Glen Waverley

By Grant Ryan Finally the narrative around interest rates and inflation had settled down. Inflation was trending in the right direction, the Reserve Bank was holding steady with the outlook for another 1-2 rate cuts  Then one surprise inflation number hit and suddenly it was back on the front pages.  I understand why that unsettles people. But as someone who spends every day looking at the data, I can tell you this: the headlines don’t reflect the bigger picture. And for investors, the bigger picture is far more encouraging and is why record numbers of investors

By Ironfish As an ambitious professional, you know that real wealth doesn’t materialise overnight. It’s a journey guided by clarity, consistency, and the right support. At Ironfish, we believe successful property investment rests on three foundational pillars. These are not theoretical, they’re the principles we help clients live, every day.  Whether you’re taking your first step into property or scaling from your first to your fifth, these pillars help convert aspiration into outcomes. 

By Grant Ryan, Property & Research Director, Ironfish Across more than two decades in Australia’s property market, I’ve witnessed many booms, slowdowns and structural shifts. Yet one recurring pattern is often overlooked and it has quietly created outsized returns for those who recognised it early. Cities that host the Olympic Games consistently experience a distinct and significant property market uplift, beginning well before the opening ceremony. While we saw this growth first-hand in Sydney leading up to the 2000 Summer Olympics, our team commissioned proprietary research across global Olympic host cities over the past 25 years to understand these cycles more deeply: Our findings revealed that the uplift is not driven by short-term speculation. It’s underpinned by powerful long-term fundamentals: Large-scale infrastructure investment Accelerated migration and population growth Employment and wage gains Rising liveability and global visibility It is, in effect, an economic transformation.

Australians have always been passionate about sport. And with Brisbane preparing to host the 2032 Olympic Games, sport is once again at the centre of our national story. Beyond the medals and the glory, there are powerful lessons in resilience, strategy, and long-term vision that athletes can teach us, lessons that also apply to successful property investing.  At Ironfish, we believe property investment is not just about transactions, it’s about building lasting wealth through strategy, discipline, and the right partnerships. Just as sporting champions are made through preparation and guidance, great investors achieve success by focusing on the fundamentals and playing the long game.  Here are four lessons we can take from elite sport into the world of property. 

Have you set your goals for 2025? Every year, on December 31st or January 1st, I take the time to sit in a quiet space and plan for the year ahead. I set goals for personal development, career, and finances—covering income and wealth building. Our Chapter 2025 is like a blank sheet of paper. It’s up to each of us to decide what our picture will look like and what our story will be by year’s end. If we don’t create our own vision, others and external circumstances may shape it into something we don’t desire. So, if you haven’t already, take some time to design your life for 2025—the life you truly want. It’s in your hands. You have the power to make this new year your best chapter yet!