Australia continues to be the preferred destination for purchasing investment properties. Its stable property markets allow investors to enhance cash flow, gain tax benefits, build wealth, and secure their financial future.
The fact that everyone needs to have a roof over their heads makes property investing an in-demand and lucrative investment strategy to earn money in the future.
Read this blog to learn more about real estate and property investing and whether it fits your circumstances. You will learn how to invest in properties for beginners and the best ways to start your investment journey in Australia.
1. What Is An Investment Property?
Buying an investment property is an investment in real estate that helps grow wealth and generate a passive income. The financial return you earn from this investment can be in the form of the following:
A rental yield is where the owner rents to a business or resident
A future gain is when you sell the property for a profit.
2. Pros And Cons Of Buying An Investment Property In Australia
Pros
It helps you gain a steady cash flow from your rental property.
You get tax benefits from investing, which makes buying an investment property more accessible. You can claim specific investment property expenditures like maintenance costs, management costs, and other borrowing expenditures as tax deductions.
If your property increases in value, you can use capital gains to build equity without living in it. This will help make it easier to refinance to another loan or buy another property while continuing to rent in the desired location.
Cons
You will have to pay capital gains tax on the profits earned on the investment property you choose to sell.
First-home buyers can lose access to the First Home Owner Grants and stamp duty concessions when purchasing an investment property.
Considering the property market swings of the past few years, it is evident that property investment isn't immune to risks. Some areas have reported year-on-year losses of over 20% recently, while the average 10-year return on property is 8%,
Not all investment property expenses are tax-deductible. You still need to do many admin tasks like plumbing, repairing, fixing broken fittings, etc., on your own. Also, sudden expenditures like property damage from natural causes can be costly.
3. How Much Deposit Do I Need For An Investment Property In Australia?
You will usually require a 20% deposit to purchase an investment property. You can use your equity from your existing home or savings to buy an investment property.
If you cannot make a full 20% deposit, you can take out a Lender's Mortgage Insurance. This insurance safeguards the bank if you fail to repay your mortgage.
4. Steps To Invest In Real Estate In Australia
It can be a tough, risky, and challenging experience for beginners to invest in a rental property. It requires elaborate planning, research, knowledge, and the backing of the right professionals to make it a profitable and rewarding venture.
The below section will help simplify real estate investing for beginners and navigate you on the path to becoming a landlord:
Step 1: Assess Your Cash Flow And Budget
This is the first step to starting your journey in property investment.
List your expenses and assets, including savings and income, to figure out how much you have for a deposit and how much you need to save.
Step 2: Make an Investment Plan
Once you know your financials, the next step is determining what property you should invest in. Here is a short questionnaire that will help you gain clarity on the right property for investment:
What kind of estate am I looking to purchase- housing (house, units, or apartments) or commercial?
How much do I need to spend?
What locations suit my investor profile?
What will be the ongoing expenses for properties in a specific area?
How much capital growth, rental returns, and vacancy rates can I expect at a given location?
Are any benefits attracting people to live and work in this location?
What cash flow or income can I expect?
Are there any risks involved?
Step 3: Contact Your Mortgage Broker or Bank and Get a Pre-Approval
You should seek a home loan if you need more cash to make property payments. Most lenders would want you to make an upfront lumpsum payment of 20% of the current property value as a deposit. You can take out a lender's mortgage insurance if you don't have adequate cash.
Compare different lenders, and apply for a loan with the best lender. Contact them to find out how much they will lend you and at what interest rate. Getting the loan pre-approved is suggested to get certainty on how much money you can spend on a property.
Step 4: Consider The Loan Structure
Based on the economic environment and advice from the professionals, decide on the following:
Whether to go for an interest-only or principal-and-interest loan
Should you lock the loan interest rates on a variable, fixed, or split term?
Step 5: Set Your Investment Goals
Determine what you want to achieve and your investment timeframe. Do you want to invest in a property for consistent rental income to secure your retirement or to sell it at a profit and earn a capital gain?
Step 6: Talk To Professionals
Consider taking the help of a financial advisor and accountant to get you more clarity on your investment goals, verify your budget, and understand the tax implications and benefits of an investment property purchase.
You can also consult them to advise you on the best investment strategy to generate the best returns.
Consult a lawyer or a conveyancer who is a qualified expert familiar with legal documents and legislation related to property purchase and sale. Their assistance during complex documentation and settlement will make it relatively easy.
Step 7: Create a Property Assessment Model
Before you search for properties, decide on a few parameters on which you will assess a property to find whether it is the right one for you:
Location
Access to public amenities and employment opportunities that make it in high demand among the public
General Vibes
Property type – (Unit, a townhouse, a freestanding house)
Exterior and interior of the investment
New or established
Potential for capital growth and rental income
Ongoing property expenses
Step 8: Find A Local Property Agent to Start Your Property Search
In addition to researching the location, and local property market, find a real estate agent who can show you properties based on your criteria.
You can also consider online real estate portals like realestate.com.au, ljhooker.com.au, and domain.com.au to find properties that are up for sale.
Step 9: Decide On The Property Management Strategy
After buying an investment property, decide how you will manage it. You can do it yourself (DIY) or take the services of a property manager. Though the property manager charges approx. 7 to 10% of your total rental income, the level of expertise and the benefits they offer outweigh the cost.
They will provide you with regular and detailed property evaluation reports and copies of critical documents. They will also periodically review the local market and overall rent rates to help you get the best outcome.
5. Investment Property Tips For Beginners In Australia
Are you a beginner with no experience in real estate investment? We have compiled a few investment property tips that give you the confidence and direction to make a move in property investing.
Formulate a plan - Identify your end goals and what you wish to achieve, then form investment decisions accordingly.
Figure out how much you can afford to borrow with a home mortgage.
Decide who will manage the property.
Decide how you want to invest in a property- physical property, REITs, properties on the ASX, REIG, etc.
Specify a realistic budget that you can set aside for property investment without scarifying your lifestyle. When making the budget, keep in mind that lenders usually ask for at least 10% to 20% of the property price as an upfront payment. You would also need to pay for other fees related to buying, such as stamp duty, insurance, maintenance, interest on borrowings, and legal and conveyancing fees.
You also need to consider minor ongoing property costs/expenses, such as council rates, strata fees, repairs and maintenance, and water rates. Property management fees, projected vacancy costs, including loss of rent and advertising, landlords' insurance, land tax, and renovation cost.
Research the property market in your area to find the property's potential for capital growth, ongoing costs, and rental income to arrive at the correct property, location, and investment buying price.
Compare the different lenders to find the one that is reputable and offers a competitive interest rate with no hidden charges.
Check your credit score and history to ensure no discrepancies in the credit report. This is important before you start to inspect properties.
Consider whether you require taking landlord's insurance to protect its content from unexpected events.
If you are stuck, feel free to seek expert assistance with your property investing goals.
This includes seeking independent and unbiased professional advice from experienced accountants, conveyancers, buyer's agents, property experts, financial planners, mortgage brokers, and local real estate agents.
They can guide you on the right property types to help you reach your financial goals and boost your chances of success.
6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How can I Invest $1000 in Real Estate?
Though real estate is expensive when it comes to investing, there are plenty of options available to invest in properties without paying 20% of the current property value in advance.
Here we have listed different real estate investments that don't need much cash that you can start with just $1000.
Buy fractional stocks of individual properties.
Buy stocks of real estate investment trusts via their regular brokerage account.
Consider real estate crowdfunding, where money from various investors comes together to invest a large sum in a real estate company or property. This way, an investor can become a real estate property or company shareholder.
Do Real Estate wholesaling wherein wholesalers put properties under the agreement. They don't purchase them but flip the deal to other investors to make a profit.
Consider buying parcels of land for as little as $100.
How To Buy an Investment Property With Equity?
Equity is the difference between the present property value and the amount you owe against it. Buying an investment property with equity is a great way to build a solid property portfolio.
You can consider using equity to buy an investment property in the following ways:
Use it as a deposit against an investment loan. You can borrow up to 80% of the property value with adequate equity without investing your cash.
If you are buying off-the-plan for 1-to 2 years, you can use equity as a deposit bond or guarantee to generate interest for the time it stays in the bank while it gets settled.
You can take out a line of credit and combine it with an offset account to lower the interest on your home loan.
Those who need adequate equity to buy an investment property can use it to renovate their existing property. This is, again, an excellent way to start your investment journey.
Some of the ways that can significantly boost your equity are:
Do cosmetic renovations to build your equity.
Paint your home, or construct a new kitchen or bathroom, as they can dramatically increase your property price.
Make additional repayments to lessen your home mortgage. The repayments you make, the more equity you can use for your property.
How Can I Invest In Property With no Money In Australia?
Do you want to know how you can get an investment property with no money? Here we have listed simple ways to help you buy an investment property:
How To Invest In Real Estate In Australia With Little Money?
One of the best ways is to apply for an investment property mortgage. The proper structure to borrow is essential when beginning your investment journey.
You need to get the right loan in the correct name and amount to maximize your financial and tax benefits.
Here are some tips that will help you understand how to invest in property with little money:
Identify your borrowing capacity before you begin comparing different home loans. Use the borrowing power calculator to determine how much you can afford.
Compare and find a suitable investment property mortgage with a competitive interest rate and low fees. Refer to the below list of finance options to compare and find the right one for your needs.
Check your credit score before you approach a lender.
Get a pre-approval home loan to know the price range you can afford before looking at different investments and properties.
Can I Afford an Investment Property?
It would be best if you asked a few questions to determine whether owning an investment is right for you.
Why do you want to buy an investment property?
How important is it in my long-term financial plan?
What investment property do I look for, one that gives me high rental yields or one that I can sell at a profit in the next 5 or 10 years?
Do you seek a property to give it on rent right now or want to renovate it to enhance its value?
What property do you want to buy- an apartment or a home?
What interest rate do I need to pay on my home mortgage for an investment property?
The answers to the above questions will help you determine whether or not you can afford the type of investment estate that aligns with your long-term investment goals. In addition to the above, you must consider the costs of buying real estate.
Deposit: You need 20% of the property's price to avoid paying the Lender's Mortgage Insurance fees.
Home Loan: You may also require to pay for other home loan-related expenses such as application fees, legal fees, valuation fees, monthly or annual fees, and setup fees. Read the fine print to learn about the costs before applying for a house loan.
Buying Costs: When your loan is approved, you need to look at expenses related to the purchase of the property, such as:
Stamp duty charges
Attorney fees
Registration costs
Ownership transfer costs
Cost of building inspection
The cost incurred in the title search
Property Insurance, maintenance, and management costs
Strata fees and Council rates
Land tax on the investment property
Buyer's Agent Fees: You will need to pay a certain percentage of the buying price of the property (commission) to the buyer's agent to help search for and acquire the right property.
What Are The Different Types of Real Estate?
Are you searching for an ideal property for investment? You can find various real estate investments in the property market to choose from:
Making the right property choice requires understanding the market for each investment property above. It is also worth seeking investment advice from a buyer's estate agent and market updates from a property agent.
Owning an investment-grade property that suits the central demographic in that location and performing the above analysis will help you outperform the general market and achieve real estate investment success.
How Do Beginners Make Money In Real Estate?
Real estate investing can be lucrative, help diversify your investment portfolio, and earn an additional income source. If you are new to real estate investing, then the ideal way to start your investment journey is by learning the different ways to invest in the property market.
Buy REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts) – You don't necessarily have to invest in real estate by buying housing or commercial estate.
There are many other ways to do it. One of them is to invest in real estate companies or REITs that own commercial real estate and pay high dividends to investors. However, you also have the choice to reinvest the dividend income to grow your capital further.
Fundraiser is a simple, low-cost, transparent company that simplifies real estate investing. It is an ideal platform for newbies who want to start their real estate investment.
Features: Smarter diversification, institutional quality at low-price, flexible investment minimums, and a convenient and intuitive website and mobile app to invest and manage your portfolio.
What Are The Tax Benefits of an Investment Property?
Investing in real estate is undeniably a great way to achieve financial freedom through tax benefits. A landlord's tax deductions help them reduce their yearly tax bill.
According to the Australian Taxation Office, if you are an Australian resident and have owned a property for 12 months or more, you may be eligible to obtain a 50% rebate on tax on the capital gain.
In addition to it, you get tax deductions in the following areas:
Holding costs
Loan costs: Loan establishment fees, mortgage insurance fees, mortgage registration, account management fees, mortgage broker fees, loan interest, and stamp duty on the loan.
Depreciation of the building and fittings (towards the general wear and tear of the property)
Rental Expenses: Rental Advertising costs (for tenants), Council rates, Land taxes, Water rates, Gardening, Pest control, Cleaning, Corporate charges, Insurance, Property repairs and maintenance, Property agent fees and commissions, Strata fees, Travel expenses incurred for property evaluation, and rent collection,
Is It Worth Investing In Real Estate In Australia?
Many real estate investors have this question - Is it worth buying an investment property in Australia? This requires understanding the pros and cons of property investment and how well it serves your financial needs and goals.
Pros:
As people will always need housing, properties in central, well-located suburbs will always stay in demand. It is a comparatively safer and more reliable long-term investment option than other investment markets like stock exchanges.
Investment in real estate is a great way to diversify your investment portfolio (including stocks, Mutual Funds, bonds, etc.) and lower your risk.
As the property is a tangible investment, it is relatively less volatile than other investment instruments.
Several financial institutions, including banks, offer property investing loans and have a standard lending process to approve the loan.
Australian laws have a very liberal tax deduction policy where the income tax can counterbalance most expenses incurred during the buying period. This, in turn, helps landlords to minimize their yearly costs to a reasonable extent.
Property investment is lucrative for those with a long-term investment horizon. The Australian property market has a consistent average ROI of around 7% per annum.
Furthermore, the property markets in Australia have fewer years of decline compared to other global property markets. For more than a century, investment properties in Australia have shown a steady rise in the capital.
You could sell it and earn capital gains.
Besides, property price appreciation can also benefit from rental income before selling it for a profit. You can use it to pay for loan payments and other costs.
Your rental return can generate a good cash flow.
The low volatility of the Australian real estate market makes it a desirable choice over other property markets worldwide.
The ease of investing is another good reason to invest in the Australian real estate market. The country doesn't have stringent foreign investment laws in this regard. It has robust consumer protection legislation, i.e., the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009, in place, making it a convenient haven for investors to buy investment properties in Australia.
The Australian investment property market could be one of the best options for long-term wealth-building commitments for people in the country and overseas. Most Australian banks provide financial products like pay-off loans with interest to support overseas investment and lending.
Cons
There are risks that the rental income won't meet your expectations or the value of your property will decline.
A property is an illiquid investment. This means your money may get blocked if you invest in a property. The difficulty in accessing the money when you need it is another risk related to property investment. There is less liquidity.
The overall market interest rates impact the property market. Your interest rate might increase, and you will have to pay more money back to the bank.
If you need urgent money, you may need to sell it at a low price during a 'down' phase. This is called distressed selling.
Issues arising with legal beneficiaries, co-owners, etc., can make your property disputed. Gaining a bad reputation can make it harder for you to sell your property, and you risk losing money if it sells.
If the property market performs poorly, the property price may go down, and you may need to wait until the market recovers to make a profit.
How To Make Money Through Property Investments?
Knowing how to invest is key to making money in the property market. There are four ways in which you can make a profit from real estate:
Do investment Properties Make Money?
With a low vacancy rate of below 2%, low-interest rates, and fast population growth over recent years, there is a massive demand for housing in Australia. Thus, property market investing ensures both capital and rental growth for investors.
Can real estate get you rich? There is consistent growth in the property market in Australia. Real estate investments offer immense opportunities to profit if you have a long-term investment horizon. Compared to a permanent house, an investment property can produce income from rents over time, along with the potential for capital gains.
However, if you expect some severe gains from property investment over the short or long term, you must have a laser focus to yield a profit. All your decisions should depend on metrics and sound analytical research, not emotions.
Here are the most typical investment strategies to grow your money with property investments:
Buy a portion of land
Buy a house or an apartment
Buy with someone else
Flip properties
Invest in a real estate investment fund
Invest in a real estate-focused ETF
Is The Property A Good Investment In Australia?
Yes. Investment in residential real estate is a high-growth and comparatively low-yield investment.
To get the best returns out of your investment, you must know what factors dictate the property's price and performance. Around 80% of your property's performance depends on its location, and the remaining 20% is related to purchasing the right property.
Other key drivers of capital growth include infrastructure, demand and supply, liveability, and amenities.
The below points will help to choose the best investment property:
The five best suburbs in Sydney to invest in:
Coogee
Kingsford
Kensington
Maroubra
Neutral Bay
The best suburbs in Melbourne to invest in:
Caufield
Elsternwick
Ormond
Bentleigh and East Bentleigh
McKinnon
The five best suburbs in Brisbane to invest in:
New Farm/Teneriffe
Ascot
Highgate Hill
Wilston
Ashgrove
What To Look For In an Investment Property?
How do you ensure your property investment proves to be a good one? Here are the key factors you must consider when buying an investment property in Australia.
When deciding on a property, it is essential to understand the site's demographics and choose accordingly. Look for the neighbourhood's safety, general vibe, property features like a second bathroom, a car garage, access to shops, schools, transport, and big infrastructure projects like local jobs that may increase the attractiveness of the property's location and its value.
What Are The Steps To Buying an Investment Property?
Buying an investment property in Australia could be an exciting experience. Still, it requires thorough cash-flow research on properties and lenders to find the right property for your goals. Here we have listed the steps that help beginners to invest in property:
Step 1: Consider your disposable income and deposit capacity to get clarity on your finances. Ideally, you would require a 20% deposit to buy an investment property; if you don't have that much capital, you can take out Lender's Mortgage Insurance.
Step 2: Calculate property expenses associated with the property you plan to buy for the investment.
Council rates
Water rates
Building Insurance
Property management fees
Maintenance
Home loan repayments
Step 3: The next step is to understand how much you can afford to borrow from a lender. Many websites provide an investment property calculator that estimates the amount you will need monthly or annually to fund an investment property.
In addition to the investment property calculator, there are a few other free property calculators online that you can use:
Mortgage repayment calculator
Capital Gains Tax Estimator
Lender's Mortgage Insurance Calculator
Stamp Duty Calculator
Property Purchase Costs Calculator
Negative Gearing Calculator
Step 3: Compare home mortgages based on the loan interest rate and type of loan, i.e., fixed rate, variable rate, split loan, and other loan features. After deciding on the appropriate investment loan, visit the lender (bank or mortgage broker) and apply.
Getting pre-approval for home loans is advised before you hunt for properties.
Step 4: Choose an Investment Strategy:
Buying a physical real estate
Investing in REITs or REIGs
Flipping properties
Property stocks on ASX
If buying a physical property, decide on a plan to grow your investment:
Buy and hold
Renovate and add value
Capital growth
Step 5: Search for properties based on your requirements. In this regard, consider taking the professional assistance of a Property Manager, a Conveyancer, and an accountant.
Step 6: When you have bought your dream investment property, you must manage property investment compliance and accounting.
Is It Harder To Get a Mortgage for an Investment Property?
Yes. Getting an investment property loan is more complex and expensive than getting an owner-occupied home.
Many lenders assess your loan worthiness on factors such as high credit scores and substantial documentation (tax returns, pay slips, W2s, and pay stubs) that confirms you have held the same job for two years.
Do I Have To Put 20% Down on an Investment Property?
Home mortgage insurance does not cover investment properties, so you will have to put a minimum of 20 per cent down to secure conventional financing from a lender.
Can You Get a 30-Year Loan on an Investment Property?
Yes. It is possible to obtain a 30-year real estate investment property loan. 30-year mortgages are the most typical forms of loan for second homes. In addition to it, you can also find mortgage insurance with 10, 15, 20, or 25-year terms based on your buying price, monthly budget, and interest rate.
What Is The 2% Rule In Real Estate?
According to this rule, the rental amount should equal 2% of the property's purchase price. Going by this calculation, if you buy a house for $100,000, the monthly rent will be $2,000.
7. Conclusion
Investors invest in Australian property to enjoy consistent passive rental income while achieving capital growth.
Real estate is a great investment option to profit, but to realize the gains, you need a robust investment plan, research and analytical skills, and due diligence.
With this mindset, you will have a better chance of becoming a successful property investor.
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