Why more female investors need to get the right investment property the first time round

It’s an ugly, inconvenient secret. While female real estate agents are common today, there are comparatively few women real estate investors. And that’s a problem.

Recent research shows older women are the fastest-growing homeless group in Australia. Roughly 240,000 women aged 55 or older together with another 165,000 women aged 45- 54 are skating around from friends and family members’ couches because they have nowhere else to go. So how can this number be reduced? And more importantly how can this be avoided?

Paralysis By Analysis

True, the investing world; whether it’s property, or the stock market can be an intimidating one. There is loads of jargon to master, and women have been conditioned over time, either consciously or subconsciously to ensure every possible piece of pertinent information is read and absorbed before committing that many often fall prey to information paralysis.

But the reality is, failing to act is costing women dearly.

 It’s even worse when you consider the magical power of compounding interest and the tax advantages of investing in real estate which they are also missing out on.

Why do some women lack the confidence to start investing?

Getting Property Right

When you get your first investment property purchase right, you’re setting yourself up for a secure future and positioning yourself to buy your next investment property.

But you need to get it right.

Get it wrong and you will be stuck with owning just one property or even worse, risking your financial future. Here’s where it pays to get educated around investing so that you understand how to build a portfolio that works for you and your investment goals.

Sitting On The Fence

By playing it safe and keeping most of your money in low interest-paying savings accounts rather than looking to invest it, many women are missing out on opportunities to create wealth and secure their futures purely because they didn’t know how and when to start.

Getting Started

Work and family commitments can make it hard for women to find the time to learn the investment ropes. So, where should women start on the investment path?

Baby steps – it’s always about babies!  

Make your financial wellness a priority. Make time to subscribe to a podcast, subscribe to a property investor newsletter and read the articles and there are plenty of books out there in the market.  Gradually build your familiarity with property investing and you’ll be pleasantly surprised how quickly your investment self-confidence will flourish.

It can be daunting but take the time to talk to those with property investment expertise about finance and investments. Unbeknownst to you, many people are in the same boat and until you reach out and admit to learning, you’ll gain confidence in the knowledge you are certainly not the only one. It takes courage to take the first step.

Set Yourself Goals, Create A Plan and Set Deadlines

As you learn about property investing, set yourself investment goals and a timeline. Map out a budget. Avoid becoming trapped in analysis paralysis. Permit yourself to experiment.

The trick is to start. Then you need to keep going.

Each investment you make will teach you something and as a result you’ll find your investment self-confidence blooming. Avoid making mistakes by understanding and following who is lighting the path for women when it comes to property investing. After all, they have achieved what you aspire to achieve for yourself.

Beat The Gender Investment Gap

The gender investment divide is very, very real.

Women are financially disadvantaged when it comes to their level of participation in the workforce while caring for dependent children. It’s every bit as damaging to women’s financial prosperity as the gender pay gap continues to widen. Coupled with the fact that women end up with significantly less superannuation than their male counterparts over their working lives, means that action is crucial to bridging these financial gaps.

So, while it’s important to continue pushing for workplace equality and wage parity, it’s just as critical for women to learn about property investing, to talk about investing and savvy money management and to take your financial futures into your own hands.

Just like that age old glass ceiling and breaking it, investing in real estate will help you fund your future, pursue your passions and spend more time with your family, knowing your investments are working for you.

The financial future is out there, for yourselves and your families, don’t let fear or lack of confidence cause you to miss the investment property bus. Don't end up like so many women now in their 50s and 60s who have left it to later in life to make a start.

Start now. It’s never too late to invest in your future.