Top 13 tips for climbing the property ladder
Getting ahead in the property market and building a big portfolio can seem impossible at times, but there are certain strategies and tactics which will make it much easier.
Blogger: Chris Gray, Empire
1. “Don’t fear the gear” is one of my mantras. Most people are afraid of debt and leverage, as they perceive it as dangerous. However, debt can increase your return and shorten the time it takes to get the return. Debt does increase your risk during a downturn, so every investor needs to do know how much debt they are comfortable carrying.
2. Go against the grain. Ninety-five per cent of the population retires poor. If your goal is to retire wealthy then you need to do the opposite of what everyone else is doing. Good investors buy when everyone else sells and sell when everyone else is buying. Yes, it can be difficult to maintain your confidence when everyone tells you you’re doing the wrong thing at the wrong time, so you need to develop your mind to block negative comments which can come from friends, relatives and the media.
3. Stick to your strategy. Every investor should have their own strategy that reflects their circumstances and adversity to risk. Figure out what works for you and, once you’ve found your strategy, stick with it. Be aware of other opportunities and get other advice, but often these can be distractions. A good strategy doesn’t have to complicated – it’s often the simple things that work.
4. Time in the market. The real secret to wealth is compounding your investments. You need to change your mindset from trying to be a millionaire overnight to aiming for consistency. This can be very frustrating when you first start out as your wealth won’t increase much. But over time you will see your portfolio increase in value.
5. Timing the market. Many people wait until the market is at a low before buying. If you buy good stock and hold onto it for 10 years or more, you should see some great capital gains, regardless of market ups and downs.
6. Buy blue chip. It’s worth paying market value for a good property in a top suburb rather than a property that is priced low because nobody really wants it. Blue chip properties tend to steadily grow in value over the years, so if you buy and hold on to the property you can then build up equity, borrow against the property and build up your portfolio. Blue chip properties typically grow between 6 – 10 per cent in the long term.
7. If possible, never sell. Most people think that you need to sell to realise a gain, but that’s not the case. Property is a long term investment. My strategy is to hold onto properties and refinance in order to benefit from the equity increase. The goal is to get your properties working for you to create passive wealth.
8. Create a two-sided buffer:
Side 1: Refinance your property to create a buffer. Refinancing when your property grows in value will create an emergency ‘buffer’ zone. This will ensure that you can continue to make mortgage repayments even if you lose your job.
Side 2: Keep part of the equity aside as a buffer. This is like an emergency fund for when things go wrong or for when interest rates rise. When everyone else panics as rates rise, some people will choose to sell, and if you’re cashed up, there’s an opportunity to get a great property at a reasonable price.
9. Choose the right property. Focus on purchasing “cosmetically tired” rather than “structurally tired” properties. Structural work is often where problems occur and budgets blow out. Some of the most efficient and simple ways to renovate a cosmetically tired home include painting, carpeting, polishing floorboards, converting a garage into bedroom, styling, replacing kitchen doors, re-enamel tiles and bath, and replacing fittings.
10. Renovate wisely. You need to understand who is likely to buy your property and what they want. You also need to know what other homes are on the market, what condition they’re in and what features they offer compared to yours. If you’re selling a property much of the sale price will come down to the cosmetics such as painting, carpeting and styling. I’ve seen some of the worst properties styled well and sell for a premium compared to better properties that haven’t been styled and sell at a lower price.
11. Make sure it is lettable. To ensure it is tenanted you should buy a property that the majority of working professionals could afford to rent, in an area where they want to live, that is, within 5–15 kilometres of the city. Based on median prices and current rental yields I would buy a unit in high density cities like Sydney or Melbourne, while in a lower density city such as Brisbane or Perth I would buy a house. This should get you the best yields and growth over the long term.
12. Invest in professional expertise. You need professional help with your first investment (and, I believe, every investment thereafter) because you are spending large amounts of money. You’ve got to treat this outlay like you would any other business and pay for expert assistance. Every investor needs a good accountant, mortgage broker, financial advisor, valuer, building inspector and buyer's agent.
13. Don’t retire on property rents. Most people think you’ve got to pay property off as quickly as possible and then retire on rents. But often it’s the capital growth that makes the real money. Change your mindset and be less emotional about it – look at the numbers and make your decisions based on that.
About Chris Gray
If you have ever wondered how you can find great investment properties and squeeze more cash flow from them, you’ll absolutely love hearing from Chris Gray.
Chris saved up to buy his first property at 22. By age 31, he had managed to grow his initial $35,000 deposit into a $3.5 million property portfolio. Chris now buys up to 75 to 100 properties a year and oversees around $5 million in renovations on behalf of his clients.
His phenomenal success has seen him become the host of “Your Property Empire” on the Sky News Channel and makes guest appearances on a number of other TV shows and publications.
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