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Last Updated: 20th April, 2023
Everyone knows that investing in property is one of the most straightforward ways to build wealth. However, things may not always go as planned. Becoming an investor won’t make you rich unless you can avoid the common mistakes property investors make. Here are those property investment mistakes, and how you can avoid them:

1. Not Having An Investment Strategy

Investment is a long race. Without proper investment strategies in place, you can rush into decisions you may regret later. Many first-time investors jump into investing for the instant benefits and realise later that they could have taken a better opportunity elsewhere.

Solution

The best investment strategy varies with the individual. Just because doing renovations worked for your neighbour who has worked in construction for 20 years doesn’t mean it’ll be the same for you. Set goals you want to achieve, then find out which investment strategy suits you best, create goals you want to achieve and stick to it.

2. Waiting For The Perfect Property

Caution is a good trait to have when entering the real-estate market, but waiting too long can set you back more than you think. If the property market is red hot, each day you wait can cost you hundreds of dollars. Some investors wait to save a deposit of 20% to avoid paying Lender’s Mortgage Insurance but if property prices are rising quickly enough, the increase in price might cost you more than LMI. Waiting may not be worth it as the rise in property prices could be much more expensive than the LMI fees.

Solution

Suppose you already have a sound investment strategy. In that case, it is often better to dive into the market instead of waiting around. Doing your homework is necessary. Learning is necessary. However, it’s not possible to learn everything before you start your property investment journey. To see whether you should buy now or save for a deposit, you can use our buy now or save more calculator. If you’re ready to make your first investment, give us a call on 1300 889 743 or fill in our free assessment form, and one of our investment mortgage brokers will guide you through each step forward.

3. Chasing The Lowest Interest Rate

Many first investors search for chase only the lowest interest rate when looking for an investment loan. But, a low interest rate doesn’t guarantee that you’re getting the cheapest loan available. Other factors are important too. Some banks limit extra repayments on your loan. You might face break fees if you want to get out of a fixed rate before the term ends with some loans, or you may be unable to redraw additional payments.

Solution

Consider all the details of the investment loan and not just the interest rate. Choosing the most suitable loan for you instead of the cheapest will be profitable in the long run. You can give us a call on 1300 889 743 or fill in our free assessment form, and we can provide you with the most suitable options to choose from.

4. Making Emotion-driven Investment Decisions

Emotions can become a hindrance when it comes to determining your property investment strategies. We have seen people buying property for reasons like having it close to their home or because they liked the colour. It is normal to become at least somewhat emotionally invested in a property you want to buy; however, purchasing a house is too big a decision to let your emotions hold sway.

Solution

Rely on data rather than emotion. There is plenty of information readily available that can help you make an informed decision about your investment. You can analyse a property by looking at the historical growth in property values in an area or its vacancy rates. Other indicators include local employment opportunities or available public transport. You can get a free suburb report from property websites such as realestate.com.au and domain.com.au. A suburb report will include the area’s median sale price and the value of recent sales, plus demographic profiles. Once you have narrowed your search down to one property, we can help you order a free upfront valuation before you apply for a home loan. Give us a call on 1300 889 743 or fill in our free assessment form to get your free upfront valuation report.

5. Buying Older Properties

Owning a fancy villa that looks like it’s from generations gone by sounds amazing. However, as an investor, you need to remember that older properties generally command a higher price than newer ones, mostly because of their location. Buying an older property also means you can’t claim depreciation as a tax deduction. That benefit is available only on properties less than 40 years old.

Solution

Target new properties to gain these benefits compared with older properties: