Do apartments still make good investments? During previous property cycles new and off-the-plan apartments were popular with many investors. However, I’ve always maintained that most new and virtually all off-the-plan units are not “investment grade” properties. That’s because of their cookie-cutter designs, lack of scarcity, poor owner-occupier appeal, and propensity …
What to look for when buying an established apartment Read More »
One thing this latest buzz of investor activity in the property market has demonstrated yet again is that some newcomers to the real estate game still insist on going in blind. These first-timers operate under the assumption that any property makes a good investment and that if things don’t quite …
5 important research topics for property investment success Read More »
Are you an expat considering buying an investment property in Australia? Well… you’re not alone. Since the pandemic lockdowns eased (remember those?) and our international and domestic borders reopened there has been a shift in demand across all our property markets. Buyer interest has jumped from expats flocking to Australia …
Buying an Investment Property in Australia: A step-by-step guide for Expats Read More »
With many commentators forecasting what’s ahead for property in 2024, many are focusing on the times we’ve experienced over the last few years and trying and extract the lessons we’ve learned. Rather than do that, today I’d like to remind you of some of the foundational principles I use to …
5 ways I’m going to ensure my property investments outperform this property cycle Read More »
When was the last time you looked closely at your loan, the progress you are making on paying it off and how it compares to others in the market? Analysing your mortgage could mean savings for you, as well as the opportunity to pay it off more quickly, invest in …
Investing in property comes with its own set of challenges. So let’s look at four challenges faced by investors and how you can overcome them: 1. Spruikers Currently, there are more property investment advisers and buyer’s agents out there willing to “help” you than ever before. There are bad apples …
It’s literally the million-dollar question: Do you buy a property now before prices rise even further, or wait until the interest rates fall later this year to free up some more borrowing power? Australia’s housing upswing continued through the first month of 2024 with the national Home Value Index rising 0.4% in …
Should I buy property now or wait for interest rates to fall? Read More »
We experienced a wild ride in our property markets over the last few years, didn’t we? Remember the “once in a generation” property boom of 2020-21 fuelled by virtually free money when many properties increased in value by up to 30%. Then multiple interest rate rises and concerns about inflation …
The array of mortgages available helps a good finance broker to tailor a package to suit your needs. Here are just some of the options. Fixed-rate mortgages With a fixed-rate loan, you know exactly how much you’ll pay per fortnight or month for the fixed period of the loan (usually …
A property’s rental yield is the amount of gross rental income that it attracts relative to its market value. In Australia, gross residential property rental yields typically fall between 2% and 5% annually. This yield can provide insights into a property’s fundamentals and therefore anticipated investment returns. What drives a …
What does the rental yield tell you about a property? Read More »
We are in new territory. This year our housing markets will perform very differently to 2023, which clearly was a very different year for property than 2022, which again was different from the previous couple of years when we experienced a property boom. I guess this means that almost every …
During the past couple of years property investors have been less active as interest rate rises began eating into their profits. However, as 2024 begins, it’s clear more investors are returning to the real estate market. According to the ABS lending indicators report for October, new loan commitments for investors …