Property Investment Case Study: What Mark & Leanne Did To Unlock Their Future
- Ryan Smith
- Sep 5
- 4 min read
In this property investment case study, we'll see what Mark & Leanee did to go from a projected $31k retirement income to setting themselves up for a plan that will earn them $150k per year.
Names have been changed in the property investment case study to protect privacy. Based on a real client outcome.
Meet Mark & Leanne. They are a couple who want to transform their future, but don't know where to start.
Let's see what they did.
Meet The Couple
Ages: 42
Occupations: Office administrator & automotive technician
Combined Income: $170,000
Assets: Their own home and KiwiSaver
The Situation
Mark and Leanne are a hardworking couple in their early 40s, raising four children aged 16 to 24.
With two of their eldest already working in the mining industry, they’ve started thinking seriously about how to support their kids long-term, while also securing their own retirement.
They own their home and have built up solid equity, but outside of KiwiSaver, they have no additional investments.
Their goal was clear: retire comfortably, avoid working into their later years, and create a portfolio that could support their children in the future.
They also carried a $25,000 personal loan, which was adding pressure to their monthly budget.
Retirement Forecast
Before investing, their retirement outlook showed a significant shortfall:
Forecast annual retirement income: $71,224
$39,984 from NZ Super
$31,240 from existing investments
If NZ Super ceased: $31,240
Forecast capital from existing investments: $802,415
Target net assets for desired lifestyle: $2,825,784
Retirement gap: $2,023,369
They were in a position to invest, but needed a strategy that balanced growth with risk mitigation.
Strategy & Property Selection
During the strategy meeting, we explored how they could use their home equity to invest in a new-build property.
They were cautious about the risks, so we walked through every concern in detail: build risk, TC ratings, flood zones, tenant demand, rental income, and more. We explained how Thrive’s due diligence process is designed to mitigate each of these risks.
They left the meeting feeling confident and informed.
We recommended a property in Christchurch for $649,000 - chosen not just for price, but for its location in a city undergoing massive transformation.
Christchurch is currently seeing hundreds of millions of dollars in infrastructure investment, including:
The $683 million Te Kaha Stadium, a world-class covered arena set to host major sporting and entertainment events
The Metro Sports Facility, one of the largest aquatic and indoor sports complexes in the Southern Hemisphere
Upgrades to surrounding streets, water networks, and public realms
These projects are driving population growth, rental demand, and long-term capital appreciation.
To ease affordability concerns, we negotiated a 6% rental guarantee, bringing their ownership cost down to just $73 per week for the first two years.
Outcome
Mark and Leanne proceeded with confidence. She worked with our recommended broker and lawyer, and the process was seamless.
The property is projected to return $404,653 over 10 years, helping close their retirement gap and positioning them for a more secure future.
They’ve gone from relying solely on KiwiSaver to building a strategic portfolio, one that supports both their retirement and their children’s future.
Ready to Build Your Future?
Mark and Leanne began their journey with no prior investment experience - just a clear goal to build a more secure and flexible future. With Thrive’s support, they’ve now secured a high-performing property and a strategy that brings their retirement goals within reach.
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.
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