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The property manifesto

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by Peter Switzer

Looking to build your wealth through property? This is my Property Manifesto, which outlines what you should know when trying to build your wealth by speculating on bricks and mortar.

The strategies

There are two standout strategies. Both cash in on the nice parts of the tax system, but there are a few fine details that every investor should understand before laying their hard earned income down.

The first strategy involves buying a home you live in, which can be improved and which has lots of potential for capital gain.

The second strategy is to buy investment properties, which also will bring capital gain.

(There’s a third, which involves properties that might not bring great capital gain, but still can be a nice wealth building strategy. More on this another time.)

Rules of thumb

Before we look to the strategies, let’s get a few property maxims or rules of thumb in your head:

Buy the worst house in the best street
Buy where rents are solid and where tenants want to live
Research the price and rent history of the suburb
Buy the kind of property expected in the area
Remember sometimes the suburb next to a really popular suburb might have great potential
Buy the best books on property investment.

Don’t forget these.

Strategy number one

Let’s start with a favourite of mine: this is where you buy the worst house in the best street in a suburb that has real potential. If you see a trend of people moving in and renovating and house prices are rising, that’s a good sign the suburb has potential.

You renovate wisely, tastefully, but economically. You have room to expand and capital gain grows on your house and this is tax free.

Over time, you can trade up and eventually you have a great home that you live in until you retire. Along the way, you bank your leftover income into your home loan but have a redraw facility in case you need the money.

This is a tax effective strategy that will save you tens to hundreds of thousands off your total home loan repayments.

The beauty of this play is that you could easily end up with a home worth $2 million, which then could be sold and used to have a nice retirement. Some smarties actually have an investment property, which they rent out but eventually move into as their retirement abode. While capital gains tax applies to this property, as it’s a second home that’s rented out, if you live in this place until you die, then it will be your kids who will have to pay the capital gains tax bill.

Strategy number two

The second strategy can be good for a young person who can’t afford to buy a home or apartment where they want to live but could if they could use the tax system by becoming a landlord.

Imagine someone wanted a two-bedroom apartment at Bondi for $650,000, but couldn’t make the repayment as an owner-occupier. They could buy it as an investor and rent it out for five years and in that time their income grows and/or they might get married, which not only brings love but also a second income. The landlord could then move into the rented home.

Investment properties

Some people simply acquire investment properties and this is how they do it. The first place is bought for $500,000. They use interest-only money to reduce the repayments and the tax deductions also help. After five years, the apartment is worth $600,000 and the bank will give you a loan on that $100,000 equity and so the investor buys a second apartment for $400,000.

Each time, the income has to support the repayments. They might have income only and a fixed rate of interest. Also their income is growing and they expand their portfolio of properties accordingly.

As long as the properties are in well sort after areas, you don’t lose your job or a great recession doesn’t come along, then you can do this getting wealthy strategy really effectively.

Strategy number three

The third method is a variation on the one above. While the latter home accumulation relies on negative gearing, this one relies on positive gearing.

Here, you buy cheaper properties where the monthly repayments and other costs are less than the rent you collect. These properties generally are slow to rise in value but sometimes their prices can rise a lot faster than many experts predict.

Get experts in

I work on the idea that good properties can rise by 10 per cent a year over five- to 10-year periods, just like good shares.

Always be careful about over-capitalising on renovations and make sure you get an expert to work out all of your deductions you can claim as a landlord.

Great accountants and better still quantity surveyors can stagger you with the deductions they can legally claim.

For advice you can trust, contact Switzer Financial Services.

Important information:This content has been prepared without taking account of the objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular individual. It does not constitute formal advice. For this reason, any individual should, before acting, consider the appropriateness of the information, having regard to the individual’s objectives, financial situation and needs and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.

The Switzer Super Report is a newsletter and website for self managed super funds. With exclusive commentary from Peter Switzer and Paul Rickard the Switzer Super Report will help you maximise your after tax investment returns and grow your DIY Super. Click here for a free trial or subscribe today.

Published on: Thursday, January 14, 2010