Property Investment Case Study: How Emma and Josh Used Property Investment to Rewrite Their Financial Future
- Ryan Smith
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
In this property investment case study, we'll see how Emma and Josh closed a $3.4m retirement gap through a smart strategy.
Names have been changed in the property investment case study to protect privacy. Based on a real client outcome.
Meet Emma and Josh.
Emma and Josh Taylor had built a stable life together. Emma is a primary school teacher earning $85,000 per year, and Josh is an accountant earning $190,000.
They own a home valued at $830,000 with a remaining mortgage of $400,000. At 38 and 40 years old, they were entering their peak earning years and starting to think seriously about the future.
Their goals were clear: build long-term wealth, reduce reliance on work, and create a comfortable retirement lifestyle. They also wanted to ensure their young son had a strong financial foundation.
Travel and freedom were high on their wishlist, but they had no experience in property investment and didn’t know where to begin.
The Challenge
Emma and Josh had considered investing in property for years, but felt overwhelmed by the options. After reaching out to Thrive, they were connected with one of our advisors who helped them assess their financial position and map out a clear strategy.
Based on their income and usable equity, we determined they could afford to invest up to $1.32 million. Their goal was to generate $200,000 in passive income annually by the time they reached 65. This would allow them to maintain their lifestyle, travel freely, and support their family without depending on their jobs.
To achieve this, they would need to build a net asset base of $4,437,524.
Their only existing investments were their KiwiSaver accounts, valued at $63,000 and $116,000 respectively. Projected forward, these would grow to $1,018,859 by age 65, leaving a shortfall of $3,418,664.
Saving their way to that figure wasn’t realistic. They would need to put aside $72,607 every year starting immediately, which wasn’t feasible. The solution was to invest in high-growth property assets that could compound over time.
The Strategy
With 27 years until retirement, Emma and Josh had time on their side. The key was to act decisively and choose properties with strong capital growth potential and solid rental yields.
After a detailed strategy session, we identified two standout opportunities: one in Auckland and one in Christchurch.
Auckland Property
Price: $619,000
Location: Mangere East
Type: Two-bedroom townhouse
Yield: 5.96%
Suburb growth rate: 6.95%
Weekly cost to own: $92
Mangere East offered exceptional growth potential and a low weekly cost, making it an ideal long-term investment.
Christchurch Property
Price: $515,000
Location: Woolston
Type: Two-bedroom townhouse
Yield: 5.25%
Suburb growth rate: 5.95%
Weekly cost to own: $141
Rental guarantee: 6 percent for two years, reducing weekly cost to $56
The Christchurch property came with a rental guarantee, significantly lowering the cash outlay and improving affordability.
Together, the properties totalled $1.34 million, well within their lending capacity. The strategy was to combine two high-growth areas with strong yields, reducing the financial burden and allowing them to scale quickly.
The Outcome
With both properties secured, Emma and Josh are now on track to build substantial equity. For the first two years, their total weekly top-up is projected to be just $148. Within four to five years, both properties are expected to become cashflow neutral.
Looking ahead ten years, the Auckland property is projected to generate $486,035 in equity, while the Christchurch property is expected to deliver $320,381. That’s a combined gain of $806,416 - nearly matching the projected value of their KiwiSaver accounts in less than half the time.
By retirement, these properties are forecast to produce enough equity to support $224,018 in annual passive income, giving Emma and Josh the freedom to live life on their terms.
Ready to Build Your Future?
Emma and Josh started with no investment experience and a desire for more freedom. With Thrive’s guidance, they now own two high-performing assets and a clear path to financial independence.
If you’re ready to explore what’s possible, we’re here to help.
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:
We start with a Discovery Meeting where we learn about you, your goals, etc., and you learn more about us.
This is followed by a Strategy Meeting where we model your retirement plan, understand key investment concepts, and briefly touch on some investment choices.
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 here.
Comments