Investors are registering to help first home buyers own sooner while strengthening their own portfolios.
3 min
For years, first-time home buyers have blamed investors for locking them out of the market, snapping up properties, and driving prices sky-high.
But a groundbreaking Rent-to-Sell scheme is flipping the script—turning investors into key allies, helping renters break free from the cycle and step onto the property ladder.
New data from PublicSquare reveals that 500 investors per month indicate their willingness to volunteer their properties, offering a much-needed lifeline to aspiring homeowners struggling to save for a deposit in NSW and QLD.
This groundbreaking model is helping first-time home buyers break free from the rental cycle by turning typical investment properties into a structured pathway to ownership.
Investors, who often face criticism for driving housing demand, are now making homeownership possible—while securing a 50% boost in rental returns and a guaranteed future sale price.
“There’s always been this battle between first home buyers and investors, but this model is proving they can work together,” said Dean Arnold, CEO of PublicSquare.
“We’re seeing investors who were once viewed as the enemy now giving renters the best shot they’ve ever had at owning their own home.
“It’s a win-win—investors get higher returns and a secure exit strategy, while first home buyers get a genuine pathway to ownership without needing a massive deposit upfront.”
With demand skyrocketing, there is now a three-month waitlist for investors eager to participate in the program, which is exclusive to NSW and Queensland. Meanwhile, thousands of pre-approved homebuyers are waiting for their chance to move in and begin their journey toward homeownership.
PublicSquare’s Rent-to-Buy model is proving to be a game-changer in a housing market where many Australians feel locked out.
First home buyers can move into a property with just 1.1% of the valuation upfront—a fraction of a traditional deposit. Instead of struggling to save while renting, tenants pay an additional 50% in rent each week, which goes directly toward their deposit.
Over time, this structured approach helps renters build savings while locking in a pre-set purchase price range, shielding them from future property price hikes.
The program ensures that only financially capable applicants are approved.
In New South Wales, only 41% of applicants meet the eligibility criteria, meaning they can afford both market rent and the additional deposit-building rent premium.
In Queensland, just 28% of applicants qualify, highlighting the program’s commitment to responsible homeownership.
With 30% of Australians now owning an investment property and the ATO reporting that 60% of these properties don’t generate enough rent to cover mortgage repayments and upkeep costs, the Rent-to-Buy model is changing the way property investment works. Investors who take part in the program benefit from:
Arnold says the overwhelming demand shows the model is working.
“We’ve got over 45,000 eager homebuyers ready to take their first step toward ownership. Investors are recognising they don’t have to be seen as the bad guys—they can be the ones giving renters a real shot at owning their home, while securing their own financial future,” he said.
Instead of waiting years to save a deposit while paying ever-rising rent, first home buyers now have an opportunity to move in and gradually secure their home while avoiding skyrocketing property prices. Meanwhile, investors have a sustainable way to expand their portfolios and ensure steady, reliable rental income.
“This is about flipping the narrative,” Arnold said. “For once, investors and first home buyers aren’t on opposite sides—they’re working together. Rent-to-Buy is proving that investors don’t have to be the villains of the housing market; they can be the reason renters finally become homeowners.”
Early indications from several big regional real-estate boards suggest March was overall another down month.
Chinese fashion giant faces a double whammy of steep U.S. tariffs and an end to its duty-free shipping.
$30 Million Nashville-Area Estate Quietly Looks for a Buyer.
2 min
A 120-acre property 35 miles outside of Nashville, Tennessee, is selling off market for $30 million, making it the second-most-expensive home for sale in the state.
Located in Franklin, about 20 minutes from downtown, Cortina Farms is both a private residence and an event venue, which charges up to $56,000 to rent for the day, according to Compass, which is marketing the pocket listing. Erin Krueger holds the listing.
The only residence on the open market with a higher price in Tennessee is another Franklin property, which spans 749 acres and is asking $37.5 million.
Cortina Farms takes design inspiration from the Italian countryside, with stonework heavily featured around the verdant grounds.
The main house, with a stone exterior and a shingled roof, has approximately 2,500 square feet of living space, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Outside, there’s a covered back porch, an outdoor grill, a pool and a hot tub. There are also two guest apartments off the main house, each with a bedroom and a full bathroom.
In addition to its event business opportunities, the property is also designed for an equestrian, with two barns featuring a total of 12 stalls. Near the stables are four large fenced pastures that equal about 10 acres.
Other amenities include a wellness center, a party barn with a catering kitchen, an amphitheater, two lakes stocked with bass and catfish, and a helipad. Scenic trails for walking, running or ATV riding meander throughout the property past creeks, mature trees and waterfalls, according to information provided by Compass.
The property last traded hands in 2021 for $9 million, records on PropertyShark show. The owners weren’t available for comment.
The Nashville metro area has become a luxury real estate hot spot over the past few years, largely attracting people from Los Angeles as well as other out-of-state buyers looking for properties with a large amount of acreage.
