March 14, 2011
As a property investor seeking to make the most from your portfolio, every little aspect counts. When it comes to finance maximising your borrowing capacity, having the right loan structure and product(s) and saving money wherever possible are top priorities.
BY ROLF SCHAEFER
So wouldn’t you like to know some of the secrets of the banks that could potentially save you thousands? Here are some things to look for when considering a loan that the banks might not want to tell you about.
March 11, 2011
Housing bubble, affordability crisis, overinflated markets, growing million dollar medians…the list of less than flattering descriptions for Australia’s housing market continues to grow as both local and overseas media outlets fuel speculation about the state of our residential real estate sector.
BY MICHAEL YARDNEY
Some suggest we’re heading for a price crash comparable to that experienced in the United States during the global financial crisis or more recently, in Ireland, where the housing bubble caused a monumental collapse in local property values.
March 10, 2011
Only 10 years ago, all a property manager had to do to secure a tenant was place an ad in the local newspaper.
This was the norm, and the options for ‘extra’ marketing were non-existent. Today it’s a different ball game.
BY ERIK TYLER
Ask yourself the question: how long has your current real estate agency been in practice for? Based on my research, the median time is 30 years. Read more →
March 9, 2011
International Women’s Day was celebrated this week and it got me thinking about how many women are involved in the property world.
BY VANESSA DE GROOT
After attending a property function today I realised just how predominant women are in the industry. The first thing I’ve noticed is how many female reporters and journalists write about property – be it residential or commercial, for newspapers, journals, magazines… you name it!
I’ve always thought the property industry was predominantly a male domain – when I think of real estate it often conjures up images of a male real estate agent, or auctioneer, selling property.
March 8, 2011
Fear can motivate or paralyse us. We all face different fears each day but it’s how we deal with those fears that will determine our quality of life and our future.
By RICH HARVEY
Another word for ‘fears’ is ‘risks’. We can’t totally eliminate the risks associated with property investment, but we can manage these risks to ensure we sleep better at night. We don’t have a crystal ball to see what the property market will be like in 10 years but with careful research and analysis you can make an informed decision today that’s likely to deliver a positive return in the future. Mark Twain said: “Courage is resistance to fear; mastery of fear – not absence of fear.”
March 4, 2011
With continuing uncertainty surrounding the next impending interest rate rise and ongoing talk of affordability issues, more potential first homebuyers have been pushed out of the property market and relegated to the rental roundabout.
BY MICHAEL YARDNEY
According to a recent report from RP Data, the number of first homebuyer mortgage commitments during 2010 dropped to their lowest level in six years, with only 96,201 making the move from tenants to homeowners.
March 3, 2011
Unless we’re going to accept a life locked in our homes living via the internet, most of us value a sense of community and the amenities that go hand in hand with it. For this reason, suburbs don’t establish themselves over night.
BY CATHERINE CASHMORE
Shops, schools, public transport, nightlife, parks and other social facilities are all provided when demand reaches a level to warrant the economic investment. When newer suburbs evolve, they initially share these facilities with their inner partners before creating their own unique identity; but primarily it’s interaction with other people that builds a community, and it’s a sense of community that makes a suburb attractive enough to tempt prospective buyers.
March 2, 2011
There’s an ongoing discourse among experts in the property market, I’ve noticed, about which type of property is good to buy for an investment – those that are affordable or those that are higher priced.
BY VANESSA DE GROOT
When I say ‘higher priced’, I don’t mean premium, high-end property, but that which is usually situated in the inner ring of capital cities and is probably priced at least at the median, or higher.
March 1, 2011
The blame for many uninsured property and financial losses from the recent floods and Cyclone Yasi can be sheeted home to banks, building societies, credit unions and other lenders.
BY TIM O’DWYER
Never mind the much-vilified insurance companies whose doubly-devastated policy-holders found themselves not covered for flood or storm surge. By not making sure residential and business borrowers were properly insured, banks and other lenders failed not only these customers but also themselves and ultimately their own shareholders.
