Predictions that the Australian property market will burst continue to run rampant as the country faces the greatest credit-fuelled real estate market it’s ever seen. The market has seen a drop off in investor confidence and the repercussions of this are being felt from buyers to sellers with falling auction clearance rates and plateauing property prices in Sydney and Melbourne.

Here are our tips for property … Read more »

After showing strong conditions through to September, the final quarter of 2015 ends with capital city dwelling values declining by 1.4%.

According to the CoreLogic RP Data Home Value Index, dwelling values were absolutely flat across the combined capitals during December, with negative movements in Sydney, Adelaide and Canberra being offset by a rise in dwelling values across the remaining five capital cities. The Sydney housing market was the main drag … Read more »

Australia’s lifestyle, environment and potential return are the top reasons why Chinese investors invest in property here. Chinese investment into Australian property has more than quadrupled in the past five years.

China has recently overtaken the United States as the largest foreign property investor in Australia, with $12.4 billion being spent on the Australian property market.

It’s a huge boost to the Australian economy, with Chinese buyers helping drive the real estate … Read more »

The Reserve Bank meeting in early December declared that the cash rate will remain at 2%. Most of the experts on the panel agreed that Australia’s improving economy will be the most likely reason to keep the cash rate as it is.

However, commentators are suggesting that 2016 will be much more difficult for both borrowers and lenders.

“It’s going to be tougher for households next year and it’s not just borrowers … Read more »

Using a self-managed super fund (SMSF) to buy property is becoming increasingly popular but the decision requires careful consideration.

There are significant advantages to having a property in an SMSF for example tax effectiveness: your super fund will be taxed at 15 per cent which is considerably lower than most people’s personal tax rates.

However, there are a few things to bear in mind if you … Read more »

To keep a grounded view of the market and ensure you don’t lose quality tenants, consider following some simple steps to maximise your rental returns.

One step is to regularly review your rents and ensure they are at market levels, while giving tenants ample prior notice of rental increases. This will assist you in keeping your tenants content living in your investment property.

Multiply the average rental yield of comparable properties in … Read more »

Before starting to look seriously at a property, most investors work out the yield on the property to see if it makes their shortlist. Although some investors buy property for other reasons – such as land banking, infrastructure potential or lifestyle reasons – most are mainly concerned with its current return and potential yield.

A yield is a measurement of future income on an investment. It is … Read more »

When you start thinking about selling your property, it’s common to consider renovating. Renovating to increase the value of your home can be tricky, and costly. You don’t want to overspend on things that won’t increase value, or under deliver in the areas and rooms that really matter.
Here are 10 easy renovation ideas that instantly increase your property’s value, including painting your interior and updating your patio.
Read the … Read more »

Equity offers investors a golden opportunity to leverage profits from one property into a deposit for a new purchase. As the value of your property increases, the equity you build becomes a resource to help you create long-term wealth and security through investment.

The amount of equity you have in your property is the difference between its market value and the amount of any mortgage finance secured against the property.

Read the … Read more »

The big four banks have increased home loan interest rates, and now most other lenders have followed their lead. So is now the time to refinance?

Gone are the days when people would get a home loan and stay with the same lender for the full 25 or 30-year loan term. In Australia, the average homeowner changes their loan every four to five years because people continually seek a better deal.

There … Read more »