Jeffrey Tam was scrolling the online property listings when he came upon it – an undeveloped plot of land in Melbourne’s north. And it was an absolute bargain. There was one problem. Tam, a 51-year-old consultant, was meant to be its owner. And he sure hadn’t put it on the market.

The land, in Reservoir, was meant to be turned into townhouses with the help of Mayfair Property, a real estate development and management business run by Paul Giezekamp. Now 54, Giezekamp says he first became interested in property after trouncing his sister at Monopoly.