Ep238 – How Mary Became a Property Developer When Life Wasn’t Easy

Introduction

Life rarely goes according to plan. When Mary lost her husband Mike in 2021, she faced a crossroads: let grief consume her, or honour their shared dream and keep moving. In this deeply moving episode of the Property Mastermind Podcast, Hilary sits down with Mary to discuss a journey that is about so much more than bricks and mortar. Mary opens up about starting property development in her “nanna years,” navigating the heavy fog of grief, and the critical role that community and mentorship played in rebuilding her confidence. From false starts and changing patches to standing proudly in front of her duplex project as the roof goes on, Mary’s story is a powerful testament to resilience. This episode proves that whether you are 25 or 75, it is never too late to reinvent yourself and build a legacy.

Episode Highlights

01:13 – The Decision to Continue: Mary shares why she chose to pursue property development shortly after losing her husband, rather than putting her dreams on hold.
04:15 – A Two-Pronged Support System: The importance of having both emotional support (to keep moving) and technical support (to ensure the numbers stack) during the early stages.
09:49 – The “Rescue” Moment: A behind-the-scenes look at how Hilary and Bob stepped in financially to help a student save a deal when the bank deadline loomed.
12:25 – The Power of Community: Why attending workshops and connecting with other students is vital for overcoming the isolation of being a solo developer.
19:44 – The Turning Point: How Mary recovered from a lost site by making the brave decision to change her “patch” and start fresh in a new area.
21:11 – Project Update: From a vacant block to a near-complete build—Mary walks us through the current status of her duplex project.
24:37 – The Confidence Shift: How mastering the language of property has changed how Mary speaks to brokers, accountants, and builders.
27:55 – Building a Legacy: Mary’s “Why”—creating multi-generational wealth and the ability to travel.
33:14 – The “Lazy Money” Realisation: One of Mary’s biggest takeaways: you don’t need your own money to start; you just need to find investors with “lazy money” looking for a return.