property as a financial tool — one that can produce steady rent while increasing in value over time. Most investors hold their properties for 10 to 15 years, earning regular income while the capital value grows in the background.
In practice, it means owning a property that someone else pays to live in. The rent covers most of the ongoing costs such as the mortgage, insurance, and rates. Over time, the property’s value rises, and that growth becomes part of the investor’s total return. It’s a long-term, low-drama approach to wealth building, especially when the property is well-located and well-managed.
Who Can Invest in Property
You don’t need to be wealthy to invest in property. Many first-time investors use equity from their existing home instead of large cash deposits. With the right financial structure and advice, property investment can be achievable for ordinary New Zealanders.
Why Rentals Make Sense
Rental properties appeal to investors because they are tangible, easy to understand, and supported by the banks. Unlike shares, property can be leveraged — meaning you can borrow to buy it. Rent helps cover ongoing costs, and as the property’s value grows, so does your equity.
Common Misconceptions about Property Investment
Many Kiwis think property investment is only for the wealthy or that it requires a big cash deposit. In reality, most investors start by using the equity in their own home. With the right structure, it’s often more achievable than people expect.
It’s also not the hands-on grind people imagine. You don’t need to chase tenants or fix broken appliances. Staircase manages the process from finance and property selection through to management and maintenance, so clients can invest without stress.
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You need to be wealthy to invest
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It’s too risky or complicated
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You must manage tenants yourself
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Only old homes make good rentals
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You can’t invest without cash savings
The Difference Between Owning and Investing
Owning a home is personal. Investing is practical. A home is about lifestyle and comfort, while an investment property is about performance and return. Successful investors remove emotion from their decisions and focus on whether the rent covers the costs and the numbers make sense.
Property investment isn’t just for the wealthy. The biggest barrier is knowledge, not money. Once you start viewing property as a financial tool rather than a personal purchase, the opportunity becomes clear. With the right guidance and structure, most homeowners can take the first step toward long-term wealth.
If you’d like to know how property investment could work for you, book a free consultation with Staircase Property to explore your options.
Frequently Asked Questions — EP1: WTF Is Property Investment?
Staircase Group is a New Zealand property-investment company with more than 80 staff. They bring every part of the process under one roof — finance, insurance, accounting, property management, and maintenance — so investors can build and hold rental properties without doing the heavy lifting themselves. The goal is to make property investment “set-and-forget.”
Owning a home is emotional — it’s about lifestyle and comfort. Investing is financial — it’s about return and growth. Liam Cox explains that investors buy property to earn income or profit, not to live in it. The numbers — rental yield, affordability, and projected capital growth — matter more than kitchens or backyards.
It means buying real estate with the intention of earning rental income and long-term capital gain. Staircase focuses on residential investments — typically new-build homes — held for 10–15 years rather than quick “flips.”
Christian Driscoll notes that rentals are tangible assets — you can see them, and banks are comfortable lending against them. Unlike shares, banks finance property purchases, allowing investors to use leverage. Rentals provide steady rent income and potential value growth over time.
No. Staircase offers full property management. Their team finds tenants, organises repairs, and handles issues so investors aren’t getting midnight phone calls about broken dryers. The idea is to keep the investment running in the background while clients focus on work and family.
Buying with their hearts instead of their calculators. The episode highlights that successful investors separate emotion from finance. A good investment isn’t about how nice the kitchen is — it’s about whether the rent covers costs and the numbers stack up.
According to Staircase, no. Many clients are first-time investors who start by using equity in their own homes rather than large cash deposits. You don’t need to be rich to invest, but you do need a clear plan and the right financial structure.
Christian Driscoll, Staircase Business Development and Training Manager, explains that property runs in cycles. At the time of recording, sales volumes were rising, prices had dropped roughly 13 percent since the 2021 peak, and interest rates were easing — a combination he described as a “cyclical sweet spot.” Long-term investors, he says, benefit most by being in the market, not by trying to time it.
Liam Cox, Staircase National Sales Manager, points out that while anyone can try to invest alone, it’s time-consuming and risky. Professional teams handle financing, tax structure, and management, remove emotional bias, and help people act with confidence instead of hesitating or over-paying at auctions.
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You must be wealthy to start.
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You need large cash savings.
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It’s too complex or time-intensive.
The episode shows that new-build investments, managed professionally, can be affordable and far less stressful than most people assume.
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The Alternative Guide to Property Investment Podcast is an unfiltered introduction to the power of building wealth through property investment in New Zealand.
With real conversations with experts behind the industry, including investors, property advisors, finance specialists, analysts and property managers, we explore the wins, challenges and strategies that shape property investment success.