Buying & Selling

Rental yield – essentially the rate of rental income returned against the costs of an investment property is a great indicator of a property’s investment potential. But you need to keep things in perspective when you factor it into your decision to purchase property. Calculating rental yield A good first step in examining rental yield’s impact on the investment potential of a property is to recognise that there are two types of rental yields, gross and net, and they are calculated differently. In property, gross rental yield is calculated by dividing the annual rental income you receive by the property value, and then multiplying this figure by 100. For example, if you collect $20,800 rent annually ($400 per week) and your property value is

Knowing what a property is worth is central to avoiding paying too much for it. Set a benchmark Comparing nearby properties that have sold recently is the best way to assess an acceptable price for the property you are looking at and provides a valuable bargaining tool when you are negotiating with a seller or agent. Make sure the properties are comparable, with a similar land size and number of bedrooms, for example, so you aren’t measuring apples against oranges. Keep in mind current market conditions The property market is always changing, so doing this research once and sitting on it for a few months will offer little help. Going to open homes and auctions regularly will give you insight into the current state

With the property boom of recent years and the popularity of TV renovation shows like The Block and House Rules, increasing numbers of Australians have been ‘buying to flip’ – buying a property, renovating it and selling it at a profit. Buying to flip can be lucrative when property prices are rising rapidly, but is it still a viable option in today’s softer market? The answer is it can be. You will, however, need to: do your own research and due diligence be in a strong financial position consult a mortgage broker for the best finance arrangements. What should potential ‘flipper’ be aware of? Buying ‘the right’ property What’s the right property for you to flip? The answer to that may come from research

Seller expectations are high but buyers want low prices – what’s to be done? Two real estate agents detail how to negotiate in a declining market. After years of rapidly rising house prices, the recent slowdown took many people by surprise – not least those with a home to sell. “For a while we had a situation where buyers were aware the market was dropping while sellers still assumed it was strong, so there was a big gap between their expectations,” says Anton Zhouk, Director of the Buxton Real Estate Group at Boroondara in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. “Now people have had time to adjust so, when it comes to negotiation, the gap isn’t quite so wide.” Whatever the state of the market, every negotiation

Purchasing a property is a thrilling yet nerve-wracking experience, which is why it can be handy to surround yourself with a network of support and expertise. Here are the different parties who may be involved in your home-buying process and how you can use this valuable knowledge base to answer your questions.   Real estate agent Unless you’re working with a private vendor, meeting a real estate agent is inevitable when it comes to purchasing a property. Hired by the vendor, or seller, their role is to market and communicate about the property, advise on preparing it for sale and negotiate with potential buyers. Insurance companies Risk management is vital in such a high-value purchase and long-term financial commitment. Insurance, including mortgage protection and

The Australian residential housing market has been highly variable this year, and we’ve seen some highlights as well as lowlights. We look ahead at what’s expected for the remainder of 2018 and beyond. It’s been a tale of mixed fortunes in the nation’s housing market over the past 12 months. There’s been a downward slide in what were previously booming markets, as well as delight over growth in other areas. Capital cities have mostly continued to soften – particularly Sydney, which has had a tough start to the year – yet some of our regional areas have reaped the rewards as homebuyers look further afield for value. While houses have felt the pressure, apartment values in some areas have risen. What’s more, whilst value