Every few months, there’s a story online about an investor in their 30s that has amassed a property portfolio of 12 properties…and how you can do it too. Firstly, we shouldn’t be impressed by the number of properties that someone owns, as it doesn’t tell us anything about their wealth (equity). Boasting about the number…
Every time interest rates move up or down, we are asked the same question: “Should I fix my mortgage rate?” It’s a fair question – especially after the rollercoaster of recent years. Many borrowers are still feeling the sting of higher repayments and are tempted to lock in some certainty. But as with most financial decisions, the best answer is not based…
There are three ways to generate passive income; start a business, invest or speculate. The keyword in that sentence is passive. Passive means you can generate economic benefits without the requirement of your personal exertion. Since it doesn’t require personal exertion, it frees up your time to spend it on activities or with the people…
Over the past few decades, one of the most hotly debated topics has been housing affordability and the sustainability of annual property growth rates exceeding 7%, a trend that’s persisted for the past 45 years. Remove the impact of inflation A podcast listener recently asked me how a $1 million inner-city terrace home in an…
While it’s not typically required by law, most financial products such as ETFs and managed funds report historical investment returns over 1, 3, 5, and 10 years, as well as since inception. This data is incredibly useful, as it allows investors to assess performance over the short, medium, and long term, all of which are…
The price you pay for an investment property will only matter if you purchase the wrong asset. An investment-grade asset will, in the long run, mask any purchase price errors that you may have made. That is why focusing on the quality of the asset is easily the most important thing you must do when investing in property. Simple…
Tax isn’t necessarily a bad thing. If you’re paying tax, it means that you are making money (income or capital gains). But of course, there’s no need to pay any more than you legally have to. I discuss our common-sense approach to saving tax below. Minimising risk is often more important than saving on tax…
What drives you to build wealth? If I deposited $10 million in your bank account today, what would you do differently tomorrow? Do you think money will solve any (or all) of your “problems” and/or fulfil all your dreams? The answers to these questions will reveal how you think about money. And how you think…
The Federal Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, has publicly acknowledged that both state and federal budgets are under unsustainable pressure. He’s been clear that achieving budget sustainability cannot be done without both raising taxes and cutting spending. Chalmers has also spoken about the need to reduce our reliance on income taxes. Australia absolutely needs tax reform – reform that supports economic…
Almost five years ago, I shared evidence that pointed to investment-grade apartments entering a growth cycle within a few years. That prediction hasn’t materialised as prices have remained relatively flat since 2020. But could that finally be about to change? My past work on this subject As noted above, I published a report in October 2020 analysing…
