Australian Property Investment Blog by Micah Keall-Grant

When purchasing a property, it is very important to conduct proper due diligence to ensure you don’t get caught out by any unexpected issues. During the property search Whilst you will engage professionals to conduct a large part of the due dilligence, there are a number of   basic things you can check yourself before inspecting or offering. This will save you a lot of time and hassle! Online (before you attend the inspection) : -        Size and shape of the block of land -        Proximity to main roads/train lines -        Proximity to airports/flight paths -        Proximity to shops/schools/transport -        Google Maps – Satellite and Street View (to get a feel for the area) -        Flood checks – free online council resources available -     ...

1) Save a deposit First things first, you need money for a deposit. Usually it is in the range of 5% - 20% of the purchase price, depending on your individual circumstances. The most straightforward way to achieve this is spend less than you earn, have a budget and track your savings over time. Alternative ways are to pool money with a partner/friends/family or borrow money from your parents. In addition to the deposit, there are a number of other fees during the purchase process you will have to take into account – solicitors fees, stamp duty, property transfer fees, building and pest inspections, insurances etc. 2) Arrange your finances You will require the remainder of your property purchase to be funded by a mortgage lender and you will pay the lender interest for the money borrowed. The most common ways to arrange this are either through a mortgage broker (who can shop around different lenders for the best deals and provide general advice) or to go directly to the lender ...

Key Details: Price: $400-$450k Rental Return: $400-$430/week Location: Northern Growth Corridor of Brisbane ~25km from the CBD Purchase Details: This client had a budget of up to $450k and was not familiar with Brisbane so asked us for recommendations for good investment locations. He was targeting a house on a decent block, in good condition and with possible future development potential. I advised the client of an excellent suburb in the Northern part of Brisbane which would suit his criteria well. After a few weeks search we secured this low set brick, 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom house, on a 600m2 corner block, with multiple living areas and potential for future development. It has a large double garage, good outdoor areas and is well located near schools, shops and transport.

Key Details: Price: $500k-$600k range Rental Return: $450-$500/week Location: Family friendly middle ring suburb ~12km from Brisbane CBD Purchase Details: These clients were targeting a house in the $500k-$550k range – long term buy and hold with good capital growth prospects. They wanted something that was near a train station, with good street appeal and with a minimum of two bathrooms and two living areas. I secured this low set brick house for them in a suburb ~12km to the CBD, which is 800m walk to the nearest train station and in quiet, family friendly pocket. It is 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, modern layout and in excellent condition with happy long term tenants.

Key details: Price: $900k-$1m range Rental Return: $700-$800/week Location: Blue chip suburb 5km to Brisbane CBD Purchase Details: These Sydney based investors were focused on securing a house in a premium suburb with excellent capital growth prospects. They wanted something that was immediately rentable with no work to be done and that would appeal to a wide range of tenants. I secured this property within the first week of listing in a multiple offer situation by negotiating with excellent terms and conditions that suited the sellers perfectly. This house is 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, immaculately renovated and is well located near a train station, shops, parks and good schools.

Welcome to the blog! My name is Micah Keall-Grant and I am an investor with a goal of achieving financial freedom. My main focus is on property investment (as this is also my job!) however I also invest in individual shares, index funds and ETFs, amongst other things. This blog is about sharing my experiences and knowledge while also continuing to learn more about investment myself! My job, background and experience:   I am a Registered QLD Property Buyer’s Agent and an expert in the Brisbane property market. I come from an engineering background having completed a Bachelors (Hons) and Masters in Engineering at Canterbury University in New Zealand and working professionally on various projects throughout Australia, USA and Africa. I developed a strong interest in Australian residential property through substantial research and reading and then began investing a number of years ago, developing a keen eye for good quality investment properties, and learning lots along ...