At 25, civil engineer and construction surveyor Nipun already understands the value of thinking long term.
Having worked in the building industry for almost six years, he approached his first property investment with a clear strategy. While many first-time investors naturally look toward Sydney, where he now lives with his parents in Brighton Le Sands, Nipun saw opportunity elsewhere.
“I moved here to study at university after high school in Melbourne, and then my parents moved up as well,” he says.
As he and his friendship group began thinking seriously about property investment, one challenge quickly became clear.
“A bunch of my mates were coming to that age where we’ve saved up a bit of coin and were looking to invest,” he says. “But the Sydney market is a bit too steep for us.”
Rather than rushing into the market, Nipun spent time researching growth areas across Australia, looking at affordability, rental demand and long-term investment potential.
“There were opportunities in Queensland and Western Australia, but regional Victoria really stood out,” he says. “Warragul is only about an hour and a half from Melbourne, but it’s been performing really well.”
That research eventually led him to Crownlea Estate in Warragul, where he connected with Metricon New Home Advisor, Jeff, to explore his options.
“I really liked his ideas and was impressed by Metricon’s designs - both the look and the space they offered - which was crucial to me,” Nipun says.
After securing a large block in Crownlea, Nipun knew he wanted to maximise the footprint with a spacious single-storey home.
“Jeff really helped me narrow down the options. We landed on something stylish and modern that still feels future-proof if I decide to sell down the track.”
He ultimately chose the four-bedroom Lucent 27 from the Freedom by Metricon range, drawn to its expansive communal areas, double garage and outdoor room.
“I flew down to Melbourne, drove out to Warragul and visited the Lucent 27 display home at Crownlea,” Nipun says. “As soon as I walked through, I thought, ‘A family would absolutely love living here’.”
That sense of liveability was an important consideration, even though the property was always intended as an investment.
“I didn’t want to undermine my rental appeal with something subpar,” he says.
“I wanted to build a property people would genuinely enjoy living in. The Lucent 27 has three living spaces and feels really open, unlike some investment homes that can feel tight or cramped. I knew pretty quickly it was the right choice.”
Even though Nipun managed the build remotely from Sydney, he says the selections and decision-making process felt surprisingly straightforward.
“There were definitely plenty of phone calls going through colour schemes, cabinetry, brick finishes and all the details,” Nipun says. “When you can’t see everything in person, there’s always a bit of guesswork, but Jeff was easy to work with and I trusted his advice, so the whole process felt pretty smooth.”
The construction timeline also exceeded expectations.
“The contract allowed 365 days for the build, but everything was completed in less than six months, even with the Christmas shutdown,” Nipun says.
“It was a really smooth process, which was important because I’d been covering costs out of pocket without rental income coming in while the home was being built.”
Now with handover imminent, Nipun is preparing to welcome tenants, with local demand in Warragul continuing to perform strongly.
“We’re listing it at around $630 a week, which is really solid for the area considering the average sits around the $600 to $700 mark,” Nipun says. “It really shows how strong regional Victoria is right now. I’ve noticed a lot of rental properties moving quickly, which points to strong tenant demand.”
Part of that demand is being driven by continued growth within the region, including employment opportunities connected to the West Gippsland Hospital precinct.
“A lot of people are moving into the area because there’s more work and opportunity out there,” Nipun says.
In fact, the investment has already exceeded expectations financially.
“My build costs with Metricon were just under $700,000, and the recent bank valuation came back at $850,000,” Nipun says. “So that was great to see.”
Looking back, Nipun says the experience reinforced his confidence in both regional Victoria and building with Metricon.
“There were no major issues at all,” he says. “It’s made my life easy whilst I’m out here in Sydney. I wasn’t having any headaches. If there were any minor dramas, then the excellent site supervisors sorted them out.”
It’s an experience he’s already recommended to friends back in Sydney who are now starting to think about investment opportunities of their own.
Considering your own investment opportunity?
Explore Metricon’s home designs, visit a display home, or contact our team to discover how the right design can help bring your investment goals to life.
