Inside Tim Robards and Anna Heinrich’s $7m property portfolio

Tim Robards is a chiropractor, actor, model, reality television star, and fitness instructor, and as if that wasn’t enough, his repertoire also extends to property investing.

After buying his first investment property more than two decades ago when he was just 17, he and his wife Anna Heinrich, who he gave the final rose to on Network 10’s The Bachelor in 2013, now have a portfolio worth about $7 million.

The couple have just sold a property at Murarrie in Brisbane, with the price yet to be revealed, but they still have four investment properties in their portfolio, all of which are in Queensland, and one of which is co-owned by Robards’ father.

They own three townhouses in the Queensland capital – two in Richlands and one Aspley – while their fourth holding is an off-the-plan apartment in the to-be-built Mondrian development at Burleigh on the Gold Coast.

Robards and Heinrich also have their home in Sydney, a three-bedroom apartment in Rose Bay, which is currently on the market with an auction scheduled for December 7.

The pair, along with their one-year-old daughter Elle, will then upgrade to a larger family home.

Getting started in real estate

Robards’ investing journey began with a three-bedroom townhouse in Newcastle’s Charlestown, which he purchased with the help of government grants back in 1999.

To save a deposit, Robards had been working part-time jobs, including as a “sandwich artiste” at Subway, lawn mower and personal trainer.

To cut costs, he had coffee and meals at home as much as possible, including plenty of rice and soy sauce, and took advantage of student discounts whenever he could.

“I also had a little bit of help from dad initially, but I paid him back pretty quick,” Robards said.

“It was a good area and a good buy, and I got in early, so it was a good price. It was close to schools, a big shopping centre and it was a new build, so I got depreciation and there were different little tax write offs, not that I had much income at that time.”

But the best part was that it doubled in value in just two years.

“It was a great little investment,” he said. “I bought it for $164,000 and it was valued at $340,000 two years later, which was pretty good.”

Studying at university for nine years, and only working part-time, Robards drew on the equity he had accrued in his first property to live and travel at times.

It wasn’t until he graduated and started working full time that he started to grow his portfolio beyond that first purchase.

“I always wanted to continue to invest but I couldn’t really afford to get in where I wanted to live. I was living in Bondi and didn’t have the money at the time to get in there.”

Instead, Robards grew his portfolio by diversifying and buying investment properties in Brisbane, researching to find areas with higher rental yields – around the 5% mark – as well as upcoming infrastructure improvements, low unemployment, good schools and convenient transport options.

All of his investment purchases have been new builds with depreciation benefits.

With good rental yields, he hasn’t had to tip too much of his own cash in, but to date the capital growth hasn’t been as impressive as in Sydney.

And in their own home, Robards and Heinrich have been focusing on paying the debt down.

Aside from his first investment in Newcastle, which he sold in 2018 for $420,000 when he and Heinrich bought their Rose Bay home, Robards’ current family home has been one of his biggest property wins.

“We love our home so much at the moment and from a value point of view it’s unreal.

“I don’t want to leave because we love it, but I think we’ll need a get a little more space down the track.”

Reflecting on his current investments, Robards said you can play ‘what ifs’ and while he doesn’t have regrets, he can look back and see where he could have done things differently.

“I played it safe and part of me thinks I needed to take some risks, but at the same time I’ve now got a family I can’t take too big of a risk.

“I’ve seen people buy and renovate and have done really well. I’ve always bought generally new, I’ve never gone for a full renovation. That might be something that’s on the cards next.”

In the current boom market, buyers have to be smart, do their research, look at what properties are truly worth and don’t get too emotionally attached, according to Robards.

“The numbers have to stack up,” he said.

“At the moment it’s easy to put yourself in a lot of debt. It’s challenging but exciting at the same time.”

Making the jump into the market

Investing in real estate isn’t something on every 17-year-old’s mind, but Robards is glad he got in when he did.

He largely credits his dad – who had an accounting background and was well-versed in property, having worked in the development industry and done property projects on the side – for getting him interested and teaching him about finance.

“I was exposed to a little bit of that when I younger. I would have to go and erect retaining walls and stuff with him and get the mattock and dig.

“I had seen what you can do with taking an old place, doing it up, renovating it, selling it.

“My dad, being an accountant, was always good with money and finances and things, and I took that on.

“Luckily, early on, my financial guidance came from my dad, and I learned a lot from him, then I started to learn myself. My father really instilled a strong study and work ethic in me.

“From my mum’s side, I got more of the caring, healing nature, which was good for being a chiropractor, but I was still investing on the side.”

Robards believes saving and investing comes down to priorities and being disciplined enough to keep focused on the goals you have set – something he also learned through his dedication to exercise and personal training.

“What I learnt through training I then really started to apply in other areas of my life – my career, my finances, saving and property,” he said.

“When you start to do little daily things and you see the pay-off in gym or exercise, you start to go ‘oooohhh if I do this in a financial setting or in my career, it will really pay off’.

“Some people struggle to see that – too many people live in the right now.

“You’ve got to live a little and enjoy the now, but you’ve also got to think long-term; it’s a real balance.

“I wasn’t the person who was just save, save, save either – I got to travel.

“With my first home loan I got a credit card and over the years Frequent Flyer points accrued so I could travel to the US and use my points. I still got to enjoy the fun stuff as a young uni student.”

Buyers looking to jump into the market should start by setting a savings goal and sticking to it, said Liana Cauchi, financial planner at ANZ.

ANZ research shows customers who set a goal in the bank’s app reach their goal more than two times faster than those who don’t, Ms Cauchi said.

“Like many things in life, you can’t have your cake and eat it too.”

Buyers should understand their financial position, and be careful not to overcapitalise and overcommit, she added.

“Borrow within your means and what you are comfortable in repaying, while maintaining the lifestyle you are used to.

“Research the rental income potential so you have an idea of what you may be out of pocket, between loan repayments and rental income.

“Avoid purchasing investment property purely for the tax deduction, and always consider long-term objectives.”

Hopeful investors should also keep in mind that location is important, Ms Cauchi said.

“Generally properties with land will appreciate more, as land increases in value.”

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