Summary
A nurse from Wanaka shares her inspiring journey of overcoming financial adversity to acquire three investment properties as a single mother. Following a challenging divorce that left her with minimal financial support, she decided to take control of her life by returning to work and pursuing further education. After graduating with a Master's in Nursing, she increased her income and began investing in real estate.
Caro's first property purchase in 2012 was made possible through her divorce settlement. Despite initial fears about debt, she successfully rented out rooms to flatmates, which helped cover her mortgage. Over the years, she learned to leverage her assets and took advice from a builder friend, leading her to adopt a rent-vesting strategy that allowed her to reduce living expenses while increasing her property portfolio.
After facing five years of bank rejections, Caro finally secured financing for her third investment property in 2026. Now at 61, she reflects on how her hard work and sacrifices have transformed her financial future, providing her with the freedom to choose how she spends her time as she approaches retirement. Caro's story serves as a testament to resilience and the potential for financial independence through strategic property investment.
Show Notes
Caro walked out of her divorce with four kids, $14 a week in child support, and the belief that she’d have to do this on her own. Seventeen years later, she’s 61, single, and has just bought her third investment property. In this Case Study Sunday, Caro shares how she built a portfolio from scratch on a nurse’s income. You’ll learn: How a nurse on a single income bought three investment properties on her own How she learned that a man is not a financial plan What five straight years of getting turned down by the bank taught her to change The lesson? She’s the first to say she had energy on her side ... but it was years of grinding, studying all night and renting to get ahead that actually changed her life. Want to share your story on Case Study Sunday? Send us a message, email [email protected] Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message on the Property Academy Hotline For more from Opes Partners: Sign up for the weekly Private Property newsletter Instagram TikTok
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