In 2006, Rasti Vaibhav and his wife Rupali moved to Australia. Like many, they came with dreams, not dollars. Today, they own 18 properties worth around $11.3 million. Their journey is anything but normal. And that’s what makes it inspiring.
They started small. In 2011, they saved enough to put down a 10% mortgage deposit. With it, they bought land and built a $440,000 house in Fletcher, near Newcastle. That was just the beginning.
The couple didn’t chase fancy homes. They chased growth.
Instead of buying a dream home in a big suburb, they made a smart move. They rented a house in Narraweena, close to the beach and a good school, for about $100,000 a year. They didn’t waste money on a $3.5 million home. The same house would’ve cost them $230,000 per year in mortgage payments.
Rasti Vaibhav says many Aussies make a big mistake. They save for years to buy in a nice suburb. But by the time they’re ready, prices are higher. It becomes unaffordable.
“Don’t rush to own. Invest first, live smart,” says Rasti.
Their properties are spread across Sydney’s outer west, north Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth. They used their banking and IT knowledge to study the market.
Instead of following the crowd, they chose rent-vesting. They live in a rented home but invest in places that grow faster. This gives them a better lifestyle and strong returns.
They lived in Epping first. Then moved to North Curl Curl. Now they’re in Narraweena. The reason? Their daughter wanted to live near the beach. Buying there was not affordable. Renting was the smart choice.
Time matters to them. Rasti says many people buy far from the city. Then spend three hours daily commuting. That’s time lost. They didn’t want that.
They’re aware of the risks of renting, like eviction. But they choose long-term leases to stay secure. Since 2006, they’ve lived in eight different rentals.
Do they plan to buy their dream home? Yes. Just not yet.
For now, they’re focused on growing their investments. One day, they’ll sell a few properties and buy their perfect home.
As Rasti says, “We’ve delayed buying. We haven’t cancelled it.”
This story is not about luck. It’s about strategy. It’s about thinking differently.
And it all began with one house.
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