Cost To Own a Property - What Else Could I Do With That Money?

With high interest rates, there is almost always a cost to own a property, but this shouldn't stop you from investing.

It’s no secret: owning an investment property can cost you money each week.

When the rent coming in doesn’t cover your mortgage, rates, insurance, and maintenance, you’re left topping up the shortfall out of your own pocket.

It’s called negative cashflow, and on paper, it can look like a losing game. Most people stop there.

But should they?

Absolutely not. And here’s why.

The Trap of Weekly Thinking

Let’s get philosophical for a moment: wealth isn’t built week to week. It’s built over years, sometimes decades, of good decisions, patience, and intelligent sacrifice.

Yet we live in a culture obsessed with short-term results. We want immediate ROI, instant gratification, and TikTok-length attention spans. Property doesn’t play that game. It rewards those who understand delayed gratification.

So when someone says, “I don’t want to pay $150 a week just to hold an investment property,” they’re looking at the tree bark and ignoring the forest.

Let's Run the Numbers

Let’s say you’re looking at a property worth $650,000 today. It’s expected to grow at 5% annually, a modest, historically realistic figure in New Zealand.

Owning this property costs $150/week out of pocket. That’s $7,800 per year, or $78,000 over 10 years (all else being equal).

Now, let’s fast forward:

• Future value in 10 years (compounded at 5%): $1,058,782
  

• Capital gain: $408,782
  

• Net profit after holding costs: $330,782
  

So, even though you were “losing” $150 per week, you ended up gaining over $330,000 in capital value.

That’s not a burden. That’s a bargain.

But... What Else Could I Do With That $150?

This is the classic opportunity cost question. Could that same money do better elsewhere?

Let’s say you invest that $150/week into a diversified equity fund with a strong long-term return of 7%. After 10 years, reinvested weekly, you’d have about $112,000, with roughly $75,000 in profit.

Not bad. That’s smart investing. But still, a quarter of the return you’d get from the property.

And remember, equities don’t let you leverage. In property, you’re investing $150/week, but controlling a $650,000 asset. That’s the power of scale.

$75,000 profit vs. $330,000? It’s not a fair fight.

The Real Question Is: Are You Willing to Sacrifice Now for Freedom Later?

This is where most investors fall short, not because they don’t understand the math, but because they can’t tolerate short-term discomfort.

That $150/week could go to:

• Ubers
  

• Takeout
  

• Streaming subscriptions
  

• Impulse buys
  

• A better car lease
  

And let’s be honest, we all like our comforts. But what’s more powerful?

A slightly easier lifestyle now, or the ability to retire 10 years earlier because you made one tough-but-smart decision?

This is where wealth is won or lost.

Waiting for a Perfect Deal? Good Luck.

The holy grail property, cashflow-positive, high growth, great location, under market value - doesn’t exist. And if it does, it’s already snapped up.

If you’re waiting for the "perfect" deal, you’ll be waiting forever. Meanwhile, prices rise, equity gains go to someone else, and you’re left chasing the market uphill.

Real investors don’t look for perfection. They look for possibilities. Feasible. Forecastable. Repeatable.

If the numbers work over time, then it’s not just a good deal, it’s a smart move.

What This Means For You

If your goal is financial independence, early retirement, or building a serious nest egg, you need scalable assets. You need capital growth. You need leverage.

Property is one of the only asset classes that allows you to borrow against a large-value asset, control it with a relatively small amount of cashflow, and grow your wealth without trading time for money.

Is it comfortable? No. Is it quick? Definitely not, but is it powerful? Undeniably.

Final Word

There are two kinds of pain in wealth-building:

1. The pain of short-term sacrifice
   

2. The pain of long-term regret
   

The first one gives you freedom. The second one keeps you stuck.

If you're in a position to buy a good investment property, even if it costs you $150/week, you're in a better position than 99% of people ever will be.

The real question is: What will you do with that advantage?

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How Can We Help You?

We help Kiwis build wealth through property investment. Our advisors will take the time to understand your individual needs and recommend suitable investment properties to help you build wealth and set up your retirement.

What Does This Look Like?

We use a 3-step process:

1. We start with a Discovery Meeting where we learn about you, your goals, etc., and you learn more about us.

2. This is followed by a Strategy Meeting where we model your retirement plan, understand key investment concepts, and briefly touch on some investment choices.

3. Finally, an Asset Selection Meeting where we discuss investment options in more detail and make any recommended adjustments based on what we now know about you.

Who Are We Right For?

We help people make smart investment choices and set up their futures. From first-time investors to experienced investors, we can cater to a wide range of people and help set up their futures through research-based property investment.

How Much Does It Cost?

Our advice is free to you! If you choose to invest, we’re paid by the property developer. This developer-paid model allows us to provide no-obligation property investment advice in New Zealand, without charging clients directly.

What Do We Do, And What Don't We Do?

What We Do

We offer end-to-end New Zealand property investment advice, helping Kiwi investors grow wealth through smart, data-led decisions. Our focus is on quality new builds in strong locations, tailored to your goals, guided by a team that knows the NZ market inside out.What We Don’t Do

We don’t do KiwiSaver, shares, cryptocurrency, or broad financial planning. Thrive is not a generalist firm. We specialise in property investment in New Zealand because that’s where we deliver the most value. By staying focused, we cut through the noise and help our clients make confident, well-informed property investment decisions.

How Do I Start?

Start the process now by booking a time to talk with our advisor by clicking here.