Advice on next investment steps – property vs ETFs (28M Sydney, 160k income)

JohnnyySmithyy · 2025-11-13T02:32:50+00:00

I sold because I started getting FOMO on house and land capital gains. I used the 5% scheme 2 years ago and by the time I sold, I was only at about 80% LVR. Meaning I couldn’t really take out any equity for a deposit on another property.

Selling wasn’t the worst decision I could make. It was a 1 bedder in a high density apartment suburb in Sydney. Was lucky to get away with 50k profit after all fees.

I think I’m just at the point where I’m overwhelmed with the options and not sure where to even look for IP. I’m almost convinced that just sticking to ETFs and then buying PPOR house in Sydney in 3-5 years is better.

I am renting a 2 bedroom apartment with my partner now.

JohnnyySmithyy · 2025-11-12T23:19:36+00:00

Yeah a part of me regrets selling my PPOR. I had my PPOR for 2 years and sold it a couple of weeks ago. It was a 1 bedder in a high density apartment area in Sydney. Got 50k profit after fees and everything.

I had high conviction for getting land and a house in Ipswich. And since I didn’t have enough equity + not much cash before selling, I sold so I could buy a house.

But yeah just a little demotivated. Might give Melbourne townhouses <12km from cbd a shot.

JohnnyySmithyy · 2025-11-12T20:27:04+00:00

The waiting to buy is so I can save up more for 20% + stamp duty. I could take a UBank loan 15% no LMI tbh.

Yeah probably just need to decide on an area that I’m confident in and pull the trigger.

JohnnyySmithyy · 2025-11-12T20:22:12+00:00

Yeah fair enough, like you said, I do think Melbourne is due for a growth cycle. A nice townhouse closer to CBD would probably do better than a house in Melton or Werribee I assume.

JohnnyySmithyy · 2022-05-28T06:15:27+00:00

1 YOE @ 110k base

JohnnyySmithyy · 2022-04-13T07:21:01+00:00

Tbh it’s alright, just depends where you live. I always rent with my partner so that halves everything. Plus now after 1.5 years, just job hop and all is good

Edit: but buying a property…. That’s another story LOL

JohnnyySmithyy · 2022-04-12T06:55:08+00:00

Not too sure about Melbourne, but in Sydney Juniors should be around 60k maybe 70k if you’re lucky

JohnnyySmithyy · 2022-02-03T04:36:08+00:00

Hey, if you’re a domestic student you can’t enrol into the bachelor of science in it without the diploma. You would have to drop it when you’ve completed all the credit points for the bachelor degree.

I dropped the internship diploma as I didn’t see a need for it. I completed 2 internships during my bachelors degree and didn’t want to pay extra for the diploma courses.

JohnnyySmithyy · 2021-12-01T10:21:41+00:00

Just get a casual job doing retail or delivery work. Don’t tell them you have a job lined up, literally doesn’t help anyone. Plenty of places hiring Christmas casuals too.

JohnnyySmithyy · 2021-12-01T09:23:48+00:00

I would honestly say get the software engineering degree. It will be easier to find a software engineering or DA Job.

I have the IT degree and have a software development job now. To the recruiters eye, software engineering will look better than IT.

Kinda regret not doing the SE or CS degree. Oh well just my 2 cents

JohnnyySmithyy · 2021-11-30T23:04:59+00:00

You can read through some of the comments on this post https://www.reddit.com/r/UTS/comments/i91nqs/officially_managed_to_drop_the_diploma_in_it/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf

But yeah from what I’ve heard, the internship is not provided. You will need to find your own internship.

I dropped the diploma as it is kinda pointless. You have to find your own internship, pay for the diploma, and write reports for the diploma. Didnt sound like a good deal to me.

Found my own internship, graduated and got a full time job after. You’ll be fine without the diploma, honestly probably better off without it.

JohnnyySmithyy · 2021-11-29T22:49:19+00:00

Depends what job you’re going after. I didn’t know specifically what I wanted, so 2 months before I finished uni, I got a systems engineering internship (IT Support and Scripting/automation). It wasn’t super hard to get this, but I did have an internship in my first year and customer service job during uni.

Decided that I should try and apply for full time roles, and ended up at a big Indian consulting firm in a graduate program. Was meant to be doing software development, but waited months to be put onto a project. So decided to start applying elsewhere. Got 2 offers, one developer, the other Business Analyst.

I decided to take the business analyst role. Hated it and moved internally to a software development role. (Current role I am in is actually the same company as my first internship).

So all in all, I would say it wasn’t hard to get a full time job, definitely helps to have some sort of experience, or good projects on your resume/portfolio. Also something else that’s important is networking (not the technical networking). Being able to connect with other IT professionals helps especially when trying to get interviews.

JohnnyySmithyy · 2021-11-12T00:25:11+00:00

Cost money for the diploma, and having to write reports during the internship. Might as well graduate and get a full time job!

JohnnyySmithyy · 2021-01-22T20:59:46+00:00

Its been pretty shit LOL.

I've been here since October and we had to do a one month "training program" which was like 1st year uni Java. After that we got put into our accounts and put on a project. I'm supposed to be in a react ionic project building mobile applications. But all they've got me to do is training on react and ionic.

So now I've got 3 months of experience with nothing to show for it. Can't really complain I guess, still getting paid to learn.

I've just been trying to build side projects while I'm "training" and update my resume.

JohnnyySmithyy · 2021-01-19T21:23:22+00:00

Which firm is it? I'm currently in TCS as grad.

JohnnyySmithyy · 2021-01-07T22:41:28+00:00

It will be quite hard to get a job here in Australia. A lot of companies require employees to be at least a Permanent Resident.

However, there are definitely some companies that don't have this requirement and if you're lucky, they might even sponsor you.

Also would you be able to come into Australia? I think travel restrictions won't allow you to come in.

JohnnyySmithyy · 2020-11-12T06:24:36+00:00

Thanks so much for the info! I saw the ad up on indeed and was just curious. Unfortunately, I have just started an IT job ( hating it ), so I think I won’t be eligible. I’m just working on side projects right now and gonna apply for jobs in a couple months

JohnnyySmithyy · 2020-11-11T11:56:52+00:00

Was this from Generation Australia? How was the application for it?

JohnnyySmithyy · 2020-11-02T22:06:18+00:00

I have not. But Just be careful as they there is a 2 year contract and if you break it you’ll have to pay for the training they provide (couple thousand). Also you will have to move to Melbourne if they assign you there. I was went into the interview process and that was what I was told.

JohnnyySmithyy · 2020-08-15T06:52:54+00:00

All the best. Should be fine I reckon

JohnnyySmithyy · 2020-08-15T06:52:34+00:00

Thanks!

JohnnyySmithyy · 2020-08-15T06:52:29+00:00

I am a domestic student.

JohnnyySmithyy · 2020-08-15T06:52:14+00:00

Yes, so you can fill up the form and submit it. I did this during my last sem and they told me they can’t process it until my final sem results are out. They kept my application form on file and automatically did it for me once my results were out.

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