* This story extract is made available to Domain Charter as a contribution from the Sheehan Family in Berwick. VIC

JULIA and TONY discover the advantages of getting an early start on their INVESTMENT future.

I couldn't believe the growth over here. For 3 years now we've had the highest growth in the whole State.

Now next door suburbs like Pakenham, Cranbourne Hallam and Carrum Downs are heading the same way.

I'm glad the consultant warned us about buying a home of our own first.

The consultant showed us how we could keep on renting and secure investments using OTHER PEOPLES MONEY instead of buying into a long mortgage with our own money.

Funny, I remember the little fights we had with Tony's parents about that.

But considering they were in their 50's still trying to pay off the mortgage, we didn't want to end up down that road.

Now, looking back over the last 5 years, Tony and I are still renting but we've got 3 Investments in place already.

We only need two more Investments over the next 5 years and we'll be able to buy our own home with just one of our Investments.

That growth rate means that at least 2 of our new "off the plan" Investments have doubled in value in just 5 years. As we're only in our our late 20's now, I'm looking forward to moving into our own home and not having to worry about my lifestyle.

I'll always be grateful to my own Mum and Dad for their support. Dad let us use some of the Equity in his home to get us started, and we gave him a small percentage ownership share in all our Investments.

At least I'll be able to look after them as well when they retire.

* This story extract is made available to Domain Charter as a contribution from the Carter Family in Werribee. VIC

RICHARD and MEGAN discover their Income Safety net with Property Investment.

As Richards wife and the mother of our two children, I was absolutely devastated when he came home with the bad news last month.

The company he had worked for over the last 15 years had retrenched a number of staff and closed some of their outlets.

As Richard was the only Income earner for the Family, I wondered how we would cope with our mortgage payments. Both our children are still at school so I did what every loving mother would do under the same circumstances.

I panicked.

My sister Glenda came over to console me. She suggested someone I could contact to have a closer look at our financial circumstances.

What if I lost my home. What are we going to live on....

Really I must admit that at the time, I was scared and nervous about a consultant coming here to visit.

Anyway, the day came and Peter (consultant) came over and after the formalities, he showed me how our Property Investments (purchased for our retirement a few years ago could easily get us out of trouble.

Imagine how I felt now... I found out that my mortgage could be paid out completely and after some financial restructuring, we would still have enough to see us through until Richard could find another job.

Now, after a couple of months and a little reorganizing of our budget expectations, I'm happy to report that we now own our home and Richard has found another position.

He's only on trial at the moment, but he seems pretty confident.

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