It was Amy Sanderson’s love of people that brought her into the property industry.
“Real estate is about people, which is my passion. In my line of work, I love that I can show others how to better their lives and hopefully empower them to obtain financial freedom in the future,” she shares.
As a single mum, Amy has used property to make a comfortable lifestyle for herself and her young son. She rose up the ranks to head LJ Hooker Network’s Property Investment Management division, and aims to build a portfolio of debt-free properties that she hopes to pass on one day.
“In my choice to be a solo, career-focused parent, property is about showing my son that anything is possible if you put your mind to it,” she shares.
To avoid the high cost of purchasing a PPOR, Amy became a rentvestor.
She points to her best investment as being two townhouses that are "set and forget" style, meaning the rental return covers the mortgage payments and a combination of negative gearing and tax depreciation cover the running costs.
Her investment strategy is equally balanced between ROI (rental yield) and capital growth, so her overall approach remains low risk when it comes to holding costs.
Through property investing, Amy has been able to combine bonding time with her son and giving back to the community – and says the financial benefits have paved the way for financing private school fees.
Her current strategy limits pressure on her day-to-day life while still enjoying an appreciating asset – she loves using property “in a tangible way to create wealth and prepare for the future.”
“There is something secure about having bricks and mortar in your portfolio that can offer a return each month, plus offer capital growth over time.”
She adds that one of her aims is to mentor others in dealing with the obstacles of juggling home and work life with investing. She also looks to aid other investors handling challenges generated by changes in the market.
“When the market tightens it affects several people in achieving their goals. It’s a time to provide extra guidance to vendors, buyers and investors alike because it means their expectations won’t be met,” she explains.
Amy cites some tough conversations that she has had to have with clients, such as “a vendor expecting a much higher price than what the market is reflecting, a buyer overwhelmed by rising prices, investors needing to rethink their strategy when rents drop, or tenants declined because competition is high.”
“Personally, I find [these situations] motivating, as it presents an opportunity for communications and creating trust with all parties, which is vital and beneficial. When clients hurt, so do real estate agencies, but it means we’re in it together.”
