Top 10 mistakes made by first time investors

Below are 10 of the most common mistakes made by first-time investors based on my experience in the property investment market over many years:

1. Doing it alone 

Most first time investors decide to buy an investment property without seeking independent advice from people who have already invested in property on a successful basis. As a result, they risk buying the wrong type of property in the wrong place.

2. Buying on emotion

Purchasing an investment property they would like to live in without thoroughly looking at capital growth and rental return potential. Research is critical when buying an investment property.

3. Taking a narrow focus

That could mean that they achieve below average capital growth rates and miss out on potential property hot spots in other locations.

4. Not claiming your full tax credits

Investing in property offers taxpayers generous tax allowances. For example, the tax benefits derived by a depreciation schedule can be as high as 60 per cent of the rental income and this additional cash flow can help the investor buy additional properties.

5. Not undertaking a full assessment of the true cost of buying and holding the property

For example, if the property is an apartment, there are additional cost issues compared with buying a standalone house, such as strata fees. In addition, if the property is old, it many incur higher maintenance costs.

6. Selecting the wrong home loan

Many first time investors make the mistake of selecting principal and interest loans that are typical for an owner-occupier home. Instead, first-time investors should focus on interest-only loans, which will help increase cash flow.

7. Buying a property in a location which is not attractive to tenants

Properties that are not close to  amenities like shops or public transport, tend to be overlooked by prospective tenants. Investors can also buy a property in an area where there is an oversupply of rental properties, meaning rents will be low and capital growth limited.

8. Managing the property themselves

This is a very common mistake which can mean the first time investor is at high risk of selecting a bad tenant which could prove financially disastrous.

9. No plan in place

Many first time investors don’t look beyond buying their first property and as a result, they generally only ever buy one property instead of having a plan to buy several properties that will create substantial personal wealth.

10. Buying and selling at the wrong time

The property market is all about timing. If you get the timing wrong by buying and selling at the wrong time you can lose money. That is why it is always wise to get independent advice before investing in the property market.