In profile: Little Projects managing director Michael Fox

Little Projects' Michael Fox was responsible for the first multi-level Bunnings in Victoria.

Developer: Michael Fox

Position: Managing Director

Company: Little Projects

Office location: Melbourne

How long have you been in the industry?

23 years. My experience has been in residential property management, residential sales, commercial property management, commercial sales and leasing, corporate real estate and property development.

What’s happening in the area you specialise in?

We are building some great lifestyle developments at the moment. Our ILK development (certain to be one of Melbourne’s most iconic developments) is about to finish. We are well and truly underway with our building of the Tip Top development in East Brunswick and about to start building our latest creation CENTRAL in South Yarra.

Describe the most interesting property you have sold/leased/developed/managed:

I was responsible for the first multi-level Bunnings in Victoria in Burwood Road, Hawthorn. It was a sensational development and still is today. A whole new concept, a whole new view on rentals and how to make big box retail work in an inner city location. I’m pretty sure it still holds the record for yield of a Bunnings store. 6.25% sold off the plan.

What are the ingredients to being successful in your job?

You have to have a great team. At Little we have just that. It’s about the team. It’s not a one person show. We have sensational people and it’s great to place to work. We like to think we create great lifestyle developments. Our buildings are sensational and are in great locations.

What aspects of your role do you enjoy the most?

I love property because it’s a complete lifestyle job. It gets you out on the road and out of the office. I have seen the world with my property jobs over the years and it just keeps going. This month I will go to Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore and China.  I also love the feeling you get when someone says “I live in your building” – it’s just the best.

Where would you invest a spare $750,000?

Our one bedroom apartments in Port Melbourne all returning around 5% which is just sensational and most were leased before the owners settled. South Yarra will be the same. So I’d buy a one-bedroom apartment in South Yarra and a one-bedroom in Port Melbourne.

Which football team do you support?

I’m a Hawthorn man.

What’s your favourite app or techno gadget?

It’s bit of a contradiction but I have been using ebay and Gumtree a lot lately to buy parts for my Moke which has no gadgets whatsoever!! Not even a radio or a heater.

How do you use social media?

I’d say getting better. Slow to start but learning as I see that it’s an increasingly important part of marketing. I have 3 daughters and a pretty handy PA and Marketing team. Between them I learn slowly. We have nearly 1000 Facebook fans and we will shortly start on Instagram.