For sisters Julia Clark and Carmen Purvis teaming up was the only way to get their foot in the door of the property market in 2013.

But the risk-taking pair, who are profiled in this month’s NZ Property Investor magazine, have embraced the strategy to quickly expand their portfolio.

Motivated by their parents’ financial struggles, Julia and Carmen decided they needed to invest in property in order to have choices in their senior years.

However, as an administrator and a kindergarten teacher respectively, the Auckland housing market was beyond their means.

So they decided to skip over the Bombay Hills to Huntly where they jumped onto the property ladder with both pairs of feet.

Three years on, Julia and Carmen have grown a multiple property, cash flow positive portfolio with only $20,000 each – and they believe others can do it too.

Here are their top five tips for aspiring investors:

• Small incomes don’t mean you can’t invest in property.
• Buy somewhere unfashionable if you can’t afford to buy somewhere fashionable.
• Have a go at doing your own improvements.
• If stuck in an investment rut, find a mentor.
• If you can’t invest alone, find someone to join you on the journey.

To read more about Julia and Carmen’s journey, click here to get the digital issue of NZ Property Investor magazine.

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