The Strategiq Chess Podcast - Profit, Property And Prosperity

Join The Builder to Developer Program: https://buildertodeveloper.com/Listeners get 10% off the Builder to Developer course with code 10OFFJames is back, and this time it's all about results. His latest builder-developer project, Villa Pietro, sold half-built for circa $17 million plus landscaping, a record not just for Dural but for the entire Hills District. James walks through every stage of the deal: the feasibility, losing the site at auction and then signing the contract in a Newcastle pub that same night, pricing his own building company at a fixed price with a proper margin, and using private lending and multiple valuations to put less cash in and secure more sites. He also shares how he just bought a 12-acre site in today's buyer's market by sending the vendor a full breakdown instead of a number.In this episode:How Villa Pietro went from slab pour in January to a record sale, half-built, to a buyer who got to finish it their wayWhy the feasibility has to work for both the development and the building company, and why "if you have to skim your building company to make it work, it doesn't work"Treating private lending interest as just another job cost, and how three valuations and a higher lending ratio cut the cash James needed to put inWhy James believes cost plus makes builders lazy, and why building for yourself is the purest way to be a builderUsing a buyer's market, valuer caution and a detailed breakdown offer to buy well, and how 12 months of developing compared to three years of client buildingFollow JamesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakin_luxury_living/Website: https://jakin.com.au/Follow us here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strategiqadvisoryWebsite: https://strategiqba.com.au/Join The Builder to Developer Program: https://buildertodeveloper.com/If you're a builder-developer who's busy but not sure where the money is going, subscribe for more conversations on profit, structure and development strategy.All content within Strategiq Chess is general information only and does not constitute financial, legal or tax advice. Nothing in this podcast considers your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Listeners should seek independent professional advice before acting on any strategies discussed.00:00 Intro02:30 Villa Pietro: sold half-built to another developer04:54 The development: 5 acres, 1,200 sqm, CDC approval08:59 Lost at auction, signed in a pub that night10:23 The macro numbers and the $13M envelope13:45 Private lending: interest is just another job cost16:27 Speed, holding costs and peace of mind18:43 Three valuations and less cash in21:50 Spreading your capital across more sites23:24 The backstop that lets you go all in25:11 Paying the building company properly26:51 Why cost plus makes bad builders29:08 The purest way to be a builder30:43 Highest sale ever in the Hills District31:54 Risk and the "would I live there?" test33:53 Buying a 12-acre site in a buyer's market36:18 Gun-shy valuers and building your own comparables38:26 How a breakdown offer won the deal42:15 Three years of profit in 12 monthsbuilder developer, property development Australia, Hills District record sale, Dural property, luxury home development, development feasibility, private lending for developers, construction finance, development valuations, gross realisation value, LVR development finance, CDC approval, fixed price vs cost plus, building company margin, holding costs, buyer's market property, site acquisition, subdivision, Builder to Developer Program, Strategiq ChessChaptersKeywords

Join The Builder to Developer Program: https://buildertodeveloper.com/At 24, Tom was charging $25 an hour and selling materials at cost. Ten years later he's a Young Master Builder of the Year, runs a team that doesn't need him on the tools, and builds his own developments. What changed wasn't the work. It was the numbers.Tom White of T White Building was Ryan’s very first Strategiq client. Ryan & Lisa sat down with Tom to go through the decade between those two points. They cover the first budget Tom didn't understand, the difference between markup and margin, how he handled a client who sent lawyers to Tom before signing a contract, building a team out of mates, and the cash-funded house at Long Jetty that taught him what happens when you chase a lower tax bill.In this episode:Why a revenue-only model feels like winning until one bad job wipes you outMarkup vs margin, and why "slap 10% on and hope" doesn't workHow to hold your price, and what happens when you push back.Strengths-based leadership, hard conversations, and getting yourself off the toolsHow profit, not tax minimisation, unlocks home warranty insurance and development financeTreating your own developments exactly like a client job, variations and margin includedChapters00:00 Cold open 00:52 Tom: Strategiq's first client, ten years on 03:16 Starting out with no vision 04:28 The turning point: a first budget and P&L 07:53 Markup vs margin: $25 an hour, no markup 09:24 Revenue model vs profit model 10:48 The big blows that built the belief 12:14 Lessons from ten years of knowing your numbers 13:05 Tools: Buildxact, Wunderbuild and Xero 15:21 Holding your price and building self-worth 17:00 The Mr Meticulous story 18:30 Leadership: building a team out of mates 21:16 How to have hard conversations 24:28 Attracting and keeping the right people 26:11 Getting off the tools: clear role descriptions 29:19 Profit, tax, home warranty insurance and finance 34:36 The Long Jetty house: why paying cash backfired 37:22 Client work vs your own developments 39:48 How Tom runs a feasibility 42:10 Advice to junior TomFollow us here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strategiqadvisoryWebsite: https://strategiqba.com.au/Join The Builder to Developer Program: https://buildertodeveloper.com/Listen or watch here:🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0K3na6MgfUw00IqTonXADF?si=3866f9b3b80f4d86🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-strategiq-chess-podcast-profit-property-and-prosperity/id1836836524🎧 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh5j7Ri-KfiOGCSDpVNbiWcFK8DfYtvnDIf you're a builder-developer who's busy but not sure where the money is going, subscribe for more conversations on profit, structure and development strategy.

The Builder to Developer Program: https://buildertodeveloper.com/Ninety-five percent of developments genuinely don't stack right now. Ryan and Lisa explain why that's a modelling problem, not a market problem, and what the other 5% are doing differently."It's a bad time to buy." "Building prices are too high." "Nothing stacks." Ryan and Lisa hear it at client meetings, at barbecues and all over social media, and they half agree: most deals crossing their desk genuinely don't stack. What they don't accept is the conclusion.In this episode they break down the five limiting beliefs holding builder-developers back, and the system they've built and run themselves to answer each one, with real numbers from our own projects, and our clients. 00:00 Intro01:43  "It's a bad time to buy": the beliefs in the market right now03:35  The Builder to Developer Course explained06:40  MYTH 1: Nothing stacks right now11:54  MYTH 2: You can't make more than 3-5% as a builder16:41  MYTH 3: Funding is too hard and you need capital upfront21:04  MYTH 4: Any accountant, broker or buyer's agent will do24:11  MYTH 5: It's too risky to buy in this market28:50  The client who ran the full builder to developer model, and the resultFollow us here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strategiqadvisoryWebsite: https://https://strategiqba.com.au/Listen or watch here:🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0K3na6MgfUw00IqTonXADF?si=3866f9b3b80f4d86🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-strategiq-chess-podcast-profit-property-and-prosperity/id1836836524🎧 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh5j7Ri-KfiOGCSDpVNbiWcFK8DfYtvnD

Ready to scale your wealth through property? Learn how here:https://strategiqchess.com/ What separates successful property investors from everyone else?In this episode of Strategiq Chess, Ryan and Lisa sit down with Simon Loo to unpack the mindset, decisions, and strategies that helped him go from failing high school twice to building a 14-property portfolio before the age of 30.Rather than focusing on property tactics alone, this conversation explores how Simon thinks. From overcoming self-doubt and navigating a career he hated, to spotting opportunities others ignored and building wealth through strategic leverage, Simon shares the mental models that shaped his journey.If you've ever felt stuck, overwhelmed by conflicting advice, or unsure where to start, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on what it really takes to create financial freedom.In this episode:• Why Simon believes clarity is more powerful than motivation• The turning point that made property investing his vehicle for freedom• How he used equity, leverage and strategic buying to grow rapidly• Why he ignored popular advice and focused on overlooked markets• The sales skills that became his biggest investing advantage• How to identify opportunity before the data catches up• The mindset shift that transformed his futureThis episode is a reminder that wealth creation isn't about being the smartest person in the room. It's about having a clear goal, a repeatable strategy, and the discipline to keep making the next move.For more business, property and wealth-building strategies, visit strategiqadvisory.com.au and connect with the Strategiq team.Follow us here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strategiqadvisoryWebsite: https://strategiqchess.com/ Listen or watch here:🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0K3na6MgfUw00IqTonXADF?si=3866f9b3b80f4d86🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-strategiq-chess-podcast-profit-property-and-prosperity/id1836836524🎧 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh5j7Ri-KfiOGCSDpVNbiWcFK8DfYtvnD-----------------Chapters01:12 - The Making of Simon Loo02:36 - Failing Forward06:04 - Searching for an Exit Strategy06:51 - Questioning Conventional Wisdom09:12 - The First Move Into Property10:35 - Why Sales Was His Greatest Advantage18:40 - Seeing Opportunity Others Missed25:53 - When the Strategy Became Clear29:14 - Finding Value Before the Market Does35:43 - Turning a Side Hustle Into a Business40:17 - The Fundamentals That Drive Long-Term Wealth49:13 - The Next Move for Property InvestorsKeywordsSimon Looproperty investing Australiaproperty investment strategyfinancial freedom through propertyAustralian property marketbuyers agent Australiaproperty portfolio growthleverage strategyequity investingproperty investmentproperty investing for beginnerswealth creation Australiaproperty investor mindsetpassive income propertybuying undervalued property

Most business owners don't find out what they owe in tax until it's too late to do anything about it. By then, the opportunities are gone and the bill is already on its way.In this episode, Ryan and Lisa break down what a real tax strategy looks like, why most people are only getting half the advice they need, and what you can still do right now before June 30 to get ahead.In this episode, you'll learn:• Why finding out your tax bill in May or June is already too late• The difference between minimising tax and actually building wealth through your tax strategy• The business structures that work together to keep more money working for you• What to action before June 30 to get ahead• How your tax position affects your ability to borrow and buy property• Why protecting what you build needs to be part of the strategy from day one• The simple formula that increases what your business is worth while reducing what you pay in taxIf this episode gives you a clearer picture of where you stand before June 30, share it with a business owner who needs to hear it and subscribe so you never miss an episode.Follow us here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strategiqadvisoryWebsite: https://strategiqchess.com/ Listen or watch here:🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0K3na6MgfUw00IqTonXADF?si=3866f9b3b80f4d86🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-strategiq-chess-podcast-profit-property-and-prosperity/id1836836524🎧 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh5j7Ri-KfiOGCSDpVNbiWcFK8DfYtvnD-----------------Chapters1:14 - Tax Planning vs Tax Strategy: What Is the Real Difference4:23 - The Real Cost of Skipping Tax Planning Before June 306:15 - Why Timing Is Everything: The April Window Explained9:05 - The Benefits of Acting on Tax Strategy Right Now17:27 - Why Bad Structuring Advice Costs Business Owners More18:23 - Business Structures Explained: Companies, Trusts and SMSFs21:14 - Why Putting Everything Into Super Is Not a Strategy22:43 - Real Client Case Study: From $700K Profit to $10M Portfolio28:49 - Tax Strategies to Deploy Before June 3032:27 - Investing in People and Systems as a Tax Strategy38:00 - Risk Protection and Why It Sits Inside Your Tax Strategy43:54 - How Tax Strategy and Wealth Creation Must Work TogetherKeywordstax planning Australiatax strategy for business ownersEOFY tax tipshow to reduce tax in Australiatax minimisation vs tax strategytrust structure Australiabucket company taxSMSF property investmentnegative gearing strategybusiness tax planning before June 30integrated tax strategywealth creation through taxproperty portfolio tax strategyfamily trust tax benefitsincome protection tax deductionbusiness structure advice Australiatax effective investingleverage and tax strategyproactive tax planningaccountant advisory Australia