Investment properties can generate wealth or earn you a passive income – maybe both – but even in a booming market profit is never promised.
The key to purchasing a successful investment property is to buy with your head (not your heart) and to stick to your plan. A bad buying decision made at the start of your property portfolio journey can send you down the wrong financial path.
The capital growth strategy
This tactic is banking on a propertyâs value growing substantially over time and usually requires an investor to hold for several years to see decent capital growth. Without a crystal ball, youâll need to do some real estate research.
Ask yourself; âHow much have values increased in the quarter, 12 months or five years?â and âWhy have prices increased there? Is there still scope for more rises?â Also consider the desirable types of homes in an area. Just because houses there have performed well, it doesnât mean studio apartments are a good investment too.
Some investors will negatively gear their investment, which means theyâre happy to have a property cost more to hold than the rent it receives. Although ownership costs will mean investors will need to manage annual out of pocket expenses, these outlays are tax deductible and can reduce income tax.
The rental return strategy
This option focuses on positively gearing a property, so the investor earns a regular passive income. In other words, once all the ownership costs are deducted thereâs still a profit. For this method to work in your favour youâll want to research areas with a great rental yield (the profitability of a property based on the expected rental income against ownership costs). Â
Gross rental yield is the total value of the property divided by the expected annual rent, multiplied by 100 to get a percentage. If an investment property is worth $500,000, and it is expected to earn $500 a week, then the sum is;
$26,000 ($500 a week x 52 weeks) / $500,000 = 0.052 x 100 = 5.2%
To determine net rental yield, there are more moving parts because it includes all ownership costs;
$26,000 ($500 a week x 52 weeks) â $4,920 (total ownership costs) / $500,000 = 0.042 x 100 = 4.2%
Determining where youâll buy
There are plenty of real estate cliches like âlocation, location, locationâ or âbuy the worst house on the best streetâ and they ring true. You can renovate a property and make it more appealing to tenants or future buyers, but you canât physically move it to a more coveted address.
So, consider locations where there are great transport connections plus sought-after lifestyle amenities such as parks, beaches, cafes, and shops nearby. And remember – you donât have to love the neighbourhood, you just need to be sure that plenty of others will.
Deciding on what youâll buy
Budget will dictate the type of property you can invest in, but buyer beware. While units can be top performers in some suburbs, theyâre less popular in other locations so might not make a great investment.
A house with a nice backyard will likely attract plenty of tenants in a quiet family-friendly suburb, rather than a compact apartment. Conversely, a modern unit might be more in demand near universities and hospitals where there is usually a steady flow of staff and students.
When it comes to ongoing costs, houses can require more maintenance than an apartment, however units usually come with strata levies which can really add up too.
Also, be mindful of what additional features add to a homeâs future value or asking rent. Things like an extra bathroom, home office space and secure parking are always in demand.
Do your homework
While youâre running the numbers, make sure you have included all the hidden expenses at the time of purchase such as lenderâs mortgage insurance for first-time buyers, transfer duty, conveyancing fees and building or strata reports. Then there are ongoing costs including mortgage repayments, home loan fees, landlordâs insurance, maintenance (or strata fees), council rates and property management.
Select the right loan for you
Interest rates are historically low (so itâs never been a better time to borrow money) but that doesnât mean todayâs mortgages are one-size-fits-all. There are hundreds of home loans in the marketplace and each offers something a little different. Investment loans are usually more expensive compared with owner occupier loans, so youâll need to seek out a product to suit your individual needs.
To kickstart your property investment plans, contact our team today on 08 6465 5400 to find the right mortgage for your circumstances.
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