The catalyst that led this 26-year-old to amass a $4.6m portfolio

In his brief time as an investor, however, Lindsay has managed to accumulate a five-property portfolio worth $4.6 million.

His extraordinary momentum comes down to a major health scare he experienced at 20, which threw his whole life into question.

“I got my wisdom teeth out when I was about 20 year old and had a health complication with the medication I received,” Lindsay recalled, on a recent episode of The Smart Property Investment Show.

The health complication was a severe one – Lindsay almost lost his life.

“I took that, and looked at my life, and what had I achieved at that point in time? I didn’t really have anything to my name, and I got really angry at myself,” he said.

“Ever since then, I was like, I’ve got to actually do this thing called life and have something that, when I finish my days, I can look back and say, ‘Yeah, I’ve achieved this and I’m happy with where I am in my life’.”

In the years that followed, the plasterer worked harder than ever with the aim of saving up enough money for a deposit.

“I was doing overtime, working 60 or 70 hours a week,” Lindsay said.

In August 2020, at the peak of COVID-19, the then-22-year-old purchased his first property in the Adelaide Hills for $65,000 below the asking price.

For Lindsay, the pandemic proved a boon. He had spent a gruelling two-and-a-half years searching for a house to purchase, before the COVID-era price downswing brought property prices to a level he could afford.

Now, the property investor sometimes feels like the odd one out in his young social circle, but he is proud to be able to provide others with advice and guidance.

“I’m actually helping out a few of my mates who have seen my path,” he said. “I’ve had my cousin come up to me, and he’s like, ‘I want to set up something for my kids. Can you help me do that?’”

“That’s really nice to hear, and something special,” he said.

Looking forward, Lindsay has plans to enter the short-term rental market with an Airbnb in the Adelaide Hills.

“My mind is always ticking and my favourite thing to do is when someone says, ‘I can’t do something,’ I’ll always try and find a way.”

Listen to the full conversation with Tom Lindsay here.