PROPERTY INVESTMENT STRATEGY
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Articles by The Professional Trustee Team
2014 in the Chinese calendar is the Year of the Horse. It is said that those who grasp opportunities that come their way in this year will prosper, but those who don't will have a temperamental year. This is all well and good but how exactly do you go about grasping a property opportunity? To help in this regard, here are some pointers.
Establish a property buying strategy and draw up some buying rules. This applies equally to buying your own home as it does to buying an investment property.
- Ensure your structure is sound. Take advice from those qualified to give it to you. Do you need to buy the property in a company, trust or some other entity? Address asset protection, estate planning and tax objectives collectively.
- Build an appropriate team of professionals around you. Agents, accountants, lawyers, valuers, builders, property managers, finance brokers etc are all people you want on your contact list.
- Talk to some real estate agents. Good agents are gurus. They are at the coalface. They will tell you what is going on in a particular suburb. Pick their brains and capitalise on their experience. Arm yourself with knowledge and area and geographical population demographics.
- Start viewing. Go to open homes. Look on the net. Familiarise yourself with the kind of property that meets your strategy and buying rules.
- Get yourself a clean credit rating. Do a credit check on yourself. Deal with whatever you need to deal with go get in credit shape.
- Talk to a finance broker in advance. Decide what type of mortgage you will be obtaining. This should be in sync with your need, circumstances, buying strategy and your structure.
- Understand the numbers. If you are buying a home for yourself, put a realistic, workable budget in place. If you are buying for rental purposes, get to grips with operating costs, expected rental prices and yields.
- Once you've found your property, do your due diligence. Get builders' reports and weather tightness reports.
- Remember this is likely to be one of the biggest investments you will make during your lifetime. Don't buy a problem or open yourself up to nasty financial hidden surprises through lack of due diligence.
- If you are going into property for investment purposes, implement the appropriate accounting system, and always familiarise yourself with and satisfy your tax obligations.
- Irrespective of what you are buying and why, have an emergency fund put aside. This will save you much financial worry if you have unexpected bills knocking on your door.
SUMMARY
Irrespective of whether you wish to play King or Queen of your own castle, or whether you want to move into the business of property investing, the tips and traps I've referred to should ensure your dreams don't turn into your nightmares. This information should in other words act as a GPS – your Guided Path to Success. For more education about property strategy, have a look our free Property Investment & Education seminar, or book in to our 7-week Property School course.
If you feel you need further assistance before you start pouring the wine and partaking of the cheese, contact us at info@gra.co.nz or via our online form. We'd be happy to help you.
The Professional Trustee Team
© Gilligan Rowe & Associates LP
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Disclaimer: This article is intended to provide only a summary of the issues associated with the topics covered. It does not purport to be comprehensive nor to provide specific advice. No person should act in reliance on any statement contained within this article without first obtaining specific professional advice. If you require any further information or advice on any matter covered within this article, please contact the author.
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I would like to express my sincere thanks to yourself and the team at GRA / Cornwall Trustees for the services you recently provided to my Trust. You were both professional and expedient in organising for Skeates Law and yourselves to execute the conveyancing of my property into the Trust to allow the title to reflect the correct Trustee names at LINZ and on the local council rating system in time for my advertising the sale of this property. I am sure that you have a team supporting you that allows you to make quick decisions and for these decisions to be executed with accuracy and pace that provided such an excellent service to my Trust. This also reminds me of an old L.V Martin television advert where their motto was "it’s the putting right that counts" and you certainly did do this in my case. In return you have a very satisfied client who wishes to convey their appreciation of their experience. Kind regards - Pravin
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Gilligan Rowe and Associates is a chartered accounting firm specialising in property, asset planning, legal structures, taxation and compliance.
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