About Property Planning Australia
Strategic mortgage broking and property planning, built around you
Every person has a unique financial position, income, property situation, and life goals. So simply processing a mortgage application isn't good enough.
With Property Planning Australia, you can expect more.
Since 2004, David Johnston and the team at Property Planning Australia have been helping Melbourne professionals build wealth through property with clarity and confidence.
After pioneering Australia's first property planning service, David and Sarah built the business to bring genuine strategic thinking to mortgage broking and property decisions.
With that comes a fundamental belief that independence matters. We don't buy or sell property, insurance, or investment products. Our advice is squarely in your best interests, without any vested interests.
Ultimately, our strategic mortgage broking and property planning approach creates a safe space for you to make wiser, more successful property decisions that build lasting wealth.
We've built a team of mortgage brokers, property planners, and support specialists who genuinely care about your long-term success.
Strategic mortgage broking
There's more to mortgages than rates and approvals. We understand what makes great mortgage advice, structures that maximise tax deductions, preserve borrowing capacity, and set you up to hold property for the long term.
Property planning
When building a property portfolio, you must understand how many properties you actually need and which pathway gets you there. We educate you before you buy, not after, using our planning software.
What our clients say
Our property plan has been invaluable — giving us a clear road map to our goals and the right strategic financing in place. David is a true professional who takes the time to understand your personal situation and provides excellent advice in a concise manner. We would have no hesitation recommending this service to anyone.
Mark and Renee
Mitcham, VIC
PPA have been a huge help over the last 9 years, guiding us through 2 property purchases, 1 sale and 5 successful loan applications. Their advice has been invaluable — always professional, efficient and knowledgeable. We simply wouldn't have bought at the price point we did without their loan strategy. Can't recommend highly enough.
Cain
Chatswood, NSW
Buying your first home is stressful, so a massive thanks to the PPA team for guiding my wife and I every step of the way. Professional, easy to deal with and responsive — I had full faith they were working to secure us the best home loan deal on the market. Can't recommend highly enough!
Tom
Macleod, VIC
I discovered PPA through the podcast and reached out wanting to buy a property, despite being told I couldn't obtain finance. My strategic mortgage broker went above and beyond to secure approval. With PPA's help I've gained clarity on my future strategy and have since settled on my investment property. Thanks team PPA!
Jasmine
Kellyville Ridge, NSW
We were introduced to Ryan at PPA when looking for a strategic mortgage broker for an investment property. Our situation was tricky, but Ryan came back with a strategy that worked perfectly. Very professional and thorough — no question was left unanswered and we always felt he was in our corner.
Tony
Wirlinga, NSW
Our experiences with Property Planning have been overwhelmingly positive. They guided us from confused prospective buyers to confident property owners — advising on what to buy, where to buy, traps to avoid and providing detailed feedback on individual properties. The mortgage and banking support was second to none.
Tim
Bentleigh East, VIC
David Johnston and his team have been an invaluable resource for my husband and I as we take our first steps into property. No question is too big or small, and they're always happy to re-explain things. Buying a first home is a big step — I'm so glad to have David in my corner. Highly recommend!
Rachel
Flemington, VIC
I've arranged multiple mortgages through Ryan Bain and his team at PPA. Their communication is excellent — keeping you informed throughout what would otherwise be an arduous process. Highly recommend Ryan and the team if you're considering a new mortgage or looking to refinance.
Steve
Hamilton, QLD
David Johnston and the PPA team have been fantastic. They helped us develop an informed long-term property strategy and made our home loan application simple and easy. Their ongoing service goes well beyond what a traditional mortgage broker offers. Highly recommend.
Charlie
O'Connor, ACT
Founded by David and Sarah Johnston
David is the founder of Property Planning Australia, and Sarah runs the business operations. As parents of three children, family has always been their driving force, which is why they're passionate about helping families make the biggest financial decisions of their lives with confidence.
David is also the author of How to Succeed with Property to Create your Ideal Lifestyle and Property for Life, published by Wiley.
Meet the team
David Johnston
Founder
Anne-Marie Labno
Operations
Sarah Johnston
COO
Nirakar Jha
Strategic Mortgage Broker
Ryan Bain
Senior Mortgage Strategist
Kim Leaw
Client Engagement Officer
Richard White
Strategic Mortgage Broker
Athba Al-Bazargan
Consultant
Want to join the team?
We're always looking for talented mortgage brokers, property planners, and support specialists who share our commitment to strategic thinking, exceptional service, and long-term client relationships. If you're passionate about helping professionals build wealth through property and want to work in a team that values expertise, collaboration, and genuine care for clients, we'd love to hear from you.
Community matters
As a family business, we know that what truly matters is the people around us, the causes close to our hearts, and the community we're proud to call home.
Honouring Jack Davey
In October 2024, our community experienced an unimaginable tragedy with the loss of Jack Davey, an 11-year-old boy whose kind heart and infectious energy touched everyone who knew him. He was a cherished teammate, schoolmate, and great friend to our son Luke and younger son Joshua. Jack had a remarkable ability to bring people together, whether on the basketball court with the Titans 'Rattlesnakes', on the football field with the Glen Iris Gladiators, or representing Victoria and Australia at Futsal. The Davey family, Mike, Jayde, Olivia, and Charlotte, are close friends of ours and valued members of our community. In this time of immense grief, our thoughts and unwavering support remain with them. We will forever hold Jack and the joyful memories we were privileged to share close to our hearts.
Community Sport
We believe sport has a unique ability to inspire, unite communities, and foster personal and social development, whether at the professional level or just for fun. That's why we proudly support local sporting organisations across Melbourne's eastern suburbs, including the Glen Iris Junior Football Club, Women's Professional Golf Association, Camberwell Magpies Junior Cricket Club, Templestowe Football Club, and many more. We're committed to creating diverse and inclusive sporting environments where everyone has equal access to participate and excel, regardless of gender, race, or socio-economic background. Sport builds character, creates lifelong friendships, and strengthens communities, and we're honoured to play a small part in supporting the athletes, families, and volunteers who make it all possible. Supporting local sport means investing in the next generation and the fabric of our community.
Awards & recognition
Multi-award-winning team recognised for exceptional service
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Best Mortgage Broking Business - MFAA Excellence Awards
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Best Customer Service - MFAA Excellence Awards
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Net Promoter Score: 9.7 out of 10
Listen to our podcast: The Property Trio
240+ 5-star reviews & over 600,000+ downloads
Join the Property Planner David Johnston, Property Buyer Cate Bakos, and Quantity Surveyor Mike Mortlock as they take you on a journey of discovery through the maze of property, mortgage, and money decisions to empower you to create your ideal lifestyle!
