Property Investment Information

From the NZ Herald
Three articles on home ownership this week put the blame for rising house prices on property investors. However, there is a considerable amount of misinformation and misunderstanding that has led the writers to their conclusions.

Before assigning blame we need to ask two questions. Are property investors really to blame and if they are, would the capital gains tax on rental property help the situation? (more...)

With hundreds of emails being posted on the Herald website, it seems that my comment on coffee and cars has created quite a stir and considerable debate. Four short sentences, but a week later and the phone still hasn't stopped ringing.

I seemed to have polarised the community. Many replies have said that it can't be done and that I'm a hypocritical baby boomer who is out of touch with generation X'ers. However many people have agreed with me and it was pleasing to see that Herald reporter Simon Collins checked my figures and confirmed my belief in an article he wrote.

To clarify, my comments were not a criticism of generation X'ers. I was trying to point out that it has ALWAYS been difficult to obtain your first property and that it takes time and a bit of sacrifice to achieve it. In addition, I was not trying to suggest that everyone can own their own home or that everyone should. It's your choice how you lead your life and your life will evolve based on the choices you make. Renting provides great value and allows you to live in accommodation that would cost a lot more if you owned it yourself. (more...)