Yep, you get the idea. I like your comparison, btw. ha ha ha

Mate, the successful investors I know so far do not make their decisions based on the evaluations you see on the news, they just see the facts and decide on those. The reason for this is the biases, no matter what models you use to value an investment, the inputs you use are subjective. That is, the forecast people make online is not necessary true. Just see your articles, what date were they written? early or mid 2012 isn't it. What the statistic says? Docklands get 105% increase in price on average over the past 12 months.

Now you know what the news say? Here you go http://www.smh.com.au/business/property/docklands-threat-to-cbd-20130328-2gxba.html

It's not my site by the way. I am just a fan of this concept, I have a friend working with this concept and he helped me a lot to build up my portfolio. I just think it is great and you guys may want to try some time

I think you miss my point. It is NOT NECESSARY for you to get 5 people in your group for any particularly deals to be ON for 5-10% discount, the more people you get in your group, the more possible discount you can get. Some people, who get a great network of buyers can even purchase the whole project with great discount for their group. The reason I mentioned 5 people is just for an EXAMPLE. Now imagine you come to the developer to negotiate for buying 2 units, how confident you are to get, say, 5-10% discount? For the good projects, the developers dont even want to listen to you, mate.

Why do you think the agents are out there, representing developers? For individual investors like us, it is not easy to get 5% discount unless you have enough capital to buy a large number of units.

Of course, sometimes, you can find great discount when you buy more than 1 units, but I dont think there are so many out there. And if you belong to a group, isn't is much easier to find these opportunities? if you have 2 people in your group, you have double chance to find those and so on. I've just taken a look on the site, the Lacrosse project in Dockland, Melbourne only need 2 people for 8% discount. you wouldn't know this great deal unless you joined this network, did you?

Now, about the deposit stuff, as I understand, you won't have any initial security deposit at the beginning as long as there are enough buyers in the group for the deal to be ON. Anyways, you can think of the site as a platform for people who share the same interest in any particular projects to form a group and get benefit from buying as a group.

If I was you, would understand the whole story before making a judgment. I am talking about the negotiating power of a group. Nathan Birch alone cannot gain that much. whist, even someone can do it alone, are you sure you can too? If anyone have that talent then 10%, 20% discount is just formality, which means the market price = listed price – 10% (20%). Unfortunately, this is not practice.

Individuals actually can earn abnormal return if they have outstanding skills to find undervalued investment. However, there are not so many of them. So yes, if you are confident enough to do it on your own, please do it. I'm talking about a business model, which I can leverage on to build up my investment. Then, may be in the future, when I have enough resources and knowledge to be a superstar investor, I would go for it on my own -> isn't it less risky for the same return?

Also, If I did not know GrOffr.com, I would google it as well. Nathan Birch is very skillful, yes, I also admire him, but the big boy GrOffr have lots of things for us to learn as well. If I could chose between a person with some millions in his NAV and another one who generate a billion in 1 year operation, then I would prefer to learn the second guy first

property genius, you and I are the same? Why don't I know that? lol. 

Yeah, distressed developers with high discount, anyone can do this mate. Be aware that not all properties are the same, if the project that the guy named Nathan Birch bought is really a good investment then he is bloody lucky. You don't get that good luck so often, mate. What I am talking about is an every day business, when normal guys like you and I can seek for discount deals. Think about it, if you, on your own, go to any particular developers to buy, say 2 properties (high growth potential ones), do you think they will give you some discount?

This idea is new, yes, but does not mean it will not work. Look at GrOffr.com, do some research about them and you will know what I mean.