Meet Alex: The Adventurer Who Never Gave Up

Imagine someone who keeps getting back up no matter how many times life knocks them down. That’s Alex.

She’s brave, funny, and determined – kind of like a superhero mum, minus the cape. Life hasn’t always been kind to her, but she never gave up. And that’s what makes her story so amazing.

Alex’s adventures started with a lot of challenges. She was in a toxic marriage for a long time, and after having her two kids, things just got worse. So, Alex made the bravest decision of her life – she left. “It wasn’t good towards the end… Once we had kids, it sort of went south,” she says.

But leaving wasn’t the end of her struggles – it was the start of something even bigger.

Alex didn’t let her tough times define her. She wanted to build a better life for herself and her children. And she did it with a mix of hard work, humour, and grit. She had no big money and no fancy jobs. In fact, she once said, “I didn’t want to have a small life. I’ve been spared for a reason.”

Her kids were her motivation, and with every twist and turn in life, she made sure to keep them safe, happy, and inspired. Little did she know, her next big adventure would take her far away from home and into the middle of a wild, unexpected event.

The Escape to Thailand… And a Big Wave!

After leaving her marriage, Alex decided to do something bold: she packed her bags, grabbed her two kids (who were just 3 and 6 years old), and headed off to Thailand.

“I decided we would backpack around there, maybe live in Thailand for a while, and I would teach English,” she explains.

Sounds like a dream, right?

But as soon as they landed, life had other plans. It was 2004, and Alex picked the wrong year to visit Thailand. They were spending Christmas on the beach when something unexpected happened – something enormous.

A massive tsunami crashed onto the shore. It swept everything in its path, including Alex and her kids. “We got caught in the tsunami,” Alex remembers.

In that moment, the adventure turned terrifying. But Alex did what Alex does best – she survived. She kept her kids safe and held onto hope.

After the tsunami, Alex realised something important: life is precious and every second counts.

She says, “I recreated the whole ‘escape with your life’ scenario again.” But this time, it wasn’t just about survival. Alex knew she had to do more. She couldn’t let life just happen to her. She wanted to make something great out of all the challenges she faced.

And so, with two kids in tow, Alex returned to Australia. She didn’t know what the future held, but she was determined to find a way to build a better life. Little did she know, her next big step would start with the ugliest, messiest house she could find.

The “Hidey House” and a New Beginning

Back in Australia, Alex didn’t have much money. She was living on a single mother’s pension, but she knew she had to do something big for her kids. So, when a friend introduced her to the I Love Real Estate community, Alex made a bold choice. She sold her furniture to join the Ultimate Real Estate Success Coaching and Mentoring Program.

“I couldn’t afford it… So I sold my furniture and joined anyway,”

And that’s how Alex found her first big project – a little house she calls the “Hidey House.” Now, this house was far from perfect. “It had all the charm of a public toilet block,” Alex jokes. The garden was filled with trash hidden under bark chips, and the walls were a not-so-lovely duck egg blue.

But Alex didn’t see a mess; she saw a chance for a new beginning. With her dad, an 80-year-old builder, by her side, Alex started learning how to renovate. “He bought me a few power tools, and I learned how to use them on that house,” she recalls. They spent long days fixing, cleaning, and building, turning the messy Hidey House into a safe and happy home.

Living there wasn’t always easy, but Alex made the most of it. She brought chickens, her kids, and even the dog along for the adventure. “We just turned up in the middle of town and moved in,” she says with a smile. By the time they left, the entire street had turned into a friendly neighborhood with sausage sizzles and street parties.

But the Hidey House was more than just a home – it was a symbol of hope. Years later, Alex turned that same house into a refuge for women and children escaping tough situations, just like she had. “I love that little house,” Alex says proudly. It helped her, and now it’s helping others too.

The House That Helped Others

The Hidey House wasn’t just a home for Alex and her kids – it became a lifeline for others, too. After Alex and her family moved out, she decided to keep the house and use it for something truly special. She turned it into a refuge for women and children escaping tough situations, much like the one she had once faced. “I still have that house now. It houses women and children at risk of homelessness,” Alex says.

For Alex, the Hidey House became more than bricks and mortar, it became a safe haven. And here’s the best part: while she helps others, the house helps her, too. Alex rents it out to a government-funded agency, ensuring the home remains a refuge while also providing her with an income. “I get market rent… I really love that the house goes on to help people just like it helped us,” she shares.

The house that once had rubbish in the garden beds and walls like a “public toilet block” was now a symbol of hope and kindness. Alex had transformed it from a fixer-upper to a fixer of lives. “I have a really soft spot for that house,” she admits. And why wouldn’t she? It was the house that helped her find her strength, and now, it continues to make a difference for families who need a fresh start.

From Baking Cakes to Building Dreams

While the Hidey House was Alex’s first big renovation project, it was just the start of her property journey. Back when she was living on a tight budget, Alex found creative ways to support her family and follow her dreams. She started small – picking up odd jobs like ironing and packing envelopes from home. But she didn’t stop there.

At one of her real estate events, Alex began her publishing business with nothing more than a pen, paper, and a bit of boldness. “I started writing my name and phone number on little pieces of paper and gave them out in the lunch break,” she recalls. That small step grew into a successful publishing business that supported her family for years.

Alex didn’t just learn how to renovate houses; she learned how to build a life. She took risks, studied hard, and faced challenges head-on. Her determination paid off when she increased the value of the Hidey House by $100,000. This allowed her to partner with a friend on a new property. “He had the income for a loan, but no money. I didn’t have income, but I had equity,” she says proudly. Together, they bought another rundown house and brought it back to life.

For Alex, every project wasn’t just about making money – it was about showing her kids what’s possible when you dream big. “I didn’t want to have a small life,” she says. And she didn’t. From baking cakes to building houses, Alex proved that with hard work and a little creativity, anything is possible.

Back to the “Marital House” – Turning Sad into Happy

After years of moving from one house to another, Alex found herself returning to a place she never thought she’d see again – her old marital home. The house held painful memories from her past, but Alex wasn’t one to shy away from a challenge. Instead of running from it, she decided to transform it.

When Alex moved back, she saw the house as a project – not a problem. It needed work, and Alex was ready. She rolled up her sleeves, grabbed a jackhammer (yes, a jackhammer!), and got to work. Even her kids joined in on the renovations. “My kids have lived in a lot of building sites,” she laughs.

The house wasn’t just about fixing walls or installing new floors – it was about healing. By the time the renovations were complete, the once sad and heavy memories had been replaced with joy and laughter. “By the time it came to sell it, my kids didn’t want to leave because they were happy there,” Alex shares.

And Alex wasn’t just healing her family; she was giving the house a new purpose. During the renovation, she welcomed backpackers to stay in a caravan on the property. In exchange for their help, they learned new skills and became part of Alex’s team. Together, they turned the house into a warm and inviting home that Alex’s family could be proud of.

Now, when Alex looks back on the house, she doesn’t see pain – she sees transformation. “We look back on that house as our family home that we really love,” she says. It’s a reminder that even the hardest chapters in life can be rewritten with a little courage, love, and hard work.

Crazy Houses and Dead Cars

If you thought the Hidey House was a big project, wait until you hear about the next one. Alex found a house that was so rundown, it made the Hidey House look like a palace. It wasn’t just a fixer-upper – it was a car graveyard. “There were dead cars scattered all over the backyard,” Alex explains. “There was broken glass everywhere, trees growing in the driveway, and it had termites. It was a real mess.”

Most people would have taken one look at that house and run far, far away. But not Alex. She saw potential where others saw a disaster. With her usual determination, she tackled the chaos head-on, clearing out the junk, fixing up the house, and turning it into something beautiful. “I just had to sort it out for them and help them work through what they wanted,” she says of the previous owners.

The house wasn’t just an eyesore – it was a challenge that tested Alex’s patience and problem-solving skills. But by the time she was done, it had transformed from a property nobody wanted into a home everyone admired. “It was in such a nice estate, and once it looked good, the value of the whole area went up,” Alex says proudly.

And the hard work paid off – literally. Alex rented out the house for years, enjoying positive cash flow, and when she finally sold it, she made a tidy profit. “It was a good profit, and because it was so rundown, once it looked good, the location helped raise its value even more,” she explains. Another win for Alex and her unshakable determination!

Alex and the Pineapple Farm Adventure

Life has a funny way of surprising us, and for Alex, one of those surprises came in the form of love. After years of going it alone, she got married again – and her new life included a pineapple farm! With her new husband came a big, blended family. “We gained five more kids,” Alex says with a laugh. Together, they made their home on the farm, surrounded by acres of pineapple fields and endless possibilities.

But life threw another curveball their way. Just two years into her new marriage, Alex and her husband were involved in a serious car accident. The crash left Alex with a brain injury, which meant she couldn’t do her own renovations anymore. For someone as hands-on as Alex, this was a tough adjustment. “I can’t really walk on uneven ground now, and I have a lot of help from the NDIS to do different things,” she shares.

Even with these challenges, Alex’s positivity and resilience shone through. She found ways to keep moving forward, leaning on her supportive family and the lessons she’d learned from years of overcoming obstacles. “I had to slow down a little, but we still make things work,” she says.

The pineapple farm became a symbol of Alex’s new life – a life filled with love, family, and new adventures. Even though she wasn’t swinging a jackhammer anymore, Alex’s determination to create a beautiful life remained stronger than ever.

Helping Women Around the World

Alex’s story isn’t just about houses and renovations – it’s about giving back. Over the years, Alex has found countless ways to help others, both close to home and across the globe. “I know how much it meant to have a hand up, not a handout,” she says. And she’s made it her mission to pay that kindness forward.

One of her most inspiring projects took her to Nepal, where she and her daughter worked with a group of refugee women to set up a sewing business. “For my daughter’s 18th birthday, we bought fabrics in Kathmandu, traveled to their village, and helped them buy sewing machines,” Alex explains. Together, they worked with the women to get their business off the ground, proving that small acts of kindness can have a big impact.

Alex’s generosity didn’t stop there. She also spent time in Africa, where she and her kids volunteered at an orphanage and experienced life in a completely different way. “It was important for my kids to see how lucky we are,” she says. “We drove across Kenya and Tanzania, worked with children, and showed them the value of giving back.”

Whether she’s helping women escape tough situations in Australia or building businesses in faraway places, Alex’s heart for others shines through. She’s not just building houses – she’s building hope, one project at a time.

What’s Next? The Granny Flat and Big Dreams

If there’s one thing we’ve learned about Alex, it’s that she never stops dreaming. Even after all her incredible accomplishments, she’s still looking forward to what’s next. Her most recent idea? Building a granny flat at the back of the Hidey House. “My thing at the moment is to house women over the age of 55 because that’s such a big area of need,” Alex explains.

The plan seemed perfect: the Hidey House already had the space, and Alex had the drive to make it happen. She even had all the plans drawn up and was ready to get started. But when Alex ran the numbers with her mentor, Michael May, she discovered the project wasn’t financially sound. “It didn’t actually stack up with the figures,” she says. Instead of rushing into the build, Alex did what she always does – paused, reassessed, and found a new plan.

Now, she’s considering her next move. Should she sell the Hidey House and buy two regional properties? Or should she take the plunge into commercial real estate? One thing is for sure: Alex is thinking big. “To do commercial, I know I’d have to take the next step and join Platinum,” she admits. And knowing Alex, she’s more than ready for the challenge.

Looking back, Alex’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. From starting with $35,000 in equity and no cash flow, she has built an impressive property portfolio worth over $2 million. Her positive cash flow now exceeds $58,000 a year, giving her financial freedom and the ability to keep helping others.

“I didn’t quite do it on my own,” Alex says humbly, crediting the support of her mentors and the I Love Real Estate community. But the truth is, it was Alex’s heart, courage, and unstoppable determination that turned her life around.

And as for what’s next? Whatever Alex decides, one thing is certain: her journey is far from over, and her story will continue to inspire for years to come.

“My thing at the moment is to house women over the age of 55 because that’s such a big area of need.”

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These stories and the results in them were captured at a specific point in time. The real estate market and the investing strategies used to succeed are constantly changing. The achievements and results of these investors may have changed since these stories were recorded. Each of these investors engaged in in-depth training, coaching and mentoring to be able to achieve these results. Their results are not typical and should not be taken as a guarantee of the results you may achieve. Your personal results will be in-line with the training, education and hard work that you personally conduct.

“I didn’t want to have a small life.”