Investing in Property: What to Know

Building wealth is an important financial goal for many who want to set up a comfortable future for themselves and their families. When it comes to choosing where to invest our money, many aren’t sure what’s best for their situation. Investing in property is an extremely popular way to grow your wealth – and for a good reason. It’s important to remember that buying a property to invest in versus buying a property to live in is very different. This blog will take you through what you need to know about property investing, including how to figure out if it’s right for you.

Investing in property 

Property is a popular investment for many Australians (approx. 21% of Australians own an investment property). For those who are already homeowners, you may even be able to use equity from your existing home to start your investment property portfolio. If you’re ready to invest in property, here is how to go about it

Speak to a mortgage broker 

Before you jump on real estate websites, engage your mortgage broker in a discussion. Knowing why you want to invest in property is important and a broker can help you to understand whether property investment is right for you and your financial goals. You should also consider what purpose you want your investment property for. Will you rent it out or use it as a holiday house? Is it something you plan to renovate or rebuild? Your mortgage broker will then help you get pre-approved with a lender so you can start attending open houses. 

Establish your budget

Once your mortgage broker has walked you through your options for purchasing an investment property, including whether you have any equity in your current property that can be used as a deposit, it’s time to establish your budget. How much are you willing to spend on an investment property? Are the mortgage repayments manageable for your current situation if you decide not to rent it out or if you have a period where nobody is renting the property? If you do decide to rent the property out, doing your research on rental rates in the area will give you an idea about the rental yield you can expect. Income from rent is a more immediate return than capital growth, and it can assist you with mortgage repayments and property costs Start putting offers on and bidding at auctions Once you’ve established a budget and been pre-approved, it’s time to start searching for your perfect investment property! Make sure you do plenty of research into the market and have factored in costs such as building and pest inspections. With these in mind, you can start heading to open houses and bidding at auctions.  Consider using a buyer’s advocate   Enlisting the help of a buyer’s advocate can simplify your property buying process. While it’s not essential, a buyer’s advocate can help you find the perfect property for you. They complete all aspects of the research, due diligence, inspections, auctions, negotiations, and property buying. A bonus to a buyer’s advocate is that while they have a sound knowledge of the property market, they don’t work for real estate agents, rather they work for you – the buyer.

Earning a return from the property

The main benefit of investing in property is the returns and wealth you build. There are two basic ways to get a return on your property investment. These are: Capital growth Capital growth refers directly to the equity that lies within your property. When you sell your property for more than what you paid, it’s called ‘capital growth’. Rental returns Capital growth takes time to build – you won’t see results overnight. Income from rent provides a more immediate return. With someone renting the property, their regular repayments can assist with funds towards your mortgage and property costs. Looking at rental returns in each suburb is important when deciding how much your rental repayments should be.

Where and what to buy

Where you buy will differ based on your situation. When choosing somewhere to buy, you need to be objective and weigh up the pros and cons of each area. You should never buy somewhere based purely on an emotional attachment – there must be sound logic behind the investment. Considering whether to buy a house or unit is also important to factor into your research. While a unit may be a cheaper purchase cost, there may be an oversupply in an area. On the other hand, a house may be easier to rent but is generally attached to a higher purchase cost. Some things to consider when looking to purchase an investment property include:

• Areas you’re familiar with versus areas you aren’t – which is best?
• Areas with high growth, higher rental yield and low vacancy rates.
• Proposed planning changes in the suburb that may affect future property prices.
• Properties with appealing features like a second bathroom, a garage, access to schools, shops and transport.
• Maintenance costs based on property type, age and features.

Maximising your tax benefits

The tax benefits you can receive from property investment are another bonus for investors. Deductions Owning an investment property might mean you’re eligible to claim some of the associated costs as a tax deduction. While you may already be aware that the interest payments and fees of the loan may be deductible, other costs may be as well. Check with your accountant or financial advisor to determine what you may be eligible to claim on tax.

Negative gearing

When the costs of owning your investment property are higher than the income you get from rent, you may be able to ‘negative gear’ your investment. This is when your loss from owning the property is offset against your annual income, reducing your taxable income and potentially providing you with tax savings. Capital gains tax Property may increase in value over time. When it comes time to sell your property, any rise in value from when you bought it is called the ‘capital gain’. The costs of buying and selling the property are subtracted from the gain, and what’s left is added to your annual income, which means your capital gain is taxable. For more information on tax benefits, download our Investing in Property Guide. Investing in property is an alternative to investing in the share market. The property market provides more stability in the eyes of lenders than that of the share market due to its physical assets. There are many other pros to investing in property, including having a passive income, building equity and being able to design the property to your liking. If you’re ready to invest in the property market, contact our team of financial advisor or mortgage broker experts today.