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We bang on about the “Art” and the “Science” of property investing a fair bit. But have you ever stopped to wonder what this actually means? Like, what’s the difference between “Art” and “Science” anyway? And how does this apply to picking an investment-grade asset?

Well, step right up folks, ‘cos we’re about to unpack all this in today’s episode!

‘Cos first things first… Art and Science are like “Chalk & Cheese”… completely different things!

So, when you’re looking at them through the lens of a property investor, you have to be mindful to the subtleties of each… and you need to know firsthand how they both complement each other and, most importantly, how they come together to ensure your overall success.

We can assure you… you can’t have one without the other. And just like Yin and Yang, there’s a balance you need to strike to get the art and science of asset selection right!

Tune in to today’s Q&A to get the difference between the art and science of investing… and the answers to a whole heap of listener questions about where and what to buy.

Question about How To Work Out If You Have A Good Asset Or Not from Alex Herbert

Hey guys, uh, just a quick, thank you for your podcast. I’ve only discovered it four months ago and you know, it’s been really good listening through everything and it’s, yeah, it’s definitely has a bit of a culture feel to it and I really enjoy it. So, thanks. Thanks for the effort you guys put into that. Um, quick background on me, I’m 31 years old. I have six properties. Uh, one is a PPR, which I live in and then there are others, our investments at this stage. Um, so basically my sort of worry, or the question I would like to know a bit more information on, is, um, I put all my eggs in one basket using a property advisor and walked through all the process and building this portfolio. Um, and all of the things you guys talk about, he’s implemented, uh, in my portfolio as well. So there’s, there’s a lot of things there that I have in place that you guys do say that’s, you know, the, the golden rules. Um, the biggest thing though, that does sort of get the, the alarm bells ringing a little bit, or makes me want to find out a bit more if I’ve made the right moves is I do have a few of them, which are new developments, new houses where had the land and are built on the land. Um, and I just want to know once you do have some assets in place, how do you know that they are the good assets to hold or whether you’re wasting opportunity by holding onto them? 

Question about Capital Growth Considerations from Kieran

Hi, Bryce. And Ben, you guys made a comment the other week in one of your podcasts that medium to high density apartment investors investor stock type assets that are likely to be most affected, by COVID over the next 12 to 24 months as investors get scared and that the mantra is up for those types of assets. My wife and I currently looking at a two bedroom for the units with a little courtyard and garage, but I guess we’re wondering whether the performance or the growth of those is less in the short term and is likely to be dampened perhaps somewhat of prices of apartments do drop or at least stunted in their growth. Is that likely to flow over into the next closest asset class being most of those two-bedroom units? Would we be better off potentially stretching a little bit further to get into at least a three-bedroom Villa unit, but perhaps a little bit more living space, a little bit more land and courtyard? Is that likely to be perhaps less impacted in its growth?

Question about Strategies For Buying from Soph

Hi, Bryce. Hi, Ben. Love the podcast. Thanks very much for your time. Um, I’m just wondering if you can give a bit of an overview of some of the strategies of buying when you sort of mentioned some of the strategies here and there, but I was wondering if there was a list or something that we can sort of, um, go through and look at those. Thanks very much.

Question about Tips To Go From One Investment To Two from Daksha

Hi, I’m Bryce and Ben. Looking for some property investment advice, I already have my primary principal home and also have one investment property. I don’t know where to go from here onwards. Um, I do have equity on my principal home and my investment property. Uh, I mortgage insurance, so it’s independent. Um, yep. Looking forward to, to getting some advice on how to go for the second investment or how can I do my financial planning so that I’m ready? Um, thank you.

Question about Buying As An Owner-Occupier from Frez

Hi Bryce and Ben. My name is Frez. I’m asking this question. I am from Melbourne and I’m hopefully a soon to be first home buyer. Um, my question to you guys was would I be crazy to purchase a home as an owner-occupier, so a home that I’m going to be living in when the address has left and to the right of me, I filled with two or three units. The address in front of me is a, you know, a compound with four townhouses. And it’s pretty much the same story up and down the street or up and down any street within that suburb. So the suburb I’m talking about is an area called Laverton in the Western suburbs of Melbourne, traditionally an industrial area, but I think recently with Williamstown landing popping up, Truganina popping up in tiny, further down the road was all these house and land packages.  It seems elaborate and has been all the more, uh, appealing, um, purely because it’s established homes, much bigger blocks, and they’ve actually got public transportation, which these other areas like two train stations, closer access to the freeway and an actual bus network, but driving through a few weeks ago prior to the restrictions I noticed everybody was tearing down these houses and the amount of construction for unit after unit townhouse after townhouse. Should I avoid buying in this area as an owner occupier? Um, yeah, I just wanted to know what your thoughts on it were. Thank you for the podcast. Thank you for the content. You guys have been an absolute godsend since I discovered you considering the stage I’m at right now. Thanks for everything.

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What do you do if you’re picking between two properties? Or two locations? Or even two investment strategies?! 

Well, step right up… ‘cos we’re about to give you the top tips to make the best judgement call when property investors are weighing up multiple options! 

Here’s the deal… in today’s Q& A, some of our folks are currently caught between a “rock and a hard place”, while others have narrowed down their asset selection to TWO choices… but are now snagged on which property will outperform the best over the long term! 

And on the other end of the line, some folks haven’t even honed in on the property yet… ‘cos they’ve received conflicting advice on which suburb to buy in… and now they’re left confused and afraid to make the wrong choice… 

We even have one listener who’s at a loss with what investment strategy to pick – so much so he’s know fighting an internal debate with himself! 

So. How do you pick one property (or location, or strategy) OVER another??  

What things do you need to consider  

In no particular order, we’ll be unpacking, How To… 

• Pick The Better Asset 
• Invest Without Regret 
• Automate Your Finances 
• Sleep Soundly Knowing You Made The Right Judgement Call! 

 Listen now to get the top tips to help property investors who have decision fatigue or just what the answer to this question, “Which Option is Better??” 

Free Stuff Mentioned 

• Get The Audiobook of The Armchair Guide to Property Investing  
• Get A Free Copy of Make Money Simple Again 
• Episode 302 | Back To The Future: Lessons From 50 Years At The Top Of His Game – Chat with Scott Keck 
• Get “PICA Flicks” (Become a PICA member for only $5) 

The Questions 

Question About “Investing Without Regret” from Trevor 

I’m 47, work full time and am single. I have 3 investment properties — the first one bought in 1999 in Darwin (Millner), which went up dramatically and just as dramatically decreased in value and in rent. It has a high strata of $1500 per quarter. I do have another house in Brisbane in Waterford West, bought in 2008. It’d be worth now what I paid for it. I bought a house in Adelaide in 2010 – 3 bedroom. So they’re all not the best properties. All are rented except for Darwin’s decline in rent they all went quite well. My accountant says it’s costing me $% k per year to hold these properties. I don’t feel like I’ve done anything with them, and I’ve done this for quite a while now (since ’99) and don’t want to look back in 10 years and think gee whizz, I wish I bought something different. At times I wish I took the money out and bought something else. Now, if I was to sell, the properties are worth $3 with a mortgage of $3.50. Any suggestions for people who get into these scenarios? Going forward what would you recommend? 

Question About “How To Automate Your Finances” From Kylie 

Hi guys, my name’s Kylie — love the podcast. I’ve just ordered your book and I’m sure your answers are in it. While I wait for the book, I want to get better at my finances. I’m pretty good at budgeting and money management in my business, but I don’t really keep track of things personally. I’ve downloaded your Money SMARTS system to try and rectify this.  

I am in a good position — my company pays for the vast majority of my expenses like rent, electricity, vehicles, fuel and that sort of thing. And I pay myself a small wage for personal items and to keep saving for more properties, which I currently had 3. And I want to add to that. My question is — which bank account, either the payments of Primary Account should I pay my wage into? And I don’t have a credit card. I currently have my mortgage offset account with savings in it and an everyday account with a debit card that pays for everything, which I gather will become my living and lifestyle account? I’m just unsure of how to set it all up. And would just appreciate any help. Thanks! 

Question About “Picking Between Two Properties” From Carrie 

I have a question about the best type of asset I should invest in. I’m looking to buy my first property, which I’ll live in initially. I have a budget of $750K. I’ve been looking at 70s and 80s free standing villa units in small blocks of 12 – 6 in Melbourne’s east. This puts me in middle ring suburbs around 20km from the city, with a land size of 350sqm. It’s a good balance between decent land mass without being out in the sticks. Alternatively, I could by a 2bdrm appt in an older, low density block — the type with only 2 or 3 stories closer to the CBD.  

Are either of these good investments? And which of the two is better? Or is there anything else I should look into? Love your work guys, keep bringing out those podcasts! Thank you 

Question About “The Internal Debate” From Mark 

Hi Ben and Bryce, Mark here from Sydney. First of all, I want to really thank you for the effort that you put in every week for making these podcasts available. I luckily stumbled on your podcast about 6 days ago as I was looking to get some information on Australian properties and I must say that the information you provide on your podcast has been nothing short of gold… so thank you! The thing that I’d like to know is I’ve working really hard for the last 5 years since graduating and have saved up a 20% deposit to purchase my first property and am on my way to building my property portfolio, which has always been something I have wanted to do. However, I have gotten into a debate with myself and I always seem to get conflicting opinions or ideas on this online.  was hoping you could clarify this for me because I do value both of your opinions.  

My question is, “Does it make more financial sense to own your own home or does it make more sense that you’re a rentvestor? 

So, own your own home or accumulate properties whilst renting? If you can clarify that for me, I will be forever appreciative. Thanks again guys, look forward to catching up on all your podcasts and really looking forward to meeting yoy guys – hoping to attend one or all of your webinars. Thank you. 

Question About “Which Suburb is Better?” From Jack 

Hi there guys, first up I just want to stay that I’ve just tuned into your podcast and I’m absolutely loving it! I’m going to be buying a couple of your books too they seem to have a lot of great reviews and, yeah, I’m really excited to read them. Fellas, I’m looking at starting my property investment journey this time next year – Dec 2020.  

Now, I’m following a couple of investors – one guy’s currently investing up in Brisbane. And this other guy I follow as well stays purely local, mainly Melbourne. He’s explained to me about the growth corridors – how they’re not really growth corridors – Packenham, Windenvale, Tarneit. I’ve gone and hand a look and they don’t average as much as I thought they would. Nice places, but yeah. I can’t afford to invest in Melbourne itself and the different to the two is – the one up on Brisbane is getting people starting up in Brisbane around the $500k mark – and the other guy who invests only in Victoria, says start out somewhere like Bendigo or Ballarat. He doesn’t think Geelong’s got good growth. Yeah, I’m hesitant to go Bendigo and Ballarat as they are in land, but I’m hesitant that my judgement’s being clouded. I’ve always grown up in coastal places – always lived near the coast and love the coast. If you guys could give me your opinion that would be fantastic.