Planning Ahead: How To Avoid These Investment Mistakes

Property investment can be incredibly exciting and lucrative, but it’s crucial to understand the potential pitfalls and risks involved. 

In this article, we dive into the nitty-gritty of property investment and offer tips to help increase your chances of success. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, this article will be relevant to anyone seeking to invest in property.

What Can Go Wrong with Property Investment?

Investing in property can be risky, and there are several things that can go wrong. Here are five types of risks you should be aware of:

1. Market risk: The value of your property can be affected by changes in the market. If the market takes a downward turn, your property’s value could decrease, making it difficult to sell or refinance.

2. Location risk: The location of your property is critical. A property in a declining area may not appreciate in value as much as investing in property located in a growing area.

3. Property-specific risk: Every property is unique, and there may be specific issues with a particular property that can affect its value. For example, a property with an outdated electrical system may require costly repairs to rewire.

4. Management risk: If you own a rental property, it’s important to have a reliable and effective property manager. A poor property manager could leave you exposed to the issues that bad tenants can create such as rent collection or property damage.
5. Finance risk: Like all forms of finance, investment loans and commercial property loans come with risk.  You should always get expert advice to select the loan that’s right for your circumstances.

Biggest Investment Mistakes

One of the biggest mistakes investors make is failing to do their due diligence. 

For property investing for beginners, it’s important to thoroughly research a property, its location and the right finance for you before investing. Additionally, many investors get caught up in the excitement of a good deal and forget to consider the long-term implications of their investment.

The Realities of Investing in Property

It’s important to be realistic about some of the risks and limitations that property investment presents.  Some of these include: 

1. Lack of liquidity: Property is a long-term investment, and it can be difficult to sell quickly if you need to access your money.

2. High costs: Property investment involves significant upfront and ongoing costs, including mortgage payments, property taxes, and maintenance expenses.

3. Market fluctuations: The value of a property can be affected by market fluctuations, often caused by the cost of lending and changes to interest rates in Australia.  A declining market can result in a loss.

4. Tenant turnover: Finding reliable tenants and keeping them in your property for a long period of time can be a challenge. Tenant turnover can lead to loss of rental income and unexpected costs for repairs and damage.

5. Maintenance and repair costs: Owning a rental property comes with the responsibility of maintaining and repairing it. 

6. Vacancy rate: If your property sits vacant for an extended period of time, you’ll lose out on rental income. This can be a major risk for landlords, especially in a slow real estate market.

Is Commercial Property a Good Investment?

There are several advantages commercial property investment offers according to finance specialists.

A commercial property investment can often offer higher rental yields with longer lease terms.  A stable tenant may lease their commercial premises for a long period of time and cover all of the outgoing costs of the property.

An owner occupier could consider investing in their commercial premises as a way of building assets.  Utilising the rent their business would be paying someone else as a legitimate way of covering their costs of ownership could be an avenue to building wealth.

Investors should recognise some commercial property investment types are considered more risky than others.  If a property remains vacant for an extended period of time the cost to hold the property could become a burden.

Investing in Property Tips for becoming a Good Investor 

Build a Strong Network 

Having a team of industry experts, real estate professionals, including property managers and finance specialists can give you valuable insights and knowledge that can help you make informed investment decisions. 

Building a strong network can also open doors to new investment opportunities and help you stay up-to-date with market trends and economic conditions.

Stay Informed and Updated 

The property market is constantly evolving – it’s essential to stay informed about market trends and economic conditions. 

Keeping up to date with news, attending industry events, and participating in continuous learning can help you stay ahead of the curve and make well-informed investment decisions.

Keeping Emotions in Check 

Investing in property can be an emotional journey, and it’s crucial to keep your emotions in check when making investment decisions. Don’t make impulsive decisions based on your feelings, and always consider the facts and data before investing.

Have a Long Term Perspective 

Property investment is a long-term game, and it’s essential to maintain that long-term perspective when making investment decisions. Whilst some short term investments can pay off, if market circumstances change for reasons beyond your control you could find yourself exposed to a greater level of risk.

Final Thoughts

It is important to remember with these investing in property tips that investing is complex and requires careful planning and research. 

To avoid common mistakes and optimise your returns, it’s essential to stay informed about the market trends and economic conditions, build a strong network, seek professional advice, keep emotions in check, and have a long-term perspective.

Investing in property can be a lucrative venture, but it’s essential to be realistic of the risks involved. 

At darkhorsefinancial.com.au, we specialise in providing business, commercial property, and investment loans. 

Are you ready to take your property investment game to the next level?  Contact our team for expert advice to achieve your investment goals.

Disclaimer: Please note that the information provided in this article is opinion only and should not be construed as financial or investment advice or relied upon for any purpose.

Before making any investment decision, you should seek advice from a qualified professional who can take into account your specific circumstances and investment objectives.