Michael has been once again voted Australia’s leading property investment advisor by the readers of ‘Your Investment Property Magazine’, but he’s not a theorist… He has been successfully investing in property since 1971 and is a leading property commentator and Australia’s most widely read property investment blogger. Join over 115,000 others who get their updates from Michael and his group of expert guest bloggers and benefit from their perspective.
The size of the average new owner-occupier mortgage in Australia has hit a record high, as borrowers sign up for bigger debts than ever before. ABS lending indicator data for the month of May, shows the average new owner-occupier mortgage clocked in at $626,055, the highest level in ABS records. This is despite the fact…
Capital Gains Tax or CGT is one of those taxes no one really wants to pay. In fact, questions around Capital Gains Tax are very common here on Property Update. So, let’s dive deeper into CGT so everyone has a better understanding of what it is and how you can minimise its impact on your…
When selling our home we all want the best price possible, while the buyer is usually after the best deal they can get. However, in the end, most houses sell for what I would call fair market value — the price a willing buyer will pay, and a keen seller will accept, given that neither…
When the topic of investing in apartments and managing strata levies comes up, it often generates some robust discussion. While body corporate or strata fees don’t seem to concern some investors, others avoid such properties like the plague. Is there a middle ground? And is buying a property with body corporates really a problem? Why…
Life is an illusion. You transform the illusion of your life into reality through your thoughts. That illusion, or vision, is what nudges you to take actions that are consistent with the illusion. This ability to create an illusion is actually one of our greatest gifts or powers. All human beings have the innate power…
It’s quite common for one spouse to assume the primary responsibility for managing household finances. Naturally, if one partner possesses a natural inclination or proficiency in financial matters, it’s logical for them to take charge. While it may seem convenient for one spouse to handle these affairs, it remains crucial for the other spouse to…
When it comes to investing in property for the first time, you may feel like you’re in over your head. Lacking disposable income and investment know-how, your chances of surviving the property market as you compete with cashed-up investors may seem slim. However, here’s 3 reasons I would suggest you consider investing from a young…
When it comes time to make big financial decisions, research consistently shows that women more frequently hold the purse strings than men. While this is a positive finding, as women tend to make intelligent, thoughtful, informed financial decisions, it also has the potential to drop an anchor in your investment portfolio’s growth. If you’ve ever…
If you’re not familiar with Charlie Munger, he was Vice Chairman of Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway. Munger is probably the most quotable investor of all time. Sometimes what he says is hilarious. Sometimes it’s serious. But it always gets you thinking. At the 2008 shareholder meeting, Charlie Munger criticized his physique, said ethanol was “one…
Regular readers of this blog would be aware of my unwavering commitment to adopting a long-term perspective when it comes to making financial decisions. While I firmly believe in this approach, I also recognise that there are occasions when short-term decision-making can offer advantages. Nevertheless, it’s important to note that such instances are infrequent and…
