I am not in Australia but we moved to the UK 2 years ago and have bought a couple properties in the US while living here. 

Investing is gambling. 

The hands on aspect of real estate is literally the best part, sometimes the stock market can feel like a gamble.

We're a military family currently stationed in the UK and I don't want to omit information but I can't seem to break this door down... any advice?

I'm on a visitor visa (UK Citizen) but we are putting into process my PR application hopefully over the next few months and hopefully my work permit will be here by the end of the year.

I don't think these numbers work to begin with and using appreciation as a banking factor is kind of like gambling in Vegas.

UK has one of the best engineering programs in the nation and  that is what you should be focusing all your energy on my friend.

This is what actually Is costs you to get your equity, you are paying every month out of pocket.look your property looks good if all 4 units where rented your analysis that it will appreciate with out doing any value add is a bet on appreciation and rent increases year over year is a huge gamble and only pays off when you sell and if you sell at that price at the right time. 

Each industry I researched turned out to be more of a gamble than an investment.

I've recently come across your pod casts on YOUTUBE which has got me "hooked" listening to a number of them while catching up on my DIY jobs around my property here in the UK .I'm currently a landlord here in the UK with a Portfolio of Buy to Let properties but have a Daughter her Partner and Grandson Living in Kirkland that we visit regularly .