9 Rooming House Project (Jason Stanley)
5m922, GRZ, Hoppers Crossing, Victoria
Most mum and dad developers think the hard part is finding the site.
It’s not.
The real pressure hits when you’re deep in the deal, when promised construction finance falls over, when council shifts the goalposts late in the build, and when policy changes (including VCAT rulings around what qualifies as “self-contained”) threaten to derail months of work.
That’s when you discover whether you’re a dreamer… or a developer.
At our next Property Developer Network Meetup, Real Deal presenter Jason Stanley shares a project that tested him on finance, council and mindset.
What went well? The growth. The lessons. The shift from hoping it works to thinking strategically.
What didn’t? Finance headaches, disappearing brokers, and late-stage council challenges that could have wiped out profit.
This isn’t theory.
It’s real-world development, the part most people don’t talk about. This is real-world development, the stuff you don’t see on social media.
If you’re a mum and dad developer who wants to:
• Avoid costly finance mistakes
• Understand how council and policy changes can impact your project
• Build resilience when things don’t go to plan
• And become a better investor with every deal
Then you need to hear Jason’s story.
Because in property development, it’s not the easy deals that make you - it’s the tough ones.
And the lessons from this one could save you tens of thousands on your next project.