Episode 82: The Truth About Buyer’s Agents, Property Strategy & Long-Term Wealth

“If you are trying to build a portfolio and you are chasing rate as your number one priority, just go directly to the bank.”

“My personal philosophy is that I prefer to let the market do the hard work and not me.”

“Who tells you no?… sometimes the best advice is no or not yet.”

Episode Synopsis

In this episode of Finance this, Property that, Dion sits down with Michael Shaw (Avid Hawkes) to unpack what smart property investing looks like when you strip away the hype. Michael shares how his background in risk protection, mortgage broking, and financial planning shaped a “property with purpose” approach—starting with foundations, matching strategy to lifestyle, and buying quality assets in data-backed markets so the market can do the heavy lifting. They bust myths about buyer’s agents, talk the dangers of one-size-fits-all advice online, explore rentvesting and evolving strategies through life stages, and Michael tells the unforgettable story of how he bought his first property at 18—by running an underground event to raise a deposit.

Episode Breakdown

00:00 – 03:00 | Welcome + why Michael stood out
Dion introduces Michael Shaw from Avid Hawkes and shares why Michael’s “people-first” approach feels different to the typical industry noise.

03:00 – 08:00 | Michael’s path: risk → broking → strategy → buyer’s agent
Michael explains how working in insurance and finance sharpened his understanding of what can go wrong—and why he moved into helping clients map the right next steps, not just “buy a property.”

08:00 – 14:00 | Philosophy: let the market do the hard work
Michael breaks down his preference for existing properties in strong fundamentals markets, low maintenance, steady tenants, and long-term holds—so clients can focus on life, not constant property management.

14:00 – 20:00 | Start with the person, not the property
They dive into the questions that matter first: lifestyle, spare time, buffers for surprise bills, insurance, cash flow, and whether buying right now even makes sense.

20:00 – 26:00 | Business owners: don’t make the business your entire retirement plan
Michael explains why relying on selling a business can be risky, and why business owners should build personal wealth outside the business—so a sale becomes a bonus, not the plan.

26:00 – 31:00 | Myths + industry issues + “dangerous marketing”
They discuss low barriers to entry, buyer’s agents pushing volume, and ads prescribing strategies without knowing someone’s goals or risk appetite.

31:00 – 35:00 | How to choose the right buyer’s agent
Michael shares practical filters: qualifications, investing experience, how the company actually services you (salesperson vs agent), client limits, and process transparency.

35:00 – 41:00 | First property story: 18 years old, 2006, deposit via an event
Michael tells the wild story of how he raised a deposit by running a major event—then bought his first property two weeks later.

41:00 – 43:30 | Portfolio evolution + selling to buy lifestyle (debt-free home)
Michael explains scaling up, then selling down to buy the family “dream home” debt free—showing how strategy evolves as priorities change.

43:30 – 45:00 | Why “Avid Hawkes” + book + where to find him
Michael explains the brand meaning, plugs his book Property with Purpose, and shares how to connect via the Avid Hawkes website and LinkedIn.

Episode Duration

Duration: 45:00