Richard Bharata didn’t set out to be a property investor. But after realising he’d wasted too much time and money, he shifted gears — and in just four years, built a portfolio of 17 rental properties worth over $9 million. Here’s how.
A turning point born from urgency
“I’ve been slapped in the face by this reality,” Richard told Bushy Martin on the Get Invested podcast. “I realised a very big sense of urgency. I’ve wasted not just money — money, you can find — but time. And I wanted to bounce back really quickly and make it happen, not let it happen.”
That urgency became the fuel for a remarkably fast transformation. Over just four years, Richard went from accidental homeowner to strategic investor, acquiring 13 properties across four states.
From distractions to direction
Before investing, Richard admits he was distracted and consumed by gaming. “Even when I spent like $5000 – $6000 a month [on mobile games], it’s never enough. There are people who spend $100,000 a month, it’s crazy … Where is the end to this?” he reflected.
He started learning about shares but discovered property investing through YouTube and the work of others like PK Gupta. “I started doing a comparison — which one is better, property or shares? At first I didn’t really get ‘why property’ … but then I came to the concept of leverage — using someone else’s money through the bank.”
Starting with nothing but action
Richard’s first property was his own home in Sydney in 2021. “We really used all our savings. We had to pay almost 40K of LMI because we couldn’t put the deposit high enough.” But when property prices surged, the experience sparked something deeper. “I started feeling the taste of capital growth, and that’s when I got more interested in investing in property.”
With lending difficult as a new self-employed engineer, Richard got creative. “I couldn’t get standard lending, so I talked to a few brokers and one helped me get a low-doc loan … It was 2% higher interest — while everyone was paying 1.9%, I was paying 4.2%.”
Rapid growth and lessons from the field
That commitment led to an extraordinary run. “We bought in Perth in February 2022. Then we about another one using the same (low-doc) lending strategy, in Cairns actually … then Perth again in July,” he said. Each move was calculated. “We bought one property in Townsville, it was an on market property sitting for six months.. Really badly marketed — upside-down photos, terrible listing … we bought it for 290K … we haven’t had to renovate at all.”
His key to success? Constant market activity. “You’ve got to be active … People say ‘you’ve been lucky’, but you only get lucky if you work hard enough.”
Mindset, momentum and what really matters
When asked about mindset, Richard doesn’t mince words. “To me, it’s always about taking action and starting momentum. Don’t let your cash be eroded by inflation. I know people with $600K–$700K in savings and I think they have scarcity mindset.”
He encourages others to change their thinking: “Money is a terrible master but an excellent servant. If you are the head, money will follow where you go. So you want to reinvest, let that money work hard for you, for your future. If you are the tail, you will follow where the money is. You feel you will need to hang on tight to that money.”
Final advice for property investors
“If I knew what I know now from property one, I’d probably be a bit more patient,” Richard shared. “But you’ve got to go through that journey. If this is your first or second property, don’t let analysis paralysis stop you. Property is very predictable — if you get into the right market and don’t overpay, you’ll see results.”
Whether you’re just starting or scaling up, Richard’s story proves that in today’s market, strategic property investment is still very possible — if you take action.
🎧 Listen to the full interview here.
Ready to take the next step? Start building your ideal lifestyle at KnowHowProperty.com.au.
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