Posts Tagged ‘YourInvestment™’

Finding the perfect investment property

When purchasing a rental property the potential for capital gain is always front of mind. Capital gains however are not normally realised until many, many years after the purchase date. In the meantime you must service that loan and ensure your investment is protected into the future.

While we wait for capital growth to soar on our investment property, maintaining a low vacancy rate is not only appealing, but essential. Attracting … Read the full post »

Property damage insurance claims surge

The frequency of property damage claims – both malicious and accidental – has surged by as much as 46 per cent in the past 12 months, according to a landlord insurance company.

“These figures challenge the stereotypes that exist in relation to rental property damage,” Terri Scheer Insurance manager Carolyn Majda said.

“There is a widely-held misconception that good tenants won’t cause damage. The figures show that this is far from true.”

The … Read the full post »

Sydney firmly on top of the market stability ladder

Recent indications are that buyer activity in the Sydney housing market has improved marginally following a subdued winter. The Bureau of Statistics reports that monthly housing loan numbers are rising and weekend auction clearance rates have lifted recently to about 60 per cent.

The latest Australian Property Monitors median house price data, however, has revealed that Sydney house prices continued to weaken over winter along with those of the other capital … Read the full post »

Consumer Confidence and the Housing Market Activity

The relationship between consumer confidence and housing market activity is a topic that we often comment on in relation to the housing market. The importance of a positive consumer mindset is simple; for a prospective buyer to make a high commitment purchase decision like buying a home they need to have a base line level of optimism about their job security, their ability to service a mortgage and the prospects … Read the full post »

Spring Property Market

Spring is traditionally a busy time in the property market. Approximately 1 out of every 3 vendors believes Spring is the best time of the year to sell a property. Purchasers who have held back in the colder months are coming out to see potential properties to purchase and vendors are looking to sell so they can relocate in time for Christmas.

John Pye Real Estate is experiencing strong demand from … Read the full post »

Buying or Renting a Home with a Pool or Spa?

If you are renting or buying a property with a pool or spa, it is important that you check the pool fencing. This is particularly important if you have young children, or will be having young children over to visit.

Pool fencing plays a vital role in childhood drowning prevention. A fully functional fence with a self-closing self-latching gate, along with vigilant adult supervision is the best way to prevent childhood … Read the full post »

NSW to limit first-home stamp duty concessions

The NSW government will limit full stamp duty concessions to those buying new homes from 1 January 2012.

First-home buyers currently pay no stamp duty on all properties under $500,000 and receive a discount for properties valued up to $600,000. From January 1 next year, the stamp duty concessions will apply only to newly constructed homes, including those built off the plan.

The move is a welcome boost to the spring property … Read the full post »

The hottest question in property: Apartment or House?

In this article Property Professor Peter Koulizos compares apartments and houses as possible investment options, so far as capital growth is concerned. He explains that they differ in performance for a number of reasons.
Demand v Supply
For those of you that have studied Economics you might remember that price is a function of demand and supply. In other words, the price of something is based on how many people want it … Read the full post »

The right amount of cover

It is vital that landlords understand the level of cover offered to them by insurances such as landlord and strata as well as standard building and contents policies.

When it comes to building, strata and landlord insurance, how do you find your way through the maze?
Standard Building & Contents Insurance
Standard building and contents insurance is primarily designed for owner occupiers and is the type of policy that most people have to … Read the full post »

Landlords should take care not to get caught out by the taxman

The end of another financial year is almost upon us and that means its tax time again! We all know that this time of year means we need to go through the process of working out our taxable income and calculating our tax bill. Here are some handy end-of-financial-year tips on maximising your tax benefits, and tax traps to avoid if you own an investment property. We recommend you keep … Read the full post »

Why are tenants afraid to ask landlords for repairs?

Often when an agent goes to a property to conduct a periodic inspection, they notice repairs that the tenant had not informed them about. We then ask the question “Why are tenants so afraid to ask for repairs?”

Research suggests that it is for fear of rent increases or being labelled a problem tenant. This is not a good thing for either the tenant or the landlord. If the tenant attempts … Read the full post »