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Well folks, after Awe-Guest, it seems like a long time since our last Q&A!

So a lot of you have been writing in to us wanting to know our view on Four Corners’ recent episode on property investment in Australia, Betting on the House.

Now, there was a bit of doom-and-gloom in this episode and we want to talk about it.

To do this, we’re going to answer YOUR hard questions about property investment — the difficulties, the consequences of poor asset selection, bad property investment advice, the fear of debt and the “1 – 2 property block”.

Note: Ben’s reference to PIPA’s Framework on regulating Property Investment (very, very important stuff) can be found if you click here.

Today’s Questions!

Hot Markets & The Overall Economy from David:

Hi Team,

Wanted your thought on this “bubble” topic and the actions we see from ASIC and APRA with the banks.
The way I see it (I am an Australian working in Malaysia, with 1 property investment in WA and 1 being built in NSW Blue mountains) the rate increases are short-sighted and will hurt more than they help.
With increasing rates it means more money is pumped into paying debt. This means there is less for discretionary spending (going out, movies, dinners, gifts, holidays). With less mining and less manufacturing, Australia needs these service based industries to grow. With less spending on them, due to rates, they will shrink — this in turn hurts our overall economic situation … almost starts to lead us down the “R” word path and a certain “bubble” correction.

Would it not be better to strict things in Sydney and Melbourne markets as a standalone action by:

1. Restricting bank refinancing and equity accessing for those hot markets – ensure LVR at 70% minimum for a refinance
   2. Ensuring all investment purchases in those hot markets have 20 – 25% deposit minimum
   3. Assessing loans for investment on 10% interest rate for P&I
   4. Limiting foreign investor purchasing in the hot markets?

This will mean the wider economy can continue, other markets needing a boost can see a rate cut maybe, and first home buyers in ‘hot markets’ do not get squeezed out.
Is it that easy?

Asset Selection (Numbers versus Emotions?) from Anne:

Thanks for your fascinating podcast! Just had a quick question regarding looking for investment property. I often hear that the property should have owner/occupier appeal, and yet I also hear that you need to take your emotions out of the equation and just look at the numbers! How do you balance these seemingly conflicting ideals? I am trying to just look at the numbers on an area, which I personally would not live in, and am finding it difficult.

Why Most Investors Stop At One from Andrew:

Hi Ben, Bryce and Ivise,

My question is about moving onto the 2nd property. I have often heard statistics such as the overwhelming proportion of property investors stop at 1 investment property. I understand that cash flow is king. I really want to know why or how investors get “stuck” after 1 or 2 properties. Is it their fear of debt or high LVRs? Obviously, the serviceability assessment by banks and recent government changes and APRA regulations has put a slow down on the investor space but these statistics were around long before the changes.
I am of the belief that you purchase what you can afford, manufacture some equity, wait for your property to grow in equity to move on again, and again, and again …
I don’t mind sharing my details as there would probably be many listeners out there in similar situation:

I am 33, single income family on $110,000 a year — currently renting in regional QLD due to work. I used a buyer’s agent to purchase my first investment property, a 3 bed, 1 bath and 1 garage in Birkdale QLD on a corner block in March 2017 for $455k. The property manager had it rented in under 2 weeks of being on the market. It currently has a 4.9% gross yield. There is $65k in the redraw, which means the property is neutral, which is good as it is in a trust. Further to this, I am adding an additional $1400 a month to the redraw. I will be ready to go again in a few months. (Yay?) I plan on adding a bathroom and bedroom to the property after the tenants finish their 12 month lease. My strategy is to buy, renovate, hold.
I really hope to receive some information about the “1 – 2 property block”. If this question makes it to a podcast, I’ll be very satisfied as I know many investors would have this question.

PS – Bring back the sign off in different languages!
PPS – awesome book — read it twice already