Kev Tran - Strategic, Data-Led Property Portfolios Built for Longevity

My professional career began in the casino industry, where I spent around ten years as a VIP host at both The Star and Crown. That role exposed me to a level of wealth I had never seen before. A consistent theme among many high-net-worth clients was that they had built significant wealth through property. Seeing that firsthand motivated me to begin investing myself, and at 26 I bought my first property. It turned out to be what I now call my “mistake property”, but it was also the turning point. Learning from that experience pushed me to study the market properly, refine my strategy, and ultimately build a multi-property portfolio of my own.

While still working at the casino, I continued to invest and deepen my understanding of residential markets, risk management, and portfolio planning. Then 2020 arrived. COVID changed everything for the hospitality sector, and like many people, it forced me to re-evaluate my path. I decided it was time to move fully into the property industry.

I began working in buyers agencies, learning both best practices and the gaps in industry standards, before eventually launching Kev Tran Group. The business was built around everything I wished I had known earlier in my own journey: long-term strategy over speculation, rigorous due diligence, and clarity for clients who want to build confidence in their decisions.

What inspires you in your role/industry? Why?

What inspires me most in this industry is the ability to help everyday people change their financial trajectory. Building large portfolios for lifestyle reasons is great, but my deepest fulfilment comes from helping clients create stability and security where it didn’t previously exist.

Growing up, money was a constant source of stress in my family. I saw how financial pressure affected my parents, the tension it created at home, and how it contributed to their separation. That experience stayed with me. It made me determined to ensure that my own family would never have to face that kind of instability and, more importantly, that I could help others avoid it too.

A big part of what motivates me is working with clients who have come from similar backgrounds. Many start with uncertainty or a belief that wealth is out of reach. Watching them build a solid financial foundation for themselves and their children is incredibly rewarding. For some, property has given them options they never imagined, including leaving jobs that were physically or mentally draining. Seeing that shift – from feeling stuck to feeling empowered – is one of the most meaningful parts of my work.

There are plenty of voices in the industry talking about building thirty-plus property portfolios or chasing a luxury lifestyle. But I have found that most people do not need anything close to that to achieve financial security. What they need is clarity, a long-term plan, and guidance they can trust.

What ultimately inspires me is the clients who back themselves, take action, and stay committed to creating a better future. Their drive pushes me to show up every day, work the long hours, and continue improving the way we serve them.

What's your approach to customer service that separates you from the rest?

My approach to customer service comes from spending about ten years in the VIP casino and hospitality industry. That environment taught me the importance of understanding each client’s individual needs, personalising the experience, and having strong systems so you consistently deliver at a high level.

I’ve brought that mindset into property. We focus on really understanding a client’s goals before we even start searching. From there, our structured processes, communication, and due diligence allow us to deliver a clear, reliable experience every time.

A big part of great service is setting the right expectations upfront. In an industry full of hype and cherry-picked results, we’re transparent and honest from the beginning about what’s realistic. Clients know exactly what we will do for them, and we make sure the service they receive shows we’ve done everything possible to get the best outcome.

Our systems and training help ensure the whole team delivers at that standard, no matter where they are located. It is personalised, consistent, and built on clarity rather than sensationalism.

How do you innovate and stay ahead of industry trends?

Innovation for us comes from using technology and AI in a practical way. Every part of our process – strategy, market research, sourcing, and due diligence – has been supported by systems that streamline repetitive tasks like data collection, forecasting, and research. This frees up our time to focus on the high-value, human side of the work.

We also use tech to strengthen our sourcing process. It helps us identify the right agents in each market, personalise our outreach through email and SMS, and stay organised so we can maximise opportunities while still building trust through real conversations.

Being a borderless team means collaboration tools are essential. Our internal systems allow everyone to work seamlessly together regardless of location, with clear communication and shared workflows.

While we lean heavily on technology and AI for efficiency, the final judgement always comes from people. Every recommendation, due diligence checkpoint, and strategic decision is reviewed by the team to ensure it aligns with our standards and the client’s goals. For us, innovation is about using tech to enhance our service, not replace the human expertise that makes it effective.

What is the toughest challenge you've faced in your role? How did you overcome it?

One of the toughest challenges in my role, both as a buyers agent and as a business owner, is securing high-quality investment opportunities in a market where good established listings have been declining for more than a decade. Hold periods are getting longer, population growth is increasing, and competition for the same limited supply continues to intensify. When you add our strict due diligence process on top of that, finding properties that genuinely meet our standards can be the most difficult part of the job.

The other major challenge has been building the right team. To deliver a high level of service, you need people who are proactive, ethical, disciplined, and committed to doing the work properly rather than cutting corners. Finding that combination isn’t easy, especially in a fast-moving environment where the wrong hire can slow the entire process down.

The way I’ve overcome these challenges is through capacity planning and building strong internal systems. I’m a big believer in hiring before we reach breaking point, so the team always has the bandwidth to deliver quality work without burning out. We’ve also created clear frameworks, structured training, and quality controls so new team members have the best chance to succeed.

Some people end up being a great fit and others don’t, and I’ve learned to accept that as part of growing a business. What matters is having both the structure and the culture to support the right people once they arrive. I’m really proud of the team we have today and the way they uphold the standards that allow us to consistently find and secure strong, long-term assets for our clients.

What are some of your goals for the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, my focus is on sustainable growth rather than scaling for the sake of it. I approach the business the same way I approach my personal portfolio. I’m clear on what “enough” looks like and I believe there are parts of life that matter far more than simply chasing bigger numbers. That said, meaningful growth is still important. A business is either moving forward or falling behind, and attracting and retaining great talent requires providing real opportunities for development.

Our plan is to continue expanding our residential division steadily while building out our commercial arm, which is an exciting area with strong long-term potential for both the business and our clients. As we grow, we want to create clear pathways for our team to step into larger roles and strengthen the support we provide as clients scale their own portfolios.

Education will also be a major focus. It has always been a big part of our mission, and we want to elevate it by producing more on-location content across the regions we buy in. Showing people the suburbs, streets, and fundamentals on the ground helps demystify the investment process and gives everyday Australians more confidence in their decisions.

Overall, the goal for the next five years is to grow with purpose, maintain our standards, and build a business that reflects longevity, quality, and the wellbeing of both clients and our team.