Clint Maher asked:




If we have a look at the comparison between property and shares over the last one hundred years in Australia, we can see that property just edges below shares in your return on investment. By choosing the right investment property though, we can ensure our returns are much more substantial.

For a long term investment, we must look at buying property in the major cities of Australia. In the smaller capital cities, try and stay within a 10 km radius of the CBD. For Melbourne and Sydney, we can go out to a 15 km radius. It is important to understand that we want our property to be in a built up established area so when the economic downturns do come, we have our investment in a solid area, and not out in the mortgage belt which will suffer the most.

Look for property that adjoins well to do suburbs, as given time, the surrounding suburbs will be absorbed and taken for the ride. Once you have found a suburb that you are happy with, look for properties that are around the median price value for that suburb. You don’t want to purchase the cheapest, nor do you want the most expensive. We want to be in the middle.

So do you want a house or a unit? Each has their pros and cons and it really is a personal choice. If you are new to investing and have limited funds, then you may want to buy a unit. If you have plenty of equity in which to invest it may be wiser to buy a town house or freestanding house. Just remember at the end of the day it is the land component that appreciates in value, while the building depreciates.

If you do purchase a unit, try and find one in a small complex of no more than 16. The rule of thumb is if it has a lift or a swimming pool, forget it. Go for something nice and boring, but is close to the cosmopolitan lifestyle and you won’t go wrong. Remember to ensure the unit is greater than 50 meters square, or otherwise you will have trouble getting finance from any lender.

We have to look for property that does not lie on a main road, but rather two or three streets back from one. Near a school and a shopping complex is great too, but not directly across the road from one either.

Go to an area that you like, and get a feel for the area. It’s amazing what you can pick up with your intuition. If you wish, ask people who live in the area what they like and dislike about it. You’ll soon have an idea if this is a good area or not.

Once we are completely happy with an area we can refine our search to properties that are on the market. You can both research and find properties yourself, of pay for the services of a buyers advocate. If you are short of time and skill, it may be best to engage the service of an advocate. It is a one off fee and generally tax deductible.

If there is one thing I can impress upon you, it is that you try and buy the best property that you can afford. With the compounding effect over the years, your investment will far outperform those that are any less.

James Gunaseelan asked:




Are you contemplating hiring a real estate agent? If so, the pros and cons of doing so are probably weighing on your mind. The fact of the matter is that there are benefits of having an agent on your side, but at the same time there are drawbacks that you may also want to concern yourself with.

With so many real estate options, it is crucial to employ the best. Each of our real estate agents have a proven track record when it comes to home buying, home selling and the world of real estate. In the ever competitive world of real estate agents and the burgeoning climate realtors and home sales, local knowledge and professional acumen is what we offer to each and every client. With every burgeoning real estate market comes a high number of real estate agents. Knowing which of these realtors to select is may just seem like yet another decision in the home buying process, but it is also one of the most critical ones you will make. Real estate agents should have knowledge of their chosen region, proven track records in the competitive world of realty and a professional acumen.Showcasing homes is the business of realtors the world over but, as with any business, there will be those who consider it a passion to be the best real estate agent in the region. After making the decision to buy or indeed sell a home, selecting a real estate agent is next. Making that easier for you is what we want and what we know we can deliver.

So what is the biggest benefit of hiring a real estate agent? Before you can answer this question you need to consider if you are a buyer or seller. If you are buying a home, the biggest benefit of working with an agent is their experience. They not only have experience helping people to find properties in your area, but they also have experience with negotiating. Both of these things will help you to become much better qualified as a buyer.

On the other side of things, most sellers use a real estate agent. The reason for this is quite simple: this cuts back on a lot of the work that the seller will have to do on their own. When a seller works with an agent they have the ability to lean on them for everything that needs to get done. This includes finding potential buyers, marketing, open houses, negotiations, closing procedure, and much more. Selling a home by owner has its financial benefits, but it also means that you will be responsible for a lot more work. Most sellers decide that hiring a real estate agent is a much better choice.

There is no denying that some people feel that hiring a real estate agent is a dumb idea. In fact, it all depends on who you talk to. Some buyers like to do things on their own and the same holds true for some sellers. But guess what? You need to make the decision that is best for you; even if everybody around you has done differently. If you think that working with a real estate agent is the best option, you should do so.

Overall, the majority of people agree that buying or selling with a real estate agent on board is much less stressful. Do you agree with them?