Shanaka Ubeysekara Talks Personalized Property Investment

Australian property has traditionally been seen as a safe haven for investors and essential for those who want to diversify a portfolio, and for many people owning a property is a lifelong dream. It’s a dream that many Australians (and overseas investors) have been becoming increasingly fixated on. 

The total value of residential property in Australia has risen by $209.4 billion to $10,720.7 billion during the March quarter of 2024, providing ample evidence that property remains a popular source of wealth-building for Australians.

According to expert property consultant, Buyer’s Agent and accountant (Member of CPA Australia) and Managing Owner of Empire Wealth Buyer’s Advocates, Shanaka Ubeysekara, the Australian property market can provide exceptional value to investors, however, the right advice is essential.

Shanaka, who is also a Chartered Management Accountant, a Member of CIMA (United Kingdom) and has an Australian MBA, specializes in assisting clients, particularly time-constrained professionals, in realizing their home-buying and investing dreams believes that property investors face an almost overwhelming amount of ‘noise’ when considering a property purchase.

“Everyone seems to be an expert, and they’re more than willing to provide their two cents worth of advice to anyone in the market for a property, even if they’ve never owned a property before.”

Caveat Emptor

The advantages of investing in property are widely recognized. Property investment can build equity (and an asset that can be leveraged) and wealth over time, it’s a tried-and-proven method for portfolio diversification, a hedge against inflation and the returns can beat the average returns of the stock market (in the medium to long-term) if done properly. However, investing in either commercial or residential property can be fraught with dangers.

According to Ubeysekara, those buying a family home are most at risk of making an investment decision that they will come to regret.

“Buying with your heart is understandable when you’re searching for that forever home, but home buyers are making a significant financial investment. It pays dividends, literally to take a step back and consider the factors that influence whether your bricks and mortar investment will be right for you and your family, and whether it is going to provide the sorts of returns you want when it comes time to sell.”

The inspiration behind Ubeysekara’s focus on property has its roots in what many would regard as a weakness, being a shopaholic, but this focused professional has turned it into a strength.

“I was 25 when I bought my first property in Sri Lanka, I’m always on the hunt for a bargain, one of the reasons I’ve invested in property. Searching for that perfect property investment can be a bit like bargain hunting, it’s a matter of balancing long-term value with cost. If you’re not very careful you’re going to end up with an asset that may look wonderful, but doesn’t suit your individual needs, and doesn’t deliver that long-term value.

“I found the right advisor that knew the property market, and after the success of my property ventures, I found financial freedom. In 2023 I left the corporate world (before moving to Australia in 2006, he worked at Ernst & Young in Sri Lanka), to focus on property strategy and coaching.”

Property and the Value of Time

Ubeysekara’s clientele is overwhelmingly those who simply don’t have the time to research and evaluate the properties they are considering adding to their portfolio or selecting as a family home.

It was during his tenure in the corporate world that he saw many high-income earners who were time-poor and were in the top tax bracket. It was then that he realized that he had a gift for providing information (based on his own investment experience) that would allow these individuals to reign in their expenditure, and avoid impacting on their lifestyle, while still enjoying the many advantages of property ownership.

“The process of property investment has a lot of moving parts, where to buy, when to buy, how to get long-term value within budgetary constraints and even property type. Many people have lives (laughs), they’d like to spend some time with their families rather than running from pillar to post in a high-stress effort to find the perfect property.

“If they make the wrong choice, the negative impact can be long-term. Make the right choice and you’re on the road to financial freedom. I launched Empire Wealth Buyers Advocates to help time-poor property buyers fulfill their dream of home ownership and take advantage of a low-touch, hassle-free buying experience from start to finish.”

A Unique Selling Proposition

According to Ubeysekara, finding the right buyer’s agent is the secret to success. Ideally, that advisor should have hands-on experience with the good, the bad and the ugly of the property market.

Ubeysekara credits his background as an accountant as one of his key success factors.

“To provide clients with great value you need to balance an ability to analyze the market, evaluate the financial implications of any property purchase on the investor’s cash flow, and get under the skin of the tax implications of their purchase, as well as taking into account the regulatory environment, while still cutting through the red tape and knowing that you’re dealing with real people, who have dreams and needs.

“Often they’re the breadwinner for a family that has a vested interest in finding a property they can call home. To help them make their dreams come true, you have to focus on stats and data, not the hype.”

Peace of Mind

Empire Wealth Buyer’s Advocates is committed to 100% transparency and a commitment to finding a property that meets the buyer’s unique needs. Ubeysekara is so confident in the proven track record of his organization providing a seamless and effective service that they offer a 100% guarantee. Should the client not receive the service they expect, they will be refunded the money they spend with Empire Wealth Buyer’s Advocates, something that sets the company apart from other advisors in the Australian property market.

Ubeysekara’s track record of wealth building through property investment is proof positive of the fact that astute property investment doesn’t happen by chance. According to him, the process is a complex dance where every part of the process has to be synchronized, and an advisor is essential.

“Focus, education, market knowledge and financial discipline all contribute to building a solid foundation for making the right property decision. We want to help mentor and guide property investors, especially professionals and young people, so they are better equipped and ready to realize their home ownership dreams. With the right guidance, it’s entirely possible.”

If you or someone you know is considering property investment as the key to a better quality of life and wealth creation, learn more about the unique offerings from Empire Wealth Buyer’s Advocates, or find out more about Shanaka Ubeysekara’s track record of success at his website or on LinkedIn.