Laramccormick.co.nz

09/06/2026

My dad used to tell me that most people only get a handful of meaningful lump sums in their lifetime.

At the time, I didn't think much of it.

Looking back, I think he was right.

Over the years I've received a redundancy payout, an inheritance from my grandfather, proceeds from the sale of shares, money from property transactions and later inheritances from family members.

Each one represented a decision point.

• Spend it.
• Save it.
• Or invest it.

Almost every time, I chose property.

• When I received an inheritance from my grandfather, I added it to our savings and bought a home in Wellington. To make it happen, I lived with my brother so I could save even more.
• When I received money from selling shares, I put it into more property.
• When Graham's parents passed away, we invested the money into our business.
• When my father died, I invested in a another property, added an extra bedroom and created more value before selling it when the interest deductibility rule changed.

Those lump sums weren't life-changing because of the amount.

They were life-changing because of the decisions that followed.

What I wish more people knew is that you don't have to stick with the same thinking about property that worked 20 years ago.

Property is still one of my favourite asset classes.

But the way I think about it has evolved.

Today, I believe residential property can do more than simply collect rent and wait for capital growth.

That's why I built Vezstar.

At its heart, Vezstar takes a traditional residential property and operates a business inside it.

It's still property.

Just a different way of thinking about how property creates income and value.

So here's my question.

If a meaningful lump sum landed in your account tomorrow, would you make the same decision you made ten years ago?

Or has your thinking evolved too?

If you're sitting on capital and exploring what comes next, send me a DM.

I'd be happy to share what we're building at Vezstar.

09/06/2026

For years I thought I needed a little more time.

A little more proof.
A little more preparation.

Yet when I look back, I’ve been preparing for this for more than 20 years.

I started with the very first investor in Wellington and eventually helped look after more than 10,000 investors in a property-backed finance company.

The lessons were simple.

Investors want clarity, not complexity.
Trust matters.
Regular communication matters.
The first investment is always the hardest.

I also learned that great accountants, advisers, brokers and business connectors become the bridge between opportunities and the people looking for them.

Since then, I’ve built businesses, cultivated a strong network of trusted relationships across industries, learned marketing and spent the last few years proving a short-term rental model in the real world.

The Information Memorandum is complete.
The Catalist offer is in place.
The board is assembled.
The operating model is proven.

And recently I realised something.

There comes a point where preparing becomes a way of staying comfortable.

The next step is ex*****on.
That’s why I’m stepping fully into capital raising.
Not because everything is perfect.

Because it’s ready.

The woman I used to be was preparing.
The woman I’m becoming is building.

And visibility is part of that service.

Because the people who could benefit from what we’re creating at Vezstar can’t find it if I don’t share it.

I am her now.

If you love property, have capital to invest and are wondering what to do next, send me a DM.

08/06/2026

Love property?
Have a lump sum sitting in the bank?
Not quite sure what to do next?

You're not alone.

I speak to people every week who like the idea of property investing but don't want the hassle of becoming a landlord, dealing with tenants, maintenance, renovations, furnishing properties or managing bookings.

• They want their money working harder.
• They want income and long-term growth.
• They want to understand their options before making a decision.

That's exactly why I'm opening 5 Investor Clarity Calls this week.

We'll talk about your goals, what you're trying to achieve, and whether a property-backed investment like Vezstar is worth exploring further.

No pressure.
No obligation.
Just clarity.

DM me and let's have a conversation.

03/06/2026

For a long time I thought confidence came first.

Now I know confidence comes from action.

Last night I had the privilege of leading a discussion with property investors about creating more value from their assets.

Not because I have it all figured out.

Because I’m willing to go first, share what I’ve learned and keep showing up.

That’s how confidence is built.

What’s one thing you’re ready to stop overthinking and start doing?

01/06/2026

I'm very good at seeing the value everyone else receives.

• The owner gets a lease.
• The guest gets a great experience.
• The investor gets an opportunity.

This week I realised something - without me, there is no strategy, no setup, no listings, no guests, no revenue and no accommodation business.

• The owner receives a lease because I created a business around the property.
• The guests have a great experience because my team and I do the work behind the scenes.
• The investors have an opportunity because I took the time to test the model, prove it and put together.

It all exists because I had the courage to go first.

For most of my life, I've found it easier to celebrate everyone else's contribution than acknowledge my own.

I'm learning that recognising the value I bring isn't ego. It's self-worth.

What's something valuable you've created that you don't give yourself enough credit for?

26/05/2026

The Lakehouse launch reminded me of something important…

When you combine a great product, a great system, a great operator and a great team… momentum happens fast.

Over the last few days we officially launched our new Lakehouse on Airbnb and the response has honestly blown me away.

Families booking long stays.
Fieldays bookings landing.
Messages coming in.
The calendar starting to fill.

And it’s not just luck.

The product matters. This property is genuinely special. Lakefront, peaceful, family-friendly and designed for people to truly relax and connect.

The system matters too. Airbnb works incredibly well when the listing, pricing, photos, guest communication and timing all come together properly.

Then there’s the operations side. The part most people don’t see. The constant adjustments, problem solving, guest flow, pricing, setup, logistics and detail behind the scenes that turns a property into a performing short-stay business.

And finally, the team.

I couldn’t do this without the people around me helping bring these properties to life. From builders and photographers through to cleaners, setup help and guest support - it takes a village to launch something well.

The truth is… I love this work.

It doesn’t feel like work to me anymore.

Creating spaces people enjoy. Watching properties transform. Building systems. Generating income from creativity and strategy. It genuinely feels like a dream come true.

If you know anyone looking for a beautiful family getaway, we still have availability for Labour Weekend, Christmas and the January holiday period.

Lake Front Home Kids Welcome 5 Bedroom

20/05/2026

Most Airbnb investors focus on occupancy.

Wrong metric.

You can fill almost any apartment if you discount it hard enough.

The real metric is reviews.

Because five-star reviews reveal what’s actually happening underneath:

Systems.
Cleanliness.
Communication.
Operations.
Standards.

Most people think short-term rentals are about buying property.

They’re not.

They’re about operating a hospitality business inside the property.

That’s why so many self-managed Airbnbs quietly fail.

At Vezstar, we don’t just buy apartments or townhouses.

We build operating systems around them.

And over time, the reviews become proof the model is working.

19/05/2026

Most people look at property and only see the building.

I look at the people behind it.

Because good projects are never built by one person.

Seen here working through the project plan with my team.

Different backgrounds.
Different expertise.
Different perspectives.

But every person at this table is exceptional at what they do.

That matters.

Because property done properly is not a hobby.
It’s not guesswork.
And it’s definitely not one person trying to wear every hat.

It takes:
Strategy.
Operations.
Financial oversight.
Project management.
Ex*****on.

That’s one of the biggest shifts people make when they start understanding what we’re building with Vezstar.

They realise they’re not backing “an idea.”

They’re backing people who are deeply immersed in their craft.

People who know what they’re doing.
People who care about the details.
People who stay in the room until the problems are solved.

That’s how systems get built.
That’s how trust gets built.
And ultimately, that’s how investors sleep at night.

Because behind every well-run asset is a team of professionals quietly doing the work most people never see.

08/05/2026

05/05/2026

Last night, the President of the Waikato Property Investors Association, said something to me that landed.

You keep working. You keep moving toward the goal. And then, at some point, it starts to come together. The momentum takes over.

It reminds me of a train.

At the start, it’s slow. Heavy. Feels like effort. Feels like nothing’s happening.

But you stay with it.

And then it builds. Speed. Rhythm. Direction.

That’s exactly where I’m at right now.

If you’ve been following my journey and wondering what I’m building, there’s a structure behind it. A real one.

Request the Information Memorandum.

Read it. Understand it.

Then book a conversation with me and we’ll see if it’s the right fit for you.