Investment Tips

Buying an investment property can be one of the best ways forward to financial success. As well as generating a regular income stream from your asset, it also provides many tax advantages. However since the purchase of a property will be one of the biggest investment decisions you ever make, it is important to choose wisely. The stakes can be high (and costly) if mistakes are made.

With careful research and planning, purchasing an investment property can be very rewarding for your bank
balance. We are focusing on looking at buying a Portland property, as we see great growth in the area, as it is becoming more and more popular each year as a place to live. Here are some general investment tips to ensure your maximise the chance of a successful outcome.

1. Try buying during the upswing stage of the property cycle. The government offers a considerable grant for first home buyers but there is no point rushing in and receiving this bonus if you pay more than the house is worth! Timing the property cycle and purchasing when the cycle is on the way back up will ensure that you get good returns on your investment.

2. Buy properties in lower socio-economic areas that are priced below the market, with the potential of improving. In Victoria, Australia there are a number of popular seaside towns such as Portsea, Phillip Island and Torquay, which you already pay top price for. The key to investment is finding something relatively unknown which still has all the characteristics of a popular town, and is set for growth in the near future. Portland is such a place, nestled on the West coast of Victoria just outside of South Australia. Buying a property in Portland will help you achieve potential growth and investment success.

3. Look for the right suburb. A suburb that has outperformed the averages in the past is likely to continue to do
so. Suburbs close to a CBD or water are often good achievers. In the case of a Portland property you want to look for a house that is close to the beach, has good views of the bay and is in walking distance to the main shops.

4. Buy the right type of property. A property in an area that will achieve good capital growth will always appeal to future owners. Being able to resell your property should rank highly in case you need a large sum of money quickly. As an investment property, you will also need to ensure that it appeals to a wide range of tenants.

5. The property needs to generate a steady cash-flow. While this should not be the sole factor when buying a property, it is good to have consistency with income to pay the mortgage. Your investment property should also be tax-effective and provide good depreciation allowances. New houses may provide good depreciation allowances.

Buying a Portland property or any other investment property should be one of the most exiting things you ever do so make sure you take the time to research and prepare, and most importantly, enjoy it.