Investment Property

Spot the spivs flogging dud deals

Many years before becoming chief executive officer of Intelligent Investor's sister publication Walnut Report, I worked deep in the bowels of the finance industry.

More light on trusts

I Can Do That The strategy: To avoid the traps of unlisted property investments.

David Potts Leaving money in the bank never made anybody rich, though no doubt it's handy once you get there. Yes, I know term deposits have served a treat; they're government-guaranteed up to $250,000 and the 6...

What happens when parents sell

George Cochrane MY PARENTS and I own a house together and have equal shares among the three of us. The house has been their home for 20 years and I did not charge them rent on my portion of the house.

Door opens to US market

Many investors have been taking the plunge into US real estate, lured by the combination of a strong local dollar and dirt-cheap properties stateside.

A greater share of the wealth

Penny Pryor A new report predicts that as the world economic storm abates and trading equities becomes easier, Australians will raise their direct holdings.

Smart ways to climb the property ladder

Penny Pryor Project engineer Emma Challands would like to be in a position to retire before 40.

New rules of engagement

Reforms to the laws covering financial planners soon to be voted on by Federal Parliament will be ''fantastic'' for those who sign up for advice after July 1, consumer advocate Choice says, but will...

Rental squeeze begins to ease

Chris Vedelago and Nathan Partenza Melbourne's rental market turns in favour of tenants with vacancy rates - particularly for high-end apartments - hitting a six-year high.

Build foundations on fundamentals

Times are tough in property but owners can still thrive by getting back to basics, writes Jason Clout.

Take stock to secure a decent return

Penny Pryor Now's the time to consider re-entering the sharemarket to get value from your investment.

Blueprint for wealth

It has been the wealth strategy of a generation. Buy a home. Look after it, improve it, upgrade it. And if cash flow allows, gear up to your eyeballs to buy more property for other people to live in.

Hot Stock: Westfield

Hot Stock Westfield Group's core business is the management of shopping centres and it is only indirectly exposed to the ebb and flow of retail sales.

A fine mix of leisure and pain

At this time of year, countless Australians are sunning themselves on a beach somewhere, mentally doing the sums on buying a holiday home and renting it out for part of the year to help defray the...

Negative gearing: time to rethink your approach

Bina Brown There are plenty of reasons why Australians love to borrow money to invest in bricks and mortar.

Positive signs visible despite the gloom

It's been a year best forgotten: the Australian sharemarket has lost almost 10 per cent and house prices nationally are about 3 per cent lower.

Spruikers flog dubious US properties

Annette Sampson Thinking it might be time to buy one of those el cheapo US properties? You'll find there's no shortage of experts here to help you.

Return of traditional mortgages

Volatile investment markets and question marks over property values are making line-of-credit loans less popular and potentially harder to unwind for those who have one.

So, you're suddenly rich ... now what?

George Cochrane Term deposits can be a good option for those unaccustomed to the perks and pitfalls of coming into money.

Rental gains raise property hopes

Chris Zappone SLUMPING home prices and persistently poor housing affordability helped lift quarterly rent yields for the first time in nine months, raising hopes for an improved real estate market this year.