Buying property through a self‑managed super fund can be powerful — or disastrous — depending on how (and why) it’s done.

In this episode of Property Investing Roadmap, host Damian Collins unpacks one of the most complex and misunderstood strategies investors consider: holding property inside a self‑managed super fund (SMSF).

Guided by a listener question, Damian is joined by Katie Timms, National Director of Superannuation & SMSF Services at RSM Australia, to break down when this strategy works, when it doesn’t, and what investors must understand before taking the plunge.

With decades of experience advising SMSF clients across residential, commercial and fund‑based property, Katie explains the rules, risks, structures and compliance obligations that many investors only discover after it’s too late.

This episode cuts through the hype to explain how SMSFs really work, why mistakes are so costly, and how property can (or can’t) fit into a long‑term retirement strategy.

What you’ll learn:

• What a self‑managed super fund is — and why control is both a benefit and a burden
• The key pros and cons of investing through an SMSF
• Why SMSFs are the most heavily regulated investment structure in Australia
• Annual compliance, audit and valuation obligations investors must meet
• The sole purpose test — and why holiday homes and personal use are strictly off‑limits
• Why arm’s‑length terms, market rent and formal leases are critical
• How limited recourse borrowing arrangements (LRBAs) work
• The role of bare trusts and why structure must be set up before you buy
• How SMSF rules differ for residential versus commercial property
• Common (and costly) mistakes investors make with SMSFs

Why SMSFs are not “the next step” for everyone

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Want help building a diversified property portfolio aligned to your goals?
Discover how Momentum Wealth helps investors design, acquire and manage property portfolios with long‑term performance in mind.
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FOLLOW US

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/momentumwealth/

Website:
https://www.momentumwealth.com.au

LinkedIn:
https://linkedin.com/company/momentum-wealth

SUPPORT FOR INVESTORS

Looking for professional guidance on diversification, interstate investing or blending residential with commercial property?
Explore the tailored support available through Momentum Wealth and Westbridge Funds Management:
http://www.momentumwealth.com.au/

T&Cs

The information shared on Property Investing Roadmap is general in nature and does not take into account your individual circumstances. It is provided for educational purposes only and should not be relied upon for investment or financial decisions. Always seek professional advice before deciding whether to invest.
This episode’s guest is a representative of RSM Australia. References to SMSFs are general in nature and do not constitute personal financial advice.

Putting all your eggs in one basket can limit your growth — and expose your portfolio to unnecessary risk.

In this episode of Property Investing Roadmap, host Damian Collins dives deep into property portfolio diversification and why owning the right mix of assets matters more than simply owning more properties.

Joined by Robin Ram, Department manager – Property Advisory, Acquisition & Research at Momentum Wealth, this conversation unpacks how investors can spread risk across locations, property types and market cycles to build portfolios that perform through different economic conditions.

From geographic diversification and dwelling selection, to navigating interstate investing, tenant legislation and even blending residential with commercial property, this episode provides a practical roadmap for investors at every stage — from first purchase to long‑term portfolio scaling and retirement planning.

What you’ll learn:

• What diversification really means in a residential property portfolio
• Why buying multiple properties in the same suburb or city increases risk
• How geographic diversification can smooth growth across market cycles
• The pros and cons of investing interstate
• Key differences in tenancy laws, compliance and holding costs between states
• How land tax, minimum standards and legislation can impact cash flow
• Why property type diversification matters (land, houses, apartments, development sites)
• How oversupply and investor-heavy suburbs affect rental performance
• The importance of tenant demand, liveability and owner-occupier appeal
• Common mistakes investors make when diversifying without proper research
• Why “top 10 suburb” lists can be misleading
• How to manage the risks of investing in locations you can’t physically visit
• Practical tools to monitor and protect interstate investments
• The role of landlord insurance and professional property management
• When it may make sense to diversify into commercial property
• Key differences between residential and commercial risk, return and vacancy
• How commercial property funds can offer diversification at lower entry points
• Why diversification strategies evolve as investors approach retirement

FREE RESOURCE

Want help building a diversified property portfolio aligned to your goals?
Discover how Momentum Wealth helps investors design, acquire and manage property portfolios with long‑term performance in mind.
Investor Pack - Momentum Wealth

FOLLOW US

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/momentumwealth/

Website:
https://www.momentumwealth.com.au

LinkedIn:
https://linkedin.com/company/momentum-wealth

SUPPORT FOR INVESTORS

Looking for professional guidance on diversification, interstate investing or blending residential with commercial property?
Explore the tailored support available through Momentum Wealth and Westbridge Funds Management:
http://www.momentumwealth.com.au/

T&Cs

The information shared on Property Investing Roadmap is general in nature and does not take into account your individual circumstances. It is provided for educational purposes only and should not be relied upon for investment or financial decisions. Always seek professional advice before deciding whether to invest.
This episode’s guests are representatives of Momentum Wealth Property Advisory Pty Ltd, Licensed Real Estate and Business Agent A82976.

Host Damian Collins sits down with Brendon Ptolomey, Managing Director at Herron Todd White (WA/NT), to unpack property data in a way that’s practical, grounded and genuinely useful when making buying and investment decisions.

With more than 30 years’ experience in property valuation and market analysis, Brendan explains why different data providers report different numbers, what sits behind the statistics, and how buyers and investors should interpret the data without being misled by headlines.

Guided by listener questions, this episode explores individual property data versus broader market trends, valuation methodologies, growth figures, and why context is more important than any single metric when assessing value in today’s market.

What you’ll learn:

• Why different property data providers report different median prices for the same market.
• The difference between instant data, rolling medians and valuation-based models
• Which property statistics matter most – and which ones are just noise
• How to interpret suburb-level data when sales volumes are low
• Why checking actual sale prices beats relying on agent talk or media headlines
• How valuers assess land value versus building value
• The different types of valuations and how banks decide which one you’ll receive
• Why buyers should consider valuations earlier in the purchase process
• How to compare homes with different sizes, layouts, bedrooms and bathrooms
• The effect of location factors such as busy roads and secondary streets on value
• Common mistakes buyers and developers make when assessing feasibility
• Why finish quality and design play a huge role in end property values

FREE RESOURCE
Want to learn how to build a professional property investment support team? Discover essential strategies for creating winning investment plans in Momentum Wealth’s free online guide, Property Finance Guide.

FOLLOW US

Instagram: @momentumwealth

Website: momentumwealth.com.au

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/momentum-wealth

SUPPORT FOR INVESTORS

Looking for expert guidance when interpreting property data, valuing assets or making strategic buying decisions? Discover the tailored support available through Momentum Wealth and Westbridge Funds Management at momentumwealth.com.au

T&Cs

The information shared on Property Investing Roadmap is general in nature and doesn’t take into account your individual circumstances. It is provided for educational purposes only and should not be relied upon for investment or financial decisions. Always seek professional advice before deciding whether to invest. This episode’s guests are representatives of Momentum Wealth Finance Pty Ltd. Australian Credit Licence 384632.