RBA Rate Cuts, First Home Grants & Land Tax Changes | Axon Morning Brief

Video Transcript

Robbie: Morning, everyone. Welcome to another edition of Axon.

This isn’t a live Q&A.

Ryan: You wondered what you were going to say then, didn’t you?

Robbie: No, no, no. We’re not live anymore, mate.

About six weeks ago, we held our final long-form live Q&A. We decided it was time to change things up a little.

Nobody necessarily wants to listen to you and me at 6:30 or 7:00 at night. We’ve got a great studio here, so we thought we would come in during the day and continue passing on useful information about the property market, what Axon has been doing and everything else happening around the business.

It isn’t live, but everyone can still consume the information.

Ryan: I loved doing the live sessions, but that evening period is also an important time for us to speak with Defence members through coaching.

It is a different format, but I’m happy to roll with it.

Robbie: Apologies that you haven’t seen us sitting in here for the past six weeks. Hopefully, you have still seen plenty of us because we’ve been out and about.

We’ve been on the road.

Great Place to Work Recognition

Ryan: We’ve definitely been travelling.

Robbie: One of the first things we did was attend the Great Place to Work awards ceremony in Sydney.

What I find fascinating is how that came about.

About three years ago, Tamara and Ang completed a visualisation activity. Independently, they both wrote that they would love Axon to one day be recognised as a Great Place to Work.

I remember thinking, “Is there even such a thing?”

But I told them to go their hardest with the visualisation.

Then, around seven or eight months ago, Tammy told me that Great Place to Work had reached out and invited us to nominate.

The challenging part was that every team member received an anonymous survey with questions examining what it is genuinely like to work at Axon.

I didn’t receive the survey because this is obviously my lunchbox. They can’t exactly ask me what I think of my own lunchbox.

Ryan: You don’t work, mate. You just come in and live your best life.

Robbie: Exactly.

Thank you for saying something nice about working here. I don’t know what you wrote, but thank you.

What was it like getting dressed up, taking the whole team to Sydney and attending the gala?

Ryan: It was a very special evening.

As people may have seen in the photos and videos, we all got to put our suits on and look reasonably respectable.

Having the whole team there was phenomenal. A few of us said afterwards that we may have been the happiest group in the room.

There were a couple of hundred people in the ballroom, but in my admittedly biased opinion, we were certainly having the most fun.

It was a special night for Axon, and we finished fourth in our category.

Robbie: The micro-business category.

There were also enormous categories for organisations with thousands of employees. One of the major winners may have been Marriott, Hilton or another large hotel group.

Just in case anyone is wondering, Axon is never becoming that big.

Ryan: No.

Robbie: Imagine the human resources requirements.

Ryan: You already give them enough trouble.

Meeting Clients in Melbourne and Newcastle

Robbie: We also travelled to Melbourne and caught up with a group of clients at our annual meetup.

Ryan: We did.

Robbie: We then visited Newcastle, which we had missed during the previous couple of years.

People there had been saying, “What about Newcastle? When are you coming to see us?”

What made the Newcastle event unique was the range of clients who attended.

One client was only beginning his journey with us and was excited because his land was about to register.

Most of the others had already built two, three or four homes with Axon. I had known many of them for three, four or five years.

I had completed dozens of Zoom calls with some of these people, but this was the first time I had been able to shake their hands, meet their children and speak to them face to face.

That was really special.

Ryan, you were living in Newcastle and serving at RAAF Base Williamtown when we first met.

Ryan: It was a rapid-fire trip for you. You went from Sydney back to the Gold Coast and then down to Newcastle.

Robbie: That’s how I like it.

Ryan: I miss Newcastle. It is a beautiful part of the world.

I told the team who travelled down there to enjoy it because it is a special place.

There was clearly a contingent in Newcastle saying, “Don’t forget about us. We’re still here.”

Once we put the feelers out, plenty of people were keen to see the team.

It looked like a great evening at Queens Wharf Brewery, one of my old stomping grounds.

Robbie: I think I saw your name and phone number carved into the toilet wall.

Ryan: Ryan Lewis, call now.

Both: Laughing.

Axon’s Growing Focus on Melbourne

Robbie: We mentioned Melbourne earlier.

As many people will already know, HMAS Axon has made a major pivot towards Melbourne.

There is no such thing as HMAS Axon. I’ve just decided to call it that, so work with me and have a laugh.

We have recently completed several homes in Melbourne, with another 50 or 60 currently under construction.

We’ve been travelling down regularly.

I’m heading back again next week, and Ryan will come with me in November.

It gives us the opportunity to inspect the builds, meet with the builders, check the quality and film updates for our clients.

I nearly went tits up while recording one of those videos.

Ryan: Everyone saw that.

Robbie: You’ll continue seeing more Melbourne build content from us.

You’ve probably also received feedback from new clients who ask, “Where are we buying?”

They assume the answer will be Melbourne because that is where we’re currently focusing much of our content.

Ryan: Definitely.

It is good to have that consistent rhythm of travelling down there, particularly because we are based on the Gold Coast.

When we begin coaching new clients, many are already asking which part of Melbourne we are considering.

They understand from the information and content we are sharing that Melbourne is currently an important area of focus for us.

Robbie: The reality is that if your maximum budget is below approximately $750,000, there are very few suitable options remaining in South East Queensland.

There certainly aren’t many in Newcastle.

It is valuable to return to a global city where there are still opportunities within that price range.

James Moves Into Coaching

Robbie: Another development we are proud of is James moving into the coaching team.

James worked as a property specialist for five years and recently reached his anniversary with Axon.

A few months ago, we had several detailed conversations about whether he would be suitable to work alongside you and me in coaching.

You’ve handled most of his training during that period.

What has it been like having another person in the coaching lane, and how do you think he will develop over the next few years?

Ryan: Thankfully for me, his learning curve has been relatively straightforward because he is already part of the furniture.

He has worked at Axon for five years, so the transition has felt fairly seamless.

It is still a very different role, and there are new things he needs to learn. James has taken that responsibility on board, and it has been great watching him flourish in a new environment.

I’ve enjoyed hearing his feedback.

As a property specialist, he spoke with clients about process, risk, location and suitable properties. He then helped them move through to land settlement.

Now, he is having completely different conversations.

Someone appears on the screen, and he begins by asking, “How are you? How did you discover Axon? What is happening in your life, and how can we help?”

It is a completely different environment.

Even though James is very skilled and is a former combat engineer, coaching requires a different approach.

Robbie: Your own learning curve was probably even steeper.

When you joined Axon, there were several moving pieces across the business. I think you may have spent a few weeks as a property specialist before I said, “Ryan, congratulations. You’re a coach now.”

Ryan: It was definitely steep.

There wasn’t really a property specialist period at all. I think there was supposed to be, but I essentially jumped straight into coaching.

Robbie: Happy days.

That covers most of what Axon has been doing over the past few weeks.

Let’s move into what has been happening in the property market.

Interest Rate Cuts

Robbie: One major topic is the ongoing Reserve Bank of Australia rate cuts, which have been very welcome.

There have been three cuts this year, with the possibility of more to come.

There may even be a couple more next year.

Interest rates rose significantly and then remained at that high level for around 11 or 12 months.

Thankfully, things have now cooled somewhat because inflation moved back within the target range.

The Reserve Bank has effectively looked at that and decided it can begin reducing rates.

I’m sure that isn’t exactly how they speak during their board meetings, although it would be interesting to be a fly on the wall.

The cuts have made things slightly easier for people who already have mortgages, but they are also important for people trying to enter the market.

Ryan: Absolutely.

I’ve recently updated plans for several clients.

When some of them first entered the market, their assessed or actual rates were around 7.5 per cent.

When we review their position now, their rates may be below six per cent.

That makes a massive difference.

Queensland First Home Owner Grant

Robbie: We have also been closely monitoring the Queensland First Home Owner Grant.

In the lead-up to the end of the financial year, there was discussion that the increased grant might expire.

For a period, we assumed it would fall from $30,000 back to $15,000.

Then, around 10 days before the end of the financial year, the government announced that it would remain at $30,000 for another 12 months.

That is positive news.

The challenge is still finding an eligible property beneath the relevant price cap.

The grant may be available, but you need the borrowing capacity to purchase in a market where many homes now cost $750,000 or more.

The property must also remain beneath the grant’s cap.

The cap wasn’t increased, so it can feel like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.

First Home Guarantee

Robbie: Another important program is the First Home Guarantee.

In simple terms, it may allow an eligible buyer to purchase a home with a deposit as low as five per cent without paying lenders mortgage insurance.

On a 95 per cent loan for a property worth around $750,000, lenders mortgage insurance could otherwise cost approximately $20,000.

Avoiding that cost can be significant.

The government has also changed the applicable property price caps.

Ryan: There have been a couple of major changes.

Previously, there were a limited number of places available each financial year, with around 30,000 positions nationally.

That limit has since been removed, meaning every eligible first home buyer can potentially use the five per cent guarantee.

The second change relates to the property value caps.

The previous caps had become disconnected from the market.

At one point, one program used a $750,000 cap while another used $700,000, with different limits also applying between states and regions.

It became difficult for buyers to understand which goalposts they were working with.

The caps have now increased.

They still vary between states, capital cities and regional areas because the markets differ.

For Brisbane and parts of Queensland, the cap moved from approximately $700,000 to around $1 million.

That is a substantial increase.

A five per cent deposit still means borrowing 95 per cent of the property’s value, so the buyer must have the borrowing capacity to support that loan.

However, they are no longer restricted by a value cap that bears little relationship to the actual market.

The Cost of Leaving Defence Housing

Robbie: This connects with several conversations you and I have had recently.

Some clients have already built investment properties and now want to transition into their own home.

That is completely understandable.

However, when we calculate the numbers, they may be leaving Defence housing that costs approximately $350 a week and moving into a $750,000 home with repayments closer to $1,000 a week.

Ryan: Bill shock.

Robbie: Exactly.

What is the typical reaction when the intention of owning a home meets the reality of the numbers?

Ryan: Their jaws drop.

Once they pick their jaws back up, they often say, “No, I’m not doing that.”

They may have been paying roughly $300 to $350 a week for several years. Suddenly, they could be paying two or three times that amount.

The same issue applies to using a five per cent deposit.

Even when someone has the borrowing capacity, they are still borrowing 95 per cent of the purchase price.

That creates a substantial mortgage repayment.

Robbie: It is also worth remembering that government assistance programs have eligibility requirements.

One of the requirements discussed for the guarantee is a household income cap.

People need to investigate the current criteria carefully, and we will include relevant information with the video where possible.

The broader point is that buyers need to understand both the property price cap and any income limits.

If someone needs to borrow around $700,000, they may also require a reasonably strong household income to service it.

This brings us back to the fundamentals.

Speak with someone and create a plan.

It does not need to be Axon, but you should work with somebody who can model different scenarios, give you clarity and help you move forward with purpose.

The objective should not simply be getting into the market.

It needs to be a sustainable decision.

That is particularly important when using a five per cent deposit and carrying 95 per cent lending. The strategy needs to be safe and should not place the household under excessive mortgage stress.

Victorian Land Tax

Robbie: Let’s circle back to another topic we have discussed regularly over the past year: land tax in Victoria.

I spoke with some clients a couple of nights ago who asked, “Can you explain the Victorian land tax again?”

Not everyone has seen our previous videos, so it is worth revisiting.

Broadly speaking, every state has its own land tax system.

Queensland has a much higher threshold before an investor becomes liable.

Victoria lowered its threshold significantly following the state’s post-COVID debt.

Ryan: If the taxable value of an investment property’s land exceeds the Victorian threshold, the owner may become liable for land tax.

With the threshold set so low, that captures a large proportion of investment properties.

Robbie: You would struggle to buy a driveway for that amount, let alone an entire block of land.

Our philosophy is that you shouldn’t pay a dollar more in tax or expenses than is necessary.

However, if a cost applies to an otherwise suitable investment, it needs to be included in the calculations.

Several of our clients purchased in South East Queensland and experienced strong results.

When they return to purchase again, their broker may give them a budget of around $700,000.

At that point, we may recommend Melbourne because the budget no longer provides many suitable choices in South East Queensland.

They then ask about the land tax.

The positive side is that council rates in parts of Melbourne may be lower than rates on comparable properties in Queensland.

When you combine the Victorian rates and land tax, the total ongoing government charges may be reasonably similar to what someone pays through rates alone elsewhere.

The exact numbers depend on the block size, land value and local council, but a difference of a few hundred dollars shouldn’t necessarily determine whether somebody purchases a $700,000 asset.

It is generally part of the cost of doing business.

Ryan: The situation becomes more complex for an established investor who already owns several properties in Victoria.

At that point, accumulating land tax may support a decision to diversify into another state.

However, for somebody purchasing their first Victorian investment, the tax shouldn’t automatically become the deciding factor.

It may cost a couple of thousand dollars a year to access a historically strong global city with long-term population growth and substantial infrastructure investment.

It still needs to be calculated, but it should be considered within the entire strategy.

Robbie: It is one of the first subjects people raise when we discuss Melbourne.

There has also been discussion around changes affecting people operating businesses from their own homes in Victoria.

A principal place of residence would generally not attract land tax because it is not treated as an income-producing investment property.

However, the rules may differ when part of the home is used to generate business income.

That has caused concern among some Victorian homeowners.

For a traditional property investor who never lives in the property, it is less relevant because the property is already being assessed as an investment.

Ryan: Fortunately, that issue is unlikely to apply to most of our clients.

There are not many major ADF bases in metropolitan Melbourne.

There is Puckapunyal near Seymour, and some Defence members may consider Melbourne’s northern growth corridor, but we currently have very few clients purchasing an owner-occupied home in Melbourne and operating a business from it.

We’ll continue watching how those rules evolve.

Repeat Clients, Referrals and Consumer Confidence

Robbie: Speaking of how things are evolving, I recently reviewed the business statistics.

We are approaching a point where around 80 per cent of the people coming to Axon are either repeat clients or direct referrals.

That means somebody has used our services, experienced a strong result and said to a friend, “You should speak with these people.”

That is enormous.

I used to be impressed when the figure was 55 per cent. Then it moved to 60 per cent, and now it is approaching 80 per cent.

That level of trust is incredibly humbling.

We often discuss the Seven Ingredients to a Healthy Property Market.

What is the eighth ingredient?

Ryan: Consumer confidence.

Robbie: Good answer.

Interest rates, grants, land tax and the results people have achieved from previous properties all influence consumer confidence.

Your background as a town planner gives you a strong understanding of how important confidence is.

Ryan: It drives property values and encourages people to take action.

It also influences Defence members sitting in the brew room and thinking about how they can invest outside their superannuation.

They may consider property, shares or other alternatives.

Some people also consider cryptocurrency.

We have a few cryptocurrency investors around the office, although you generally don’t hear from them until prices are going up.

Robbie: How do you know there is a crypto investor in the room?

They only say something after they’ve had a win.

Ultimately, our clients’ results and their willingness to tell other people about Axon demonstrate confidence.

Ryan: It is very humbling.

During a connection call, we ask how somebody discovered us.

They often say, “Jonno mentioned you in the brew room,” or that another colleague recommended us.

That is powerful.

Confidence in Australian Property

Robbie: I have a statistic here relating to the Australian property market as a whole.

Although Australia contains hundreds of individual micro-markets, combining them provides a picture of the total asset class.

Australian residential property values reportedly reached approximately $11.6 trillion in the June 2025 quarter, rising from around $11.35 trillion in March.

The increase was linked to interest rate cuts and growing investor and owner-occupier activity.

Consumer confidence in property was clearly strengthening.

The global financial crisis did not destroy the Australian property market.

COVID also did not bring it down. In many locations, it accelerated growth as people moved away from major CBDs and reconsidered where they wanted to live.

In my opinion, there are good reasons people use the phrase “safe as houses.”

Ryan: Historical performance cannot guarantee future performance.

However, the historical data shows that Australian property has been a consistently strong asset class when the property is purchased in the right location.

That qualification is critical.

A property is not necessarily “safe as houses” when it is located somewhere without the Seven Ingredients or the broader fundamentals we assess.

For people seeking a relatively lower-risk asset class, the historical evidence supports Australian property, provided the location and strategy are sound.

Buying for What Is Coming

Robbie: Axon is now in its ninth year.

Every day, I put on this shirt and place both my personal reputation and the business’s reputation behind the guidance we provide.

I recently spoke with clients who were considering an emerging area.

They asked, “What is there now?”

I explained that there may already be some infrastructure, but what exists today isn’t the only consideration.

You are investing in what is expected to arrive in the future.

Investors need a mental and emotional horizon of around 10 years when considering how an emerging location may perform.

I think back to 2017 and 2018 when we began helping clients purchase in the western growth corridor near RAAF Base Amberley, particularly around Ripley.

Today, comparable properties may cost more than $800,000.

At the time, four-bedroom, two-bathroom, two-car homes were closer to $390,000 or $400,000.

There wasn’t much there.

I remember looking at the statistics, infrastructure projections and population forecasts and hoping the strategy would work as expected.

Ryan: I remember you telling the story of you and Dave visiting the area.

There was one estate being developed and the beginnings of a town centre with a butcher, bakery and a few basic services.

Robbie: We looked at each other and wondered whether we were making the right call.

Ultimately, you have to trust the data and the proposed infrastructure.

That is also why we avoid locations that depend too heavily on a single industry.

I purchased some properties in areas reliant on mining and resources. If that sector goes tits up, there may be very little else supporting the economy.

A market containing all Seven Ingredients has greater depth and redundancy.

If one hospital or infrastructure project doesn’t proceed, there are other industries, employers and projects supporting the location.

Investors should ask what will happen in an area over the next 10 years and whether they can establish a position now to benefit from that growth.

Ryan’s Town Planning Background

Robbie: Let’s change gears.

You said this wasn’t a live Q&A, but apparently a question has arrived.

It is from Daniel on the Gold Coast.

He asks, “Was Ryan a town planner?”

Ryan: For the record, I did not bring that up.

Robbie: I did.

I value the fact that you spent approximately a decade immersed in a specialised industry.

You understand what goes into master-planned communities, the major infrastructure that needs to be delivered and how community requirements are matched with population projections.

That is my simplified understanding of town planning.

Ryan: That sounds better than the way I normally describe it.

Robbie: You’re very humble.

Ryan: People can watch Parks and Recreation for further insight.

What Axon Sees From the Trenches

Robbie: We currently have approximately 100 homes under construction at any one time.

There were 104 recently, and after several completions, the number dropped to around 94.

That gives us a real-time view of what is happening across the building industry.

We can come into the studio and share what we are seeing from the trenches.

Those 100 builds also represent around 100 clients who completed coaching, confirmed their borrowing position, saw value in the service and proceeded with a home.

We coach a larger number of people at the beginning, but naturally, the numbers reduce as clients progress through the process.

Let’s share some recent coaching stories.

We have several examples, and each demonstrates a different lesson.

Ryan: These stories are important because someone watching may recognise a similar situation.

They may hear about a mistake and decide not to repeat it.

Alternatively, they may hear a success story and think, “I want to achieve something like that.”

We aren’t sharing the stories to embarrass anyone, and we won’t use real names.

Robbie: No names, no pack drill.

If you think we’re talking about you, I apologise.

The purpose is education.

The Defence community is incredibly close-knit, so somebody listening will probably relate to each circumstance.

Client Story One: The Property Catfish

Ryan: The first story involves a young man I’ve coached for nearly two years.

We’ll call him Jay.

Jay is based in Queensland and first contacted us in 2023 to create a plan.

He had several opportunities to execute that plan, but different circumstances prevented him from moving forward at the time.

We considered both an investment property and an owner-occupied home near Amberley.

Eventually, Jay decided to explore an established home for himself.

He began within the Axon program, reviewed the process, completed risk and market research, had his numbers assessed and inspected some properties with Damo.

He then changed direction and decided to search for an established home independently.

Robbie: What is our response when someone chooses that path?

Ryan: I genuinely wished him the best.

I wanted him to find what he was looking for and succeed.

I asked him to keep me updated.

Around a month ago, we caught up again.

I asked whether he had found his dream home, or at least the right home for this stage of his life before posting away from Amberley.

The answer was no.

He had spent a significant amount of time searching and eventually reached the point of paying a deposit on a property.

He travelled around Brisbane with his parents over several weekends, attended inspections and gave his details to many real estate agents.

They are still contacting him now.

Robbie: They’re hounding him.

Ryan: Constantly.

While he was on holiday, an agent contacted him and said, “Have a look at this property. It fits your brief perfectly.”

The agent sent him the photos and listing.

Based on what he saw, Jay believed it suited his requirements.

While still on holiday, he proceeded with the property, paid a deposit and engaged a solicitor.

When he returned home, he finally inspected it in person.

Robbie: He had skin in the game by then.

Ryan: Yes, and in his own words, the experience scared him.

He quickly realised he had made a major mistake.

Robbie: It was a real estate catfish.

Ryan: Exactly.

The property looked nothing like the impression created by the photos.

The location was unsuitable, and the reality did not match what had been advertised to him.

He realised he needed to exit the contract as quickly as possible.

Thankfully, he was able to do that.

However, he admitted that the experience shook him for some time.

He took a break and eventually contacted us again.

He said, “Ryan, I’m back. I ran my own black operation, and it didn’t work. Thankfully, I escaped relatively unscathed.”

He said the experience helped him understand the value of being supported, coached and guided.

He had also used a mortgage broker and solicitor we introduced to him.

He said he would have been in serious trouble without them because he would otherwise have been managing the situation alone.

Robbie: That is powerful.

What happens next?

Ryan: He is extremely motivated now and wants to purchase immediately.

I’ve told him to slow down and move smoothly.

He has recovered from the experience, and we will pick up from where we left off and help him find the right property.

Client Story Two: “Can You Hurry Up?”

Robbie: I recently coached a warrant officer based in Canberra.

She is determined, articulate, direct and has no time for nonsense.

She is exactly my type of person, and we got along very well.

Ryan: Is this the client who told you to hurry up?

Robbie: That was supposed to be the punchline.

During our first session, she was working and multitasking.

That didn’t bother me because I knew she was still concentrating on the conversation.

At one point, I paused briefly to retrieve something I wanted to show her.

When I returned and began sharing my screen, I asked how she was finding the session.

I asked whether the planning process was helping her gain clarity.

She replied, “Can you just hurry up?”

I said, “Of course, but we still have another 45 minutes.”

She said, “Mate, I’ve got 10 minutes. Just finish the rest.”

I loved it.

My speed, rhythm, volume and pitch immediately went into overdrive.

We raced through the remaining information.

At the end, she said, “All right, send it through. Take it easy. Bye.”

I walked out of the coaching pod, and everyone asked what had happened.

I said, “That was a first.”

I have coached clients for around 12 years.

A few weeks ago marked 12 years since I handed back my Defence identification card and moved into this sector.

After all that time, being told to hurry up during a coaching session was definitely a new experience.

She later spoke with Deb, the mortgage broker, and everything progressed.

Dave was preparing to present a property to her the following week.

I called after the process briefing and asked how everything was going.

She said Dave had explained it all clearly.

I asked what it was like working with him.

She said, “I prefer your delivery style. Dave is deliberate, thorough and knows exactly what he’s talking about. I just don’t have time for all of that.”

She is a fantastic client and will go places.

While Jay became highly motivated after his mistake, she had been moving at full speed from the beginning.

Client Story Three: A Plan That Evolves

Ryan: Another example involves a client I’ve coached for a couple of years.

I initially coached her as an individual.

Before coming to Axon, she had purchased a property in Perth based largely on a plan she had written on a Post-it note.

By her own admission, the experience was incredibly stressful, and she did not want to repeat it.

Thankfully, that Perth property has since performed very well.

It will play an important role in what she does next.

We completed coaching, developed a plan and secured a block in South East Queensland.

The development has a long lead time, which has required patience.

However, the land itself has performed strongly.

Robbie: The land may have increased by approximately $160,000, with the building component possibly adding another $30,000 or $40,000.

She could be close to $200,000 ahead, despite construction not having started.

Ryan: The land hasn’t even settled yet, although she has waited approximately 12 months.

It has certainly tested her patience, but the delay hasn’t required her to carry the completed property during that period.

Life circumstances can change significantly over two years.

She now has a partner, and they want to purchase an owner-occupied home together in Canberra.

They are considering a substantial parcel of land.

Robbie: Not an 800-square-metre block.

Ryan: No. They are looking at something closer to a hobby farm, potentially around 40 acres.

That suits their circumstances and the type of work her partner does, including plans for a home-based business.

Her overall plan has evolved.

She still has the Perth investment and the South East Queensland property progressing towards settlement.

We are now helping the couple create a plan for their own home and determine how the existing properties, her partner’s circumstances and the proposed purchase all fit together.

Robbie: The main effort is the main effort.

From a Defence planning perspective, every action needs to support the main effort.

All cards must be placed on the table.

Broadly, she may restructure part of her portfolio to move towards the Canberra property.

Ryan: That is essentially what came out of the courses of action we developed.

The Perth property performed strongly, giving her an opportunity to restructure and enter the Canberra market.

The part I enjoy most is that Axon will not be finding the established farmhouse for them. That isn’t what our acquisition service is configured to do.

However, they still want us to build the plan, assess the courses of action and help ensure the lending structure is appropriate.

Her partner is a civilian, but he is fully involved and supportive.

It has been a great journey.

Robbie: It reinforces the value of having a baseline plan and structure that can be expanded, adjusted and modified over time.

I remember you leaving the coaching pod recently and saying how impressive she was.

Ryan: She is a young RAAF officer who is on track to hold two investment properties, although one is still awaiting settlement.

Through restructuring, she may retain an investment property and purchase a substantial family property in Canberra.

That is an exciting position.

Client Story Four: “Be My Operations Officer”

Robbie: I recently coached another Defence couple.

They are both serving, both from combat arms backgrounds and both extremely focused.

They previously held three properties, sold one and were left with a combination of cash and equity.

They came to us asking, “What should the plan be from here?”

I asked how they wanted Axon to assist.

The first line on his profile said, “Be my operations officer.”

I told him that was something I was qualified to do.

Our coaching series has been excellent.

The initial coaching session is designed to set the scene over approximately two hours.

We spent nearly the first hour simply connecting across our shared Defence experiences.

James was completing some on-the-job training with us at the time.

Afterwards, he said, “I haven’t seen you go into that mode before.”

I asked what he meant.

He said, “You went into full Army officer mode.”

I explained that I was speaking with two highly motivated combat arms officers, so it felt natural to return to that style of conversation.

One of our more robust discussions concerned their long-term end state.

They knew where they wanted to be in 15 or 20 years, but they wanted complete clarity around every step required to get there.

They asked what their lives would look like in 10 years.

I said, “I’m 52, and you’re 27. I’ve got a few more indoor cricket seasons under my belt, so let me give you some Uncle Robbie guidance.”

They agreed.

I explained that the way they think about life at 27 will be different at 37 and different again at 47.

Part of their plan is to start a family in approximately four years.

At the moment, they are a dual-income couple with no children, no consumer debt and an extremely strong financial position.

They have already done well with property.

This is a period where they can make hay while the sun shines.

He still wanted to know exactly what their position would look like in 10 years.

They had spoken with another company that provided detailed projection modelling.

He is also exceptionally capable with spreadsheets and sent us a very impressive financial model before coaching had even begun.

I told him that his goals may remain similar, but his circumstances and priorities will change.

He currently wants a home on the canals with a swimming pool.

She wants five acres and horses.

Those end states aren’t completely aligned anyway, but they can resolve that later.

The broader goal is still an excellent home for their future family.

He continued pressing me to explain exactly what result they would receive if they purchased properties with Axon.

I told him that nobody has a crystal ball.

He asked whether property planning involves creating a long-term forecast or purchasing one property, reassessing and then making the next decision.

I explained that the second approach is generally more realistic.

We can’t guarantee exactly what will happen.

Past performance doesn’t guarantee future outcomes, although trend analysis helps us understand what has occurred and make informed future decisions.

I gave them the example of my brother-in-law, Matt, who works behind the camera.

He and his partner were a dual-income couple with no children. Life was moving along comfortably.

Then they had their son, Jack, who is now around nine or 10 months old.

Having a child changed their lives significantly.

Ryan has two young children and understands that as well.

I then asked the couple, “What if you have twins?”

She immediately said, “We’re not having twins.”

I replied, “You might. You don’t control that.”

Their circumstances could change substantially when they begin a family.

We parked the conversation at the end of that session and revisited it later.

I asked how they had reflected on our discussion.

They said it made sense.

They are highly driven and wanted as much clarity as possible.

I explained that clarity is valuable, but we cannot forecast too far into the future.

The one constant in life is that nothing remains constant.

Circumstances change, and flexibility is a principle of war for a reason.

She later told me that she had spoken with colleagues in the officers’ mess and mentioned that they could theoretically have twins.

Her colleagues laughed, but at least she passed on my guidance.

The couple is now progressing quickly and assessing where to purchase their next property.

They may have the capacity to complete two purchases, but their previous properties were established homes.

They want to complete one build first, understand the process and then consider the next step.

There is deliberate sequencing within their plan.

It has been great fun to be part of.

People sometimes ask whether I miss the military.

I don’t, because this role still allows me to connect with Defence people and return to parts of who I was during my service.

I joined as a soldier and left as a major.

That allows me to relate to people across many different ranks and stages of their careers.

We don’t see many colonels or brigadiers coming through the door, but I can relate to most of the Defence members we coach.

Ryan: It is also humbling to see intelligent, experienced and established property investors asking for support.

We don’t only help people trying to enter the market for the first time.

Some clients already have successful portfolios but have reached a junction.

They say, “This is what we own. We want to keep making the right decisions, but we need help choosing the next direction.”

Final Thoughts

Robbie: I love sharing these stories.

They provide a genuine look at the conversations happening inside our coaching sessions.

Hopefully, people find them useful.

If you enjoyed the video, let us know, subscribe and share it with anyone who may benefit.

We are veterans giving back to the Defence community.

We care deeply about the circumstances of the people we work with and want Defence members to be armed with the right information.

Whatever step you take in property, we want you to understand what you are doing and why.

Even if you never work with Axon, I care that you have enough information to move forward responsibly.

We won’t continue the same long-form live Q&A format, but I enjoyed recording this.

Ryan: Likewise.

This was completed in one take.

It was live in the studio, just not live to the rest of the internet and all four or five of our followers.

Robbie: I will still jump online for a short live Q&A every couple of weeks.

Those sessions may run for around 15 minutes and give people an opportunity to ask what is on their minds in the moment.

We may also jump in the car, attach a GoPro and record some informal updates while driving around.

We now have some extra horsepower in the marketing department, so we can experiment with different formats.

Thanks very much for listening.

Ryan: Thanks, mate.

Robbie: As always, we’ll see you next time.

Ryan: Thank you. Bye.