Retired couple David and Barbara Archer wanted to downsize from their six-bedroom house in Kirrawee and spent the past two years “casually looking” for something suitable.
Investing
Holiday house tax benefits
If you ask holiday home owners whether they consider it a good investment, you’ll probably find a mixed response. Yes, there are tax benefits if you let out a holiday residence for a certain period during the year, as well as other tax benefits associated with negative or positive gearing.
Finding a good mortgage broker
Getting started
So, you’re in the market for a mortgage broker. As is the case when making many informed life decisions, word of mouth can be a helpful place to start. Talk with family, friends and colleagues about their experiences and recommendations.
Sydney’s strategic growth centres
Where are Sydney’s major growth centres?
Finding the perfect fixer-upper
Quality home renovations can drastically improve a property’s value and liveability. However, it’s all too easy to get caught up in a downward spiral of expensive works. Here’s the Domain guide to buying the perfect fixer-upper.
Sea view or hard cash – which is best?
When deciding what to invest in next, it’s essential to examine your priorities. And with the great Australian holiday home making a comeback, Domain looks at the pros and cons of these great escapes as well as other investment properties.
Property investment portfolio checklist
Historically, investing in the Australian real estate market has delivered consistent above-inflation returns to investors. As a medium-risk, medium- to long-term asset class, property offers a ‘bricks and mortar’ investment for which banks are prepared to lend up to 80 per cent of the value. This level of security, combined with the fact our capital cities have experienced sustained house price increases over the last 20 years, makes building a property portfolio a sound financial strategy.
Building a property investment portfolio
But how do you make the most from your money? It’s a question we all face, from choosing a savings account to building a nest egg for retirement. The way we manage our money will be determined by our attitude to risk and our financial goals.
Minimising your property investment risk
Diversify and conquer
A property investor checklist
A strong property market, investor tax benefits and the great Australian dream are just some of the reasons people invest in real estate to build their wealth. If you are keen to take the plunge, you should review the following property investor checklist:
Home equity: What every investor should know
You can often access part of that increased value for further investment, either through a redraw facility in your existing mortgage, or through another loan, with the larger share of your home acting effectively as collateral for the new lender.