Low-interest rates and robust rental demand mean many property portfolios have been in the black rather than the red over recent years. Historically rock bottom rates resulted in reduced mortgage repayments and a growing pool of very happy landlords. But times can and do change. And when they do, how well do you think your…
More and more Australians are seeing the benefits that investing in real estate can bring. But without a reasonable idea of the most suitable properties to invest in, dreams of a secure financial future and early retirement through real estate may never materialise! In my mind, there are two types of properties that could…
You’ve more than likely heard dozens of arguments both for and against buying property “off the plan.” I’m not going to get into that here; instead I would like to highlight some of the finance risks of buying off the plan. When you commit to buying a piece of real estate that doesn’t actually exist…
Young Australians, eager to stand on their own two feet, are facing the harsh reality of having to rely heavily on their parents to help them buy a home. A survey of 1,006 people nationwide, conducted for non-bank lender State Custodians Home Loans, found one in three respondents who don’t own a home admit they’ll…
Population growth in Queensland has been in dramatic decline since the highs of the mining boom and property prices have followed suite, with low and slow growth. In the early 2000’s there was a huge amount of jobs on offer from the mining boom that initially attracted interstate workers, with a large number of overseas…
Different seasons affect our moods (for better or worse), our choice in clothes and even our tastes in food. In much the same way, the seasons affect the rental cycle – which can mean the difference between your property being quickly snapped up, or lingering vacant for weeks on end. It’s commonly known amongst real…
There’s certainly been a plethora of new units being built in our biggest capital cities. Some of these developments could be investment grade, but many are aimed directly at the investment market (but that doesn’t make them investment grade) and interestingly many also have no car park attached. So, how important is a car park…
How many investment properties does the average Australian own? Probably not as many as you think according to the latest ATO statistics. While almost 75 per cent of the 2 million Australians with rental properties had just one investment, 118,412 investors had three. But the number of investors with interests in five or more rental…
Many factors have been blamed for the booming property market in Sydney and Melbourne. Of course foreign investors have been one of the factors but now multimillionaire foreign migrants are being blamed. Recently the Australian reported that more than 11,000 “migrant millionaires” helped fuel the Sydney and Melbourne property markets last year. Australia is now…
A big house on a big block of land, with the Hills hoist slowly spinning in the breeze and ample space for a good game of backyard cricket…is the picture most older generations would paint if you asked for their idea of the ‘Great Australian Dream’. Baby Boomers raised their young families in these constructs…
