Advantages of engaging a leasing agent

Leasing agents have extensive knowledge of the rental market in their area. They know what apartments are available, what the rent is, and what the amenities are. They can also help you find an apartment that fits your budget and your needs.

Working with a leasing agent can be a great way to find the perfect apartment for you. However, it is important to do your research and choose the right agent for you.

Interest rates tipped to fall under new RBA governor (Copy)

Some economists expect the cash rate will return to the low 3s by the end of 2024, providing some relief for borrowers who have seen their monthly repayments jump almost 60% since May 2022.

Economists are divided over the path forward for interest rates, with the consensus for one or two more hikes over August and September, before cuts next year. Some economists say the first cut could come as soon as February.

Interest rates tipped to fall under new RBA governor

Some economists expect the cash rate will return to the low 3s by the end of 2024, providing some relief for borrowers who have seen their monthly repayments jump almost 60% since May 2022.

Economists are divided over the path forward for interest rates, with the consensus for one or two more hikes over August and September, before cuts next year. Some economists say the first cut could come as soon as February.

5 things first-time investors should know

According to realestate.com.au's Property Seeker 2020 report, investors are now starting younger and most don't have the high incomes or vast property profiles we've come to associate with typical the words 'property investor'. Rather, it's younger and less experienced buyers that are using this strategy as a first step into the property market.

If you're just starting out in the real estate game, consider our tips to help you navigate the path to investing.

What to consider before downsizing to an apartment

The children have moved out to start families of their own, the garden is growing wild and costing a fortune to maintain, and you’re spending more time cleaning the pool than swimming in it.

A new home better suited to a more relaxed lifestyle could be the answer.

“The reason most people downsize is they find their house too big in terms of upkeep,” says Melbourne buyers advocate David Morrell of Morrell and Koren. “Or they’re trying to take a bit of capital out.”

Apartments can offer low-maintenance living without sacrificing on quality, but not all are created equal.

Buyers accustomed to a large, freestanding house need to be picky when looking for an apartment that will suit their changing needs for years to come.

How to keep your first property as an investment and why most home owners don’t do it

An apartment is the first rung on the property ladder for many first home buyers, especially those priced out of a freestanding or attached house in Australia’s priciest capital cities.

But when the needs of a growing family prompt an upgrade to a larger home, the question of whether to keep the first property as an investment may arise.

On the one hand, the sale of a sound investment too early risks potential future gains from holding onto the home as a rental, and increases the impact of transaction costs such as stamp duty and selling fees.

On the other hand, selling and realising equity in the first property and investing the proceeds into a more valuable asset can allow buyers to live in a better home that brings lifestyle improvements.

Why Real Estate Investment is a Smart Move Even in the New Normal

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted businesses and battered economies at an unprecedented pace and scale.

For Filipino would-be investors, this means adopting a wait-and-see attitude given the uncertainty brought about by the health crisis.

Experts, however, believe certain sectors will be able to outperform others despite the disruptions. The real estate industry, in particular, is seen as one such resilient sector — offering risk-adjusted returns amid rising market demand.

With only 10 years to retirement… Can you actually build wealth through property investment?

It takes time to build financial freedom, but if you only have a short timeframe ahead of you to build your nest egg, all is not lost. The scary fact is that the vast majority of Australians won’t retire with enough superannuation to see them through the remainder of their lives. The thing is, to achieve financial freedom, they will need to do things differently to how they have done them in the past. Financial freedom is a goal for many people, but it is something that very few achieve.

A Primer on Real Estate Investing

Investing in real estate is not just a rich man’s game – everyone can do it; that’s the good news!

But just like any investment, you need to learn and know exactly what you are going into. You need to have your investment objectives defined, and you need to have a clear plan on how you will achieve them.

Many have already achieved financial freedom through real estate investing. And you can too – if you are willing to focus, learn, be patient and work hard.

Should you buy a ‘starter’ home before your ‘dream’ home?

For many first home buyers, the idea of buying a ‘starter’ home before their ‘dream’ not only makes sense but is the only path towards homeownership that they have. The ‘property ladder’ doesn’t get its name for no reason, as the path towards owning a home that ticks all of your boxes is a long path and one that passes your first, second, and even third home before finally ending up at the doorstep of your dream home.

With approximately a third of surveyed first home buyers dedicating their finances towards investment properties, it is clear that the current consumer behaviour of first home buyers is different to that of previous generations. Rather than buying and living in a first home that may, by budgetary constraints, be located further away from work, amenities, family, and friends, some first home buyers are rejecting the idea of a ‘starter’ home first to instead reap the benefits of being a renter while accumulating long term capital gains. With these gains, they hope to afford a more ‘ideal’ home in which to own and live. In other words, their dream home.

Is now a good time to get a discount when buying an apartment off the plan?

Tight supply and strong demand from investors and first-home buyers have propped up prices for new homes amid the coronavirus pandemic, but experts say it’s a buyer’s market and sellers are open to negotiate.

While some luxury off-the-plan properties are seeing price discounts as a result of COVID-19, buyers of affordably priced new properties won’t be as lucky, but could secure more favourable terms.

Megaworld, Empire East to build P20-B township in Cainta, Rizal, Philippines

Megaworld, Philippines’ largest developer of integrated urban townships, along with its subsidiary Empire East Land Holdings, Inc., is developing a 24-hectare property along F. Felix Avenue in Cainta, Rizal, to become the Highland City township.

The company’s 24th township development, Highland City, will host the expansive Highland Mall with a gross floor area of around 58,000 square meters, rows of residential towers on a highland area, mixed-use towers, a church as well as open and green parks.

11 BENEFITS OF BUYING OFF THE PLAN

There are many great reasons why buying off the plan could become the best investment decision you make. Here are 11 of the most compelling.
1. STAMP DUTY BENEFITS

2. AVAILABILITY OF GOVERNMENT GRANTS

3. SUBSTANTIAL TAX ADVANTAGES

4. THE PRICE IS LOCKED IN

5. HIGHER RENTAL YIELDS

6. TIME TO SAVE

7. GETTING IN FIRST

8. MINIMAL MAINTENANCE

9. PERFECT CONDITION GUARANTEED

10. A CUSTOMISED LOOK

11. REDUCED POWER BILLS

IS IT SAFE TO BUY PROPERTY OFF THE PLAN?

For many homebuyers, buying off the plan is one of the most easily accessible and affordable options for getting a foot on the property ladder.

Unfortunately, in parts of the country the apartment market has seen oversupply issues and criticism over the quality of some developments has also been in the news. It’s not surprising that investing in property off the plan has developed a reputation for being high risk.

So, is it safe to buy off the plan? It certainly requires another layer of due diligence, but with education, thorough risk mitigation, attention to detail and professional advice, it can be a very rewarding investment strategy.

Tips for Buying Off The Plan

Buying off the plan involves securing a property using a contract of sale on an unconditional basis before the building has been constructed or completed. Mostly likely you would have been supplied with various plans and images that provides a representation of what the finished product will look like. Although it may feel different buying a property without ‘walking through it’, almost all new apartment buildings are sold in this manner, so it is a very common way of buying property.

How does negative gearing work

Gearing simply means borrowing money to buy an asset. And the reason you hear so much about it is because the government’s gearing policies have a big impact on how attractive the property market looks to investors, which, in turn, has a big impact on everything from the amount of housing available to the average weekly rent.

Here’s what you need to know about the three types of gearing: negative, neutral and positive.