Property Investment Information

A fraudster posing as a Property Manager is fleecing landlords of their rent money. He is gaining the landlords permission to manage the property then approaching the tenant with an offer of cheaper rent. Typically this cheaper rent is for a six month fixed term lease, with the six months rent paid up front. He then takes off with the money.

Tenancy Services say that the landlord is out of pocket as they contracted the fraudster. Read the rest of this entry »

One of the “hats” that I wear is the President of the Auckland Property Investors Association, a group that I am extremely proud to be associated with. At the beginning of each monthly meeting there is an open discussion on the rental market. Towards late last year members reported that it was getting difficult to find tenants. This situation remained for most of this year, with many saying that they have been dropping rents by 5% to 10% to secure a tenant. Read the rest of this entry »

As you may have heard, the IRD have produced a discussion document looking to change the depreciation claims allowable to residential property investors. (Note that this adverse change is for residential property investors, not commercial investors, share investors or indeed any other investors or companies.)

The aim of the changes has clearly been signalled as a move to discourage investment in residential property towards the “productive” industries. (Since when has providing people with a home not been productive?) Read the rest of this entry »

Thomas Stanley and William Danko wrote the US bestseller “The Millionaire Next Door”. It is an excellent book as it gives many insights into the misconceptions of who our rich are and the lifestyles they have. There is a test I will show you so you can establish if you are on the right track to become a millionaire.

Stanley and Danko are University Professors who conducted research on over one thousand millionaires and present their findings in the book. It’s fascinating.

One of the key findings is that that nearly 70% of millionaires had set goals and had a plan for how they were going to achieve them. Of those that didn’t plan, most had either retired (having achieved their main goals) or inherited their wealth. Read the rest of this entry »

Over the last six months or so, I have been saying that the New Zealand property market is likely to be near it’s peak and that investors should not expect any large capital gains to help them buy more property. 

The fact that the market has cycles, and this includes downsides, is not something to be scared of or worried about. It is a normal part of property investment life and may simply call for a change in strategy. However over the last few weeks there has been some debate over whether the market is going to level off or crash. Read the rest of this entry »