Last week, in Melbourne, Australia, 15 families camped out in their cars for three freezing nights to buy a block of land.
I don't mean to be rude, but there are smarter (and cheaper) ways to go about buying property in Melbourne's booming south-east than sitting around in a car for three days.
Here's a start: why not develop a relationship with an accountant, financial planner or real estate investment broker in the area of your choice.
These people are in touch on a daily basis with bankers, architects, developers, engineers, council staff - people who know the ins and outs of every project that is happening in their area.
If you're thinking of buying an off the plan property either as a home or an investment property, here's a few things to look for to make sure you're not taken in by a less than reputable company: 1.
How long has the company been in business? We all know that the vast majority of small businesses fail within the first five years.
If a company has been around for ten or more years, you can generally assume they're doing something right.
And double-check to see what other businesses the owner has had - businesses often go broke and resurface under a new name, leaving their clients out of pocket.
2.
Ask for testimonials from previous clients.
A company with a solid track record should always be happy to provide not just written testimonials (but video ones as well) and provide the client's contact details alongside it.
If a company is happy for you to ring not just one or two, but multiple clients, you can safely say they are doing the right thing by their clients.
3.
How many houses or projects have they built? You want to know that the company you choose to build your house has a history of building quality houses and has a strong and solid relationships with builders, the council, quantity surveyors, town planners and the like - all the people who go in to making a project successful.
4.
Who are the owners of the company? Do your due diligence to check you're investing your money with a reputable company.
An internet search will turn over a few rocks.
I did a search just recently on a competitor and the first five results that came up had ASIC mentioned in the same line as his name.
Not a great look if you're professing to be an honest, reputable business operation.
Thousands of people lose money on speculative property investments, simply because they didn't do their research first.
There are lots of ways to find profitable, reputable and secure property investments - and sleeping in your car for three freezing nights in the middle of winter is not one of them.