Patricia Zurrer, founder of Property Consulting Australia, joins the Down to Finance podcast to explore what truly drives smart property investing in today’s market.
Podcast Feature: Down to Finance with FFG Australia
In this insightful conversation, Patricia breaks down key strategies around rentvesting, balancing growth with cashflow, and maximising depreciation opportunities—while also revealing how to avoid those all-too-common “accidental” investment mistakes.
Whether you’re a first-time investor or building your portfolio, Patricia shares practical, experience-based insights to help Australians make confident, informed, and financially sound property decisions.
Down to Finance Podcast – Episode 12: Property Investing Made Simple
Featuring:
• Amie Tennant (FFG)
• Patricia Zurrer (PCA)
• Brendon Fredericks (FFG)
Transcript
Amie Tennant (FFG):
Patricia’s really here to help educate you—whether you’re a first-time investor or a client with multiple investment properties—and to teach us about what services her business provides. Thank you, Patricia. Let’s go back to the good old days about when you purchased your first investment property.
Patricia Zurrer (PCA):
Thanks, Amie. Thanks for having me on your podcast today.
My first investment property—wow, that’s going back. I bought my first property when I was 23, and I was very lucky that I had some good recommendations on buying an investment property. We were living in Williamstown in Melbourne at the time and couldn’t afford to buy there, so we were renting. Someone suggested, “Just buy an investment property—it’s going to go up in value.”
Patricia Zurrer (PCA):
And you’ve got rental income to cover the mortgage.
Amie Tennant (FFG):
So you were actually a rent-vestor—a first-time buyer purchasing an investment property.
Patricia Zurrer (PCA):
Yes, I was! It was so good because we had so much freedom. We were just out of uni, starting to earn money, and we’d lived in Canada for a year. We weren’t sure where we wanted to settle, but it was great to get an investment property with most costs covered by rental income.
Amie Tennant (FFG):
Fantastic. So you’ve really gone through the journey. How old were you when you bought your first investment property, Brendon?
Brendon Fredericks (FFG):
Probably 23 or 24.
Amie Tennant (FFG):
Wow, some young starters! And to our audience—there’s no age limit to investing. That’s possibly a bit of a myth. You can definitely be a rent-vestor—living with family, renting, or share housing—and still buy an investment property. Patricia, can you tell us about PCA’s philosophy and your client-first approach?
Patricia Zurrer (PCA):
Yes! Property Consulting Australia has been running for 10 years now. Our philosophy is simple—if you help someone invest in a good-quality property, you help them build wealth. There are “accidental” investment properties and there are high-quality investment properties. When you help clients find the right one, it can help them pay down their home loan faster or build wealth for retirement. We’ve had clients sell properties to pay off their homes and others who build portfolios for future freedom.
Amie Tennant (FFG):
Let’s go back to basics so our audience understands what you do. You essentially take the emotional stress out of buying an investment property. Clients outsource to you to find what’s most suitable and affordable for them, right?
Patricia Zurrer (PCA):
Exactly. We start with a 40-minute Zoom consultation to explore a client’s goals, borrowing capacity, and lifestyle. From there, we research properties Australia-wide that fit their strategy.
Amie Tennant (FFG):
There are different investment strategies too—cash-flow positive, capital-growth focused, etc. It’s tough to find strong rental yield in Melbourne, while Queensland often performs well on that front. So there’s a lot that goes into profiling a client.
Patricia Zurrer (PCA):
Yes, absolutely. There are so many ways to invest—the key is finding the right property to fit the client’s customised strategy.
Amie Tennant (FFG):
And from that first Zoom, what does the full journey look like—from consultation to property acquisition and beyond?
Patricia Zurrer (PCA):
Often, I work with brokers like yourself. Once we know a client’s borrowing capacity, we can find the right property in as little as two to three weeks—if they’re ready to go. For others, it might take months depending on their situation. We’re constantly researching—Brisbane, Perth, Queensland, South Australia, and now more in Victoria—always looking for the next strong opportunity.
Amie Tennant (FFG):
That’s so fast! And I think a key point is that PCA looks nationally. Many people assume they must buy in their home state, but that’s not true. Outsourcing to an expert helps you understand other markets too.
Patricia Zurrer (PCA):
Exactly. Property is cyclical—you don’t want to buy at the top of the market. We rely on data and firsthand inspections.
Brendon Fredericks (FFG):
You mentioned “accidental investors.” I like that term—people who might just fall into it. But how do you find the “golden” investment?
Patricia Zurrer (PCA):
We start with the client’s criteria and budget, then look at infrastructure, schools, transport, shopping centres, job hubs. We assess supply and demand, visit estates ourselves, and only recommend the top options. Out of 28 estates we visited recently, we recommended just four.
Amie Tennant (FFG):
That’s amazing. And there are tax benefits too, like depreciation. How do you explain that side to clients?
Patricia Zurrer (PCA):
We prepare a full property investment analysis showing purchase costs, stamp duty, insurance, rent, management fees, and depreciation. Because many of our clients buy new builds, the building can be depreciated for tax benefits while the land appreciates. It really boosts cash flow.
Brendon Fredericks (FFG):
That’s your accounting background coming out!
Patricia Zurrer (PCA):
(Laughs) Always talk to your accountant, but yes, depreciation is powerful. I had a client who bought at just over $500k, and within three years it was worth $850k—while claiming depreciation each year.
Amie Tennant (FFG):
That’s incredible. Finding the “best of both worlds”—capital growth and tax benefits—is tough. And let’s be honest, advice from “Jim at the footy club” who bought in 1991 doesn’t really apply today!
It’s so valuable having expert guidance like yours. What kind of support do clients get after settlement?
Patricia Zurrer (PCA):
With PCA, clients have a full team supporting them. We coordinate with mortgage brokers, conveyancers, builders, and property managers. We send construction updates every fortnight, handle inspections, and provide depreciation schedules. We really hold their hand from A to Z.
Our Operations Manager, Nicole, actually bought three properties through PCA before joining the team, so she knows the client experience inside out. She now helps clients feel supported throughout the process.
Brendon Fredericks (FFG):
You must help clients avoid “paralysis by analysis.” People get overwhelmed with options and social media noise.
Patricia Zurrer (PCA):
Exactly. There’s so much advice out there—even AI can tell you where to buy! We cut through the noise by providing the top options backed by real research. Education builds confidence, and confidence beats paralysis.
Amie Tennant (FFG):
And you and your team literally get out there—driving through estates, checking infrastructure, analysing data—so clients can enjoy their weekends instead of spending them at open homes.
Patricia Zurrer (PCA):
Exactly—they get their weekends back!
Brendon Fredericks (FFG):
We’ve seen incredible results from PCA clients. Some have achieved amazing capital growth.
Patricia Zurrer (PCA):
Yes—Queensland and Perth have been huge performers. Our clients have averaged around 14.8% annual growth over the past nine years. Some Perth clients saw up to 43% growth in just 18 months.
Amie Tennant (FFG):
That’s amazing! And I’ve seen my own clients benefit—some young families who made $150k profit within three years. Even if life changes and you have to sell early, that money makes a huge difference for school fees or a family car.
Patricia Zurrer (PCA):
Exactly. Property investment is about choice—whether that’s retiring early or freeing up cash when life changes. One couple in their late forties bought three properties, sold them in their mid-fifties, paid off all debt, and retired early. It’s life-changing.
Amie Tennant (FFG):
That’s incredible—five years early retirement is huge! For those listening, how can they get started with PCA?
Patricia Zurrer (PCA):
Start with our website—it has a Retirement Wealth Calculator, a quick five-minute tool to see how you’re tracking. You can also book a 15-minute call with me directly from there, and then we can schedule a discovery session tailored to your goals.
Amie Tennant (FFG):
Perfect. Thanks so much, Patricia—and thanks, Brendon, for joining today. I hope our audience got a lot out of it.
