5 non-traditional ways to buy property
As society changes, so too should our expectations of the ways we can make property ownership dreams a reality, according to an expert.
In a blog post, Propertyology managing director Simon Pressley has outlined how “life is faster, we are living longer, and technology continues to make the impossible possible”.
With today’s generation having more two-income households, being more mobile with employment, and having greater opportunities to earn more money, it also “suits many people to delay placing down a permanent anchor in terra firma for longer”, he said.
Still, Mr Pressley conceded that for most wishful property buyers, the biggest challenge is accumulating a sufficient deposit.
“The important first-base for property ownership is saving a deposit for a good property in a good location,” he indicated.
“But you don’t necessarily need to live in it.”
The expert has advised that today’s buyers “would be wise to embrace changes with home ownership strategies”.
“With this in mind, you should expect some raised eyebrows from many well-meaning people around you if your strategy differs to what they did,” he continued.
The property analyst and buyer’s agent has offered up five practical strategies that motivated and open-minded individuals could consider to get themselves on the property ladder:
1. Family equity loans
In lieu of needing a big deposit, Mr Pressley said one option for finance can be achieved where an agreeable family member with reasonable equity in a property “might be prepared to allow it to be used to help secure your own property loan”.
2. Rentvesting
An increasingly popular option, rentvesting can provide some parties with a “best-of-both-worlds strategy” where an individual elects to rent the property most suited to their lifestyle while investing in property in strategically chosen locations that have good capital growth potential.
Mr Pressley said, “There will always be narrow-minded critics of this strategy, but it works.”
He explained how some people use this strategy as a stepping stone for later acquiring an owner-occupier property, while others do this longer-term as a means to accelerate wealth creation.
3. Relocation
While it can be a big decision to pack up and leave town, the buyer’s agent has reminded that “our communities are not built behind electric fences”.
Mr Pressley has urged would-be home owners to “at least think about it!”
Relocation is most prevalent for people leaving expensive cities to “the many great Australian locations where a good house costs between $350,000 and $450,000”.
“That’s affordable!”
4. Combined resources
Mr Pressley also offered up the option of combining financial resources of multiple parties to purchase property together.
Just be sure to carefully consider logistical and legal issues.
5. Earn more, save more
According to the expert, “in most walks of life, the genuine achievers all have one thing in common: If it’s meant to be, it’s up to me!”
Mr Pressley went on to note that for those with some money already saved, finance options have never been more competitive than right now.
“It’s common for people to buy property with a deposit smaller than 20 per cent,” he said, while record-low interest rates means loan repayments have never been lower.
Most importantly, Mr Pressley advised anyone wanting to make it onto the property ladder: “Keep your mind open.”
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