property investment – CPS Finance https://www.cpsfinance.com.au Sun, 01 Apr 2018 00:13:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.4 Investing with a mortgage to pay https://www.cpsfinance.com.au/investing-with-a-mortgage-to-pay/ https://www.cpsfinance.com.au/investing-with-a-mortgage-to-pay/#respond Wed, 11 Apr 2018 00:08:41 +0000 http://www.cpsfinance.com.au/?p=4082 The decision of where to put your money tends to be one of the most important in today’s society. People will often spend their money for financial peace of mind on things such as mortgages, instead of securing a wealthy future with activities such as investing.

Although this seems like an ultimatum between the two, the truth is that you can be involved in both. This article will delve deep into both sides of the coin so that you can better delegate your funds to each one.

Paying off the mortgages

Focusing on paying off a mortgage can have its pros and cons. It’s always optimal to be aware of both. This section will give you insight on the main four factors that you will be both gaining and missing out on when paying attention to this area.

Advantages

Certain return

When most people think of paying the mortgage, it’s usually associated with clearing debt rather than making money. In fact it’s both. Every cent off the mortgage allows you to collect interest that would have been spent on the mortgage. Perhaps the best part about this is that there are limited risks, it is a guaranteed return.

Piece of mind

The main reason why people focus on mortgages rather than investing is because of a tendency to choose safety over risk. Perhaps the best benefit of paying off a mortgage is that you gain certainty that cannot be equaled in the volatile share market. Although you’re not playing to win big, you are securing your future in the sense that you won’t have an overbearing mountain of debt.

Disadvantages

Tunnel vision

Although tunnel vision may work well for athletes or anyone competing in certain industries, it does not apply to this. By focusing all your energy on paying of the mortgage, you can very often miss extremely lucrative investment opportunities that would otherwise have paid you a much higher return. Although you’re securing your financial safety, you might also be missing out on your financial freedom.

Eggs in one basket

Like the above, sometimes putting all your eggs in one basket can work. If safety and security is your priority though, this can often-times backfire when you place all your attention on your mortgage. When your capital is involved in only one asset, if anything goes wrong you have nothing to fall back on.

Splitting Funds Between Mortgages and Investing

Alternatively to the above, it is possible to use your capital for both options. Although you will be diversifying your focus, there are benefits as well as the negatives that you will come across.

Advantages

Potential for large return

The beauty of investing in things like shares is the potential for long term income that is likely to be more lucrative than what you would save in interest by paying off your mortgage. This also allows you to better pay of your home whilst having excess cash to spend.

Asset diversification

We mentioned that putting all your eggs in one basket is not always the best option when it comes to money. This is why investing alongside mortgages is phenomenal for securing a safe future. This means that if one of your assets is performing poorly, it is likely that another will balance it out.

Compound interest

If you have ever heard of the term “making money work for you”, this would be the closest thing to it. The compound interest effect of investing cannot be overstated when you give time for it to grow. This is why if you choose to go down this route, invest as soon as possible even if it’s only a dollar, so that you can begin taking advantage of this principle.

Disadvantages

Experience required

Although not much, a decent level of understanding is required if you desire to be successful in investing. This can be a negative or positive depending on your situation. If you are in the situation where you lack the experience or knowledge, either learn or find an individual who knows what he or she is doing.

Higher risk

The potential for bigger gain also comes with the potential of a large loss. The risk in investing is real and must be minimised when making decisions as to where to put your money. Factors such as unexpected market fluctuations and so on all happen regularly. A long term approach is much more ideal for minimised risk as opposed to a short term approach which rarely works out.

As you can see, both options are viable depending on your personality and circumstance. If you are someone with confidence and experience in investing, the latter will always be ideal. Alternatively if you’re not, you can always minimise the amount you put in initially compared to the mortgage so you can at least get your feet wet.

Interested in learning more about investing? Contact us today!

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Are tenanted properties the right option for you? https://www.cpsfinance.com.au/are-tenanted-properties-the-right-option-for-you/ https://www.cpsfinance.com.au/are-tenanted-properties-the-right-option-for-you/#respond Wed, 04 Apr 2018 00:03:29 +0000 http://www.cpsfinance.com.au/?p=4080 Tenanted properties tend to have a reputation for being the investor’s jackpot. On the surface this may seem true, but this is where investors can get in trouble. Often times what may seem like a great opportunity can backfire horribly if not researched beforehand.

Although it seems like much of the work is already finished if a property is tenanted, this can very often be a negative. If you are in this situation or it relates to you, carefully study this article so that you can be certain that the tenanted property you’re looking at is right for you.

The Potential Pitfalls of Diving Straight in

Before assuming the best and going for the purchase, detailed research must be conducted as to why the property is still tenanted and is it for the wrong reasons.

The most common pitfall is that the tenants are substandard. Often-times this is the very reason as to why the property is up for sale in the first place.

Management disagreement can sometimes be the issue, especially when the current tenant has unrealistic expectations. A very real and potential scenario could be that you’re forced to put a property manager in charge, and that shift of responsibility and routine for the current tenant causes issues.

Often-times it is not advised to investors if a tenant is short term or not. Many of the times when they are, the rental price is elevated which at first sight will create an attractive deal for the investor. When price is the deciding factor,  you will be in for a shock when it comes time for the tenant to leave. Not only do you need to find a replacement, but one at standard market price.

In rare cases, tenants can be quite opportunistic or even greedy, for lack of a better word. This can be common when the investor is a beginner. As soon as you take ownership, there may be unrealistic material demands made upon you for improvements that the other vendor did not consider.

These are just some of the potential pitfalls that could arise. Although there are more,  the foundation you need is research. As an investor looking into a tenanted property, you must be willing to put in the time to find out as much as possible to be certain that the property is tenanted for the right reasons.

The Importance of the Lease Agreement

So you’re now certain that the property is tenanted and none of the above or other issues are apparent. There are certain variables that you will need to look at to avoid any silly mistakes, and these involve the tenants.

A common thought that ponders around new investors heads is whether they’re eligible to kick out tenants or not. This would especially be critical to know if they fall into one of the negative categories mentioned above. This brings us onto the lease.

Is the lease fixed term or periodical?

A fixed term is exactly what it sounds like. For whatever period the contract is set (usually 6-12 months), it cannot be terminated unless the tenant and new owner make an agreement. Alternatively, a periodical lease is the opposite. A monthly contract is usually the case in which the tenant can be granted 60 days notice to vacate.

Aside from the above, it is critical you know other details about the lease so that you’re in control. What is the amount of bond held? Are inspections held, and how often? How much does the tenant currently pay in his or her current contract? All these questions can be answered in the agreement or with a bit of investigation and communication.

As always and as mentioned with tenanted properties, research comes first. Use this information as a guideline as to what to look out for immediately, with every different circumstance there may be a different factor involved with the tenant. It’s worth going to the trouble of finding out as much as possible before making an investment that could be potentially detrimental. Contact us to research your next investment.

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The hidden opportunity of investing in a granny flat https://www.cpsfinance.com.au/the-hidden-opportunity-of-investing-in-a-granny-flat/ https://www.cpsfinance.com.au/the-hidden-opportunity-of-investing-in-a-granny-flat/#respond Tue, 13 Mar 2018 23:49:32 +0000 http://www.cpsfinance.com.au/?p=4072 The notion of investing in a granny flat has previously been fairly uncommon. Typically, they are regarded as just an extra addition to an already finished home. Despite this, the opportunity that lies dormant for anyone to take advantage of is very real. Granny flats are an excellent and affordable opportunity to invest in when you know what you’re doing, and can generate quite a bit of income.

With all investments there comes risks, but fortunately with granny flats that risk is minimised greatly. Read on so that you can get a perspective of both sides of the coin when it comes to protecting your money whilst also growing it with this potentially great investment choice.

Advantages of Granny Flats

Affordability

Whether you’re purchasing an already established granny flat or building it from scratch, it is remarkably more affordable than a standard property. The power in this is that if you’re new to investing or just tight on funds, you can wet your feet in the market without as much risk.

Asset

If you are purchasing a granny flat as an addition to your current property as opposed to a separate standalone, it will add value to your residence. The power in this is that if and when you sell your house, you earn the added value on top of its already existing rental income if there are tenants.

Risks Involved

Substandard Tenants

This applies especially if they are in proximity to you. When renting out, there is always the risk of having less than ideal occupiers. Be sure to have a certain criteria for who you want to occupy the granny flat. Bad tenants can far outweigh the financial gain and even create a negative cash flow in certain situations.

Unexpected Charges

Additional funds must be set aside when those unexpected costs arise.You’d be surprised at what can arise during a tenant’s stay or just standard costs that weren’t anticipated, so preparation for these potential situations is a must.

Overcapitalisation

Generally the banks will not increase the value of your property that much compared to the capital you initially invested. This means that you could potentially be spending $100,000 on a granny flat, and the banks will only raise the value by $75,000.

Rules and Regulations

In every state there are different rules and regulations, so this must be something researched by yourself. Despite the division in rules, there are fundamental regulations that apply nationally, so ensure you’re aware of these:

  • Granny flat space  should not exceed 60 square metres (can vary slightly across states).
  • Must have differentiated access from main property.
  • Primary property already has zoning permission.
  • Primary property owner owns the granny flat.
  • One granny flat per property.
  • Property exceeds 450 square metres in space.

As you can see, like every investment, granny flats have their ups and downs. In the current Australian economy with the affordability crisis, they are a great option for investments due to their low initial costs.

Ensure that you conduct research in not only the points addressed in this article, but in relation to the tenants you’re considering or the area you’re buying in. This will always be a viable option for investment, and if you’re a beginner, it is ideal due to its massive price saving compared to standard properties.

Keen to learn more about investing? Contact us today!

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Thinking about purchasing a property with someone else? https://www.cpsfinance.com.au/thinking-about-purchasing-a-property-with-someone-else/ https://www.cpsfinance.com.au/thinking-about-purchasing-a-property-with-someone-else/#respond Tue, 06 Mar 2018 23:44:59 +0000 http://www.cpsfinance.com.au/?p=4067 Often-times, especially in today’s market, purchasing a property with someone is a common thought to have, due to financial stresses.

Right now you may be on the fence as to whether to move out solo or with another individual. Consider these options for the latter.

Tenants in Common

Ideal for individuals who don’t want equal ownership, ‘Tenants in Common’ depend upon the agreed shares of each party which may be something like 70/30. This also means that if one party dies, rather than their interest passing on to the other tenant, it goes on to the individual’s estate and will.

Joint Tenants

The most common form of ownership, particularly for husbands and wives is ‘Joint Tenants’. Essentially what this arrangement entails is that both parties have equal shares. Alternatively to Tenants in Common, if one party passes away, all the shares are transferred to the other individual through rights of survivorship.

Although this is universally the most common option, it is not always the best. For example, in the situation where one party is earning remarkably more than the other, an arrangement such as Tenants in Common may be more appropriate in certain situations which will be discussed below.

These options are polar opposites which can make it hard to decide, however, fortunately there can be some flexibility in certain cases. There are different situations that can arise which would combine both. An example would be if a third party was involved that desired a smaller share, whilst the first two parties would share the greater half. This would result in a Tenants in Common and Joint Tenants relationship.

How to Determine What Option to go With

Whether you go with Joint Tenants, Tenants in Common or a combination will solely depend on your circumstances and personality. There are certain factors and situations that call for one option over the other. The below points will provide you with some insight as to what option may be more appropriate for you depending on your conditions.

Joint Tenant

  • Both parties are in equal or similar income brackets.
  • Ideal for married couples or business partners.
  • Continuity – you desire to keep ownership of the property for whatever means if the other party dies.
  • Financial stability – will not go into turmoil if other party becomes deceased.

Tenants in Common

  • You earn significantly more or less than the other party.
  • You do not want full ownership if the other party passes away.
  • Financially cautious (lower income party).

Both options are advantageous depending on your situation. The final decision would have to be made between the two main parties or more, to come to a conclusion if you’re set about moving out with someone. Ideally if there are more parties involved, a combination may be the best option.

Although Joint Tenant has historically been seen as the default option in most cases, this is beginning to change as people have begun to act more consciously with their capital in property purchasing. At the end of the day, it will come down to your research as well as your knowledge to choose the option that’s best suited for your circumstance.

Want some help deciding which option is best for you? We can help! Contact us today.

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5 practical ways to boost rental yield https://www.cpsfinance.com.au/5-practical-ways-to-boost-rental-yield/ https://www.cpsfinance.com.au/5-practical-ways-to-boost-rental-yield/#respond Sun, 25 Feb 2018 21:05:27 +0000 http://www.cpsfinance.com.au/?p=4061 With rental property being a massive source of income for many individuals in Australia, the question of how to boost its income yield remains integral.

Fortunately for you, this article will outline some of the top methods of increasing your rental yield so that you don’t go missing out on the potential earnings that countless of other property owners do.

Furnishing

It is common knowledge that the more stylish and well managed a property is, the more it will rent for. Unfortunately, many landlords make the mistake of seeing a property as it is rather than what it could be and be worth.

Although it may not be needed or even worth the investment, sometimes it can pay to offer your investment property as already furnished. This will appeal to those tenants who need to move somewhere quickly, and will also mean you can charge a little more rent than if it were just the empty property.

Spare bedroom

This applies mainly for a property that has a garage or spare space that could be much better utilised as a new bedroom or study. Transforming a space to a new room could yield an enormous increase on your rental yield, especially considering the minimal work that is required seeing as it’s just a redressing.

Parking

Depending on the tenant and location, adding a spare off-street parking spot can be the deciding factor for someone contemplating rent. If your ideal renter is travelling around a lot and not using public transport, this add on should be heavily considered.

Adding off-street parking is not separate from the property, this means that your total property value will rise as a result of this added luxury.

Pro pets

Inspect the location where your property is, is it a pet safe area? Or more business orientated? What type of tenants will be interested in your property? If the answers point towards a pro pet demographic, then you ideally want to allow it. This may or may not apply to you, but if it does, you should know that you are disregarding much of your target market if you disallow pets.

Proximity

This applies if you have not already yet purchased your property to rent out, or are looking to relocate. There can be much said about location that you will find in just about any real estate manual or guide, but if there is one niche to target in relation to it, students would be it.

Choosing an area close to where students study will in itself give you a lot of potential tenants, and it also means you won’t have to spend a lot of money on the touch ups that normal tenants would require.

Applying even one or two of these tips will certainly increase your property rental yield. Although they are all practical, ensure you study the circumstance in regards to the tenants, location and so on before making any decisions.

More than anything, conduct in-depth research on each of the 5 ways before taking action, remember this article acts as a general guide on the methods rather than a step by step on executing them. Contact us today to discuss this further.

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Why protecting your assets is more important now than ever https://www.cpsfinance.com.au/why-protecting-your-assets-is-more-important-now-than-ever/ https://www.cpsfinance.com.au/why-protecting-your-assets-is-more-important-now-than-ever/#respond Mon, 19 Feb 2018 08:30:56 +0000 http://www.cpsfinance.com.au/?p=4053 With the number of lawsuits and similar cases showing up in Australia, subjects such as protecting ones assets are increasingly becoming more important. Anyone knowledgeable about the subject knows that Australia is unfortunately one of the more litigious countries in the world.

Although unfortunate, it is a fact that frivolous lawsuits are an issue and people are taking advantage of our legal system. Wealth can be acquired throughout an entire lifetime, and taken away by one superficial claim. This article will go about explaining the different ways you can protect yourself from this fact so that you never have to suffer from a frivolous creditor.

Individual ownership of assets

The best way to shoot yourself in the foot in terms of asset protection is to own investment properties in your own name. In the case of being sued you are at risk of losing everything under your name.

Many people would argue the tax benefits and cost effectiveness you would receive by using your own name, and they would be right, but the argument for the potential loss is a much better one if your focus is on protection.

Company structure

An alternative to individual ownership is using a company structure, which is characterised by being a separate legal entity from the owner. In the case of asset protection, this is a much safer and wiser choice as the risk is transferred to the shareholders in the company.

The issue with this structure is that if the individual happens to own all the shares in the company, much of the asset protection benefits you would receive from this form of ownership would dissipate.

Trust fund

Typically, property investments owned in a generic trust are the way to go over the above examples. The benefit of this is clear, the individual does not own the asset, but rather the trust does. The individual however, does control it.

During the situation of a lawsuit, a person with a trust does not bear any potential loss or risk that a company structure and individual ownership do. The only caveat is that you must know what trust is right for you for many reasons including tax effectiveness; whether you’re a business or on your own will have a lot to do with this.

What about insurance?

Many individuals mistake asset protection for insurance and make the fatal mistake of choosing one over the other. The truth is, both supplement each other and are mandatory. Having insurance provides many benefits towards asset protection including legal fee assistance, funds to settle lawsuits and so on.

Now that you’re aware of the main forms of ownership in relation to protecting your assets, you can judge your situation and make an informed decision. Contact us to discuss your investment options.

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5 important lessons from an experienced property investor https://www.cpsfinance.com.au/5-important-lessons-from-an-experienced-property-investor/ https://www.cpsfinance.com.au/5-important-lessons-from-an-experienced-property-investor/#respond Mon, 05 Feb 2018 08:25:33 +0000 http://www.cpsfinance.com.au/?p=4049 Whether you’re a beginner or experienced property investor, there is no better way to expand your knowledge of the industry than to learn from people who have already been where you want to go.

The 5 tips in this article are foundational life lessons of those who have crossed the property investing path before:

Head over heart

Like poker players, experienced property investors all know to leave their emotions at the door. This is not a home that they’re buying for their three children and wife, this is a vehicle through which they intend to make money with.

If you’re a beginner reading this, your tendency will be to go with your emotions because of the thrill, which is why you must internalise this lesson and take it with you to avoid that trap.

Listen to others

At the end of the day, the decision is yours to choose which property you want to invest in. However, although this is true, getting several third party opinions can go a long way for many reasons. Like the above tip, emotions can get in the way of rational decisions, which is why getting a logical third party opinion can help in giving you perspective.

Despite your experience or lack thereof, there is almost always one or two things your investor buddies know that you dont, which is why it’s essential to gain this birds eye perspective. If you are a beginner, this tip should go without saying.

Building inspection

One mistake that is unfortunately prevalent is not having a building inspection. Experienced investors realise that this mandatory in order to avoid any unexpected expenses down the road. Aside from this, you do not want your tenants giving you a hard time for any hidden faults or insects crawling around once they move in.

It’s a business

There is a misconception that investing is a “side-gig” towards your real job and that it should be treated as such; this is a mindset that will lead you to failure. Whether this is your only source or just a side source of income, you need to treat investing like you would treat your own business.

This means that the activities conducted by you should involve standard business procedures like setting up financing, protection, relationships with other smart investors and so on. Like everything in life, you get out what you put in, and unfortunately you’re at risk of losing a lot of capital if you treat this with little regard.

Long term > short term

Many people are overly dramatic about the short term fluctuations in investing, and how to seize them. The problem is that these are quite unreliable and very volatile. On the other hand, long term charts provide a very good scope of statistics that are much more proven to be profitable if followed.

In terms of property investing, going in for the long haul is much smarter than short term gains. Of course, there are situations and people who profit of the latter, though for the general public it’s much like gambling.

So remember, if you’re just beginning in the world of investing, you could save years of heartache and pain by learning from others mistakes instead of making them yourself. To get started on your investment journey, contact us today!

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The 5 most common property investment mistakes https://www.cpsfinance.com.au/the-5-most-common-property-investment-mistakes/ https://www.cpsfinance.com.au/the-5-most-common-property-investment-mistakes/#respond Wed, 10 Jan 2018 08:12:03 +0000 http://www.cpsfinance.com.au/?p=4039 The notion of property investing can seem like a very exciting form of money-making, especially after all the TV shows that showcase its glamorous side. Unfortunately this stereotype attracts a lot of naive beginners who make mistakes which could have been avoided with a little prior knowledge.

This article will outline some of the fundamental mistakes that property investors make when starting out, so be sure to keep them as your guide as you head into the world of property investing. 

Narrow focus

Many investors, and beginners in particular, tend to get very excited at the first site of a promising property and totally cut off all other options. This can be for a number of reasons including an authority figures’ influence.

Although third party advice is viable and definitely recommended, most of them have another agenda which is why it’s always smart to do your own research and seek advice from various sources. Avoiding this pitfall opens you up to a world of financial opportunities and rids you of financial stress by not choosing the wrong property.

Using emotions over logic

Choosing a house for an individual is a very intimate decision, it’s a place where they will call home and create many fond memories. Unfortunately, these same emotions tend to arise in people when they are choosing a property to invest in, which can lead to all kinds of chaos.

When going to look at your potential investments, always look at it as an investment to make money with. The garden in the backyard may bring back blissful memories of your childhood, but are your potential future buyers going to care? Not likely. This is a skill in its own and will require time to develop, but it is crucial to your decision making process and must be consciously utilised.

Untouched rent adjustment

Many times property investors go into a deal thinking that it is done once the papers are signed, and this isn’t so. There are several things that require monitoring for your income to keep flowing as well as increasing, and rent payment adjustment is one.

As the rental market changes, you need to be able to adjust the per price cost of your property accordingly. Most importantly, this needs to be performed incrementally rather than all at once.

Disregarding external factors

It’s common knowledge to include the neighborhood and surrounding area, but many investors underestimate its importance. The conveniences in the local area can be the make or break for any tenant no matter how good the property is, so it makes sense to pay it as much if not more attention than the property itself.

Depending on the area and your ideal tenant, the external factors can range in level of importance. In general, factors such as neighborhood safety, education, transport and shopping luxuries will all play a major role.

Not having enough capital

This applies mainly for freedom of choice rather than the ability to invest. For starters you will need enough to even invest in a house, but that should not be the marker. For a safe and profitable decision, you need to have enough to consider as many options as possible rather than the ones that fit within your budget.

This is a mistake for a simple reason, missing out on opportunities. The last situation you want to be in is having to settle for a less than great house where all you would have needed is more funds to seize an extremely profitable property.

Many of these mistakes are instinctual rather than situational, meaning that if you don’t consciously decide to avoid them, you may find yourself doing them out of human nature. Be patient and take your time, avoid these common pitfalls and it will pay off in the long run. To discuss this further, contact us today.

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Units or Houses – which make better investments? https://www.cpsfinance.com.au/units-or-houses-which-make-better-investments/ https://www.cpsfinance.com.au/units-or-houses-which-make-better-investments/#respond Thu, 30 Nov 2017 21:03:27 +0000 http://www.cpsfinance.com.au/?p=4007 Have you ever wondered whether units or houses make better investments? In this article, I’ll explore the pros and cons for both and provide you with a definitive conclusion.

Units

Compared to houses, units tend to be smaller abodes, with smaller rooms and less private open space. They may be stand alone (i.e. detached), or they may have common walls with abutting dwellings (i.e. semi-detached), and may also have shared space for driveways and parking.

Once the domain of the pensioner or downsizer, units (aka apartments, condos, and plexes) are now popular to the point of becoming mainstream for these three reasons:

  1. Affordability

In general, in any given suburb, a unit will be cheaper than a house. This will be because it is a smaller sized building with more compact bedrooms and living areas, but more importantly, because it has less land.

As mentioned, having to put up with small used to be seen as a compromise. Not so much anymore. Smaller now means less cost (i.e. rates, utilities, etc.) and less effort to maintain (i.e. cleaning, garden, repairs, etc.).

  1. Convenience

While apartment living has always been a necessity in population dense cities like London and New York, and in places like Europe, Australia was urbanised on the back of a “house in the suburbs on a quarter acre”, and a commute (usually via public transport) to the city for work.

Yet, as travel times increased, and as the amenities in city areas improved, the CBD area has morphed from a place to work and be entertained, to a place to live and work and be entertained. For some, the convenience of walking to the office and access to superior amenities such as restaurants, entertainment, transport, etc. have outstripped the benefits of a traditional house in the ‘burbs and a long commute on a congested freeway to work.

Furthermore, as mentioned, while seen as odd by past generations of Australians, unit living is the norm in many Asian and European countries where space is in short supply. Without any prejudice, immigrants see nothing unusual about living in the same type of (compact) accommodation as is the norm in their country of origin.

  1. Yield

For investors, compared to houses, units generally provide a better income return. That is, despite needing to accept a lower rent compared to what could be achieved owning a house, investors are more than compensated with a cheaper purchase price so that when the numbers are crunched, it is usual for a unit to have a higher percentage gross return (i.e. annual rent divided by purchase price) than a nearby house.

Houses

To qualify as a house, the dwelling normally has to be on its own title and have no shared or common area, including walls, driveways, etc. Houses are usually larger than units – both in respect to room size and the amount of private open space.

As mentioned, for many generations past and present, the Great Aussie Dream was to own your own house, which was typically on a substantial parcel of land (such as the classic quarter acre which is a little over 1,000 square metres). While land sizes have diminished (most new houses today come on land parcels of 500 square metres, or less), houses remain the pinnacle of home ownership for those who like their space, are raising a family, and/or who prefer not to be living a wall away (i.e. a few metres) from their neighbours.

Which Is The Better Investment?

Consider this conundrum: you can either buy an older 2-bedroom house for $500,000 in suburb Y, or a new 3-bedroom unit in the same suburb. Which should you choose?

As we flesh out an answer, here’s a general investing principle to remember:

You are better off purchasing the worst house in the best suburb you can afford, than the best house in the worst suburb you can bear living in.

Have you heard the saying “Land appreciates while houses depreciate”? It’s true. What makes a dwelling more valuable is not the bricks and sticks it is made from, which will deteriorate over time and require maintenance, but rather its land size and proximity to appealing amenities. This is sometimes paraphrased as “location, location, location”, but that is only partly true. For land to be valuable it must be usable and it must be scarce; land that is not usable or scarce is unlikely to be a good investment.

The principle mentioned above captures the reality that a bad house on good land will be a better investment than a good house on bad land.

Another general principle to remember is:

Buy the best-worst house you can afford rather than the worst-best unit.

In other words, dollar-for-dollar you are better off buying a run down house in your chosen location than a spruced up unit. Why? Because over time the land will become more valuable (as it comes more scarce) whereas the unit will depreciate in appeal as it suffers wear and tear from use.

It is true that your rental yield will probably be lower for the house, but whatever you miss out on in income should be well and truly made up for in extra capital appreciation over time.

These two points made, you may be faced with limited deposit capital and/or borrowing ability. If so, then a unit can still be a smart investment if it helps you get in the property market, rather than having to watch on the sidelines as property prices increase faster than your ability to save.

If you are considering purchasing a unit, then here are four recommendations to remember:

Buy old, not new. Older units are usually bigger, and you won’t pay a premium for shiny and new which is only temporary anyway.

Don’t get attached. The less attached a unit is, the better. If possible, avoid common walls abutting living areas.

Less is better. The fewer units on (or in) the block, the better. The more dwellings there are, the less scarcity there is, and the more cramped the living conditions, and the less land that would be “yours”.

Aim high, or low, not middle. You are better off with a ground floor unit (for convenience), or a high floor unit (for the view), rather than being in the middle with the masses.

To conclude, data that tracks rental yields and movements in median dwelling prices over time indicates that while units deliver a better rental yield than houses, houses outperform in terms of capital appreciation. Given Australia is largely a growth (rather than income) property market, you’re better off with a house than a unit, and better off with a unit than nothing at all.

Source:

https://www.propertyinvesting.com/units-houses-make-better-investments/

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Spotlight on: Greater Springfield, Brisbane – part 3 https://www.cpsfinance.com.au/spotlight-on-greater-springfield-brisbane-part-3/ https://www.cpsfinance.com.au/spotlight-on-greater-springfield-brisbane-part-3/#respond Mon, 20 Nov 2017 21:15:18 +0000 http://www.cpsfinance.com.au/?p=3990 Missed Part 2 of our Greater Springfield series? Read it here.

Just east of Ipswich, and within a half hour drive of Brisbane’s CBD, lies Greater Springfield – one of Australia’s most ambitious master-planned cities.

With two rail stations, and direct, non-stop access to Brisbane airport, Greater Springfield’s vision is to become a world-class regional city and services hub by 2030. And by the time development is complete, an expected $85 billion will have been spent on infrastructure and commercial and residential construction.

Greater Springfield has been carefully designed around three key pillars – Education, Health and Technology – ensuring that sufficient infrastructure and employment opportunities are available to support the rapidly growing population – tipped to reach 138,000 by 2030.

In our latest Spotlight series, we take a look at each pillar, and provide some compelling reasons as to why you should consider this region as part of your investment portfolio.

Pillar 3: Technology

As the final key pillar, Technology has been an important driver in Greater Springfield’s establishment as an innovative ‘smart city’.

Greater Springfield has its own Digital Master Plan – a digital eco-system that businesses can easily connect to and integrate with their own products and systems.

The Greater Springfield community also has access to intelligent platforms and data to enhance their lifestyle, health, education and business performance.

This investment in technology and development of a state-of-the-art working environment has resulted in companies, such as GE, relocating their state headquarters to the area, and plans to entice tech giants such as Google and Microsoft being discussed.

Technology fast facts

  • Digital Master Plan includes interconnected network of infrastructure and services, allowing community and businesses to easily connect and collaborate
  • $230 million Polaris Data Centre, Australia’s leading purpose-built technology facility
  • GE Australia State Headquarters
  • State-of-the-art dark fibre network throughout the CBD
  • IDEA City precinct, designed to encourage innovation, entrepreneurship and research
  • Intelligent platforms to enhance residents’ lifestyle, health, education and business performance.

Greater Springfield investment opportunities

With apartment development at unprecedented levels in the Brisbane CBD, we’re looking to the west for its exciting investment potential.

Greater Springfield’s focus on the key pillars of Education, Health and Technology means that population growth is well supported by significant investment in infrastructure and employment.

Housing is currently affordable, with good capital growth prospects and no signs of slowing down in the near future.

We have a variety of off-market investment properties in Greater Springfield that are only available through CPS Property.

Please contact us today to learn more about Greater Springfield, or to arrange your free property investment consultation.

 

Information and images sourced from Greater Springfield.

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