I emailed the real estate agent, Damien, and received a phone call the next day. I told him this was my first purchase and that it was all still new to me. He was very understanding and agreed to show me through the property that weekend.
Arriving at the real estate office, I was greeted by Damien and my sister, Samantha, who had agreed to come with me. We jumped into our cars and drove to the property. As we approached, it became clearer why the place was cheap. The road was full of potholes, and the 12-unit block was daubed with graffiti. Rubbish spilled out from the six commercial units on the ground floor. Samantha and I exchanged glances — it wasn't looking good.
We walked around the back and approached the door of the unit where we found a pile of junk and abandoned furniture graciously left by the former tenant. Damien was a little embarrassed. The tenants had assured him they would remove it, but they'd clearly done a runner. Despite the less-than-ideal first impression, I tried to keep an open mind.
As we entered the unit, my excitement began to creep back. Inside was not half bad! It was clean and airy, with crisp white walls and older grey carpet that still presented well. The bedrooms had built-in wardrobes and shared a breezy balcony with views of the lake. The kitchen was older-style wood grain but perfectly presentable, and there was even a second balcony off the dining area. The council rates and strata levies were reasonable. The area was quiet and in high rental demand, and I knew the unit had only been vacant for a couple of days. It was close to schools, shops and the train line. It ticked all the boxes.
I knew I had a decision to make.
I pulled Samantha aside so we could talk in private. Although the unit was nice, we were both a little concerned about the seedy state of the exterior. However, having done my due diligence, I had some facts and figures up my sleeve. I knew that the median price for units in the area was around $185 000 — a good $40 000 above the asking price. All comparable listings were over $165 000, meaning the unit was technically below market value. Finally, I could use the state of the exterior as leverage in negotiating the price down still further. Using this logic, I talked with Damien and managed to get the price down to $138 500. This was the one!
Driving back to the agent's office, I knew I had made the right choice. This place was affordable and would give me a foot on the bottom rung of the property ladder, which was exactly what I had hoped for. Half an hour later I had signed on the dotted line and engaged the agent to manage the property and begin the search for a new tenant.
I took a deep breath. I'd done it and was on my way!
My first investment property!
It's not about what it looks like — it's about the numbers, and starting the journey!
This experience set the standard for how I have purchased property ever since. By thinking rationally, keeping a cool head and conducting thorough research, I make informed decisions, which ensures I get the best possible outcomes.
Here’s what the upfront costs looked like for property #1:
| Purchase price | $138 500 |
|---|---|
| 10% deposit | $13 850 |
| Lenders mortgage insurance (LMI) | $1 200 |
| Conveyancing | $1 100 |
| Stamp duty | $3 500 |
| Pest and building inspection | $500 |
| Total deposit required by bank | $20 150 |
The total mortgage repayments each week were $190, covering both principal and interest. With the unit rented out at $200 a week, it would basically be paying for itself!
When I was buying my first property, lots of terms I was unfamiliar with were thrown around by the bank and the agent, so I have included some basic definitions for the newbies out there.
DEFINITION
Lenders mortgage insurance (LMI)
LMI is a security cost that is generally required if you are borrowing more than 80 per cent for a standard residential loan. It means if you don't have a 20 per cent deposit saved, you'll have to pay a fee to the bank because the loan is deemed to present a slightly higher risk to the bank.
In most cases, LMI can be ‘capitalised’ on the loan balance upon settlement, which means you don't have to come up with the money upfront — it is simply added to your home loan (and you therefore pay interest on this amount, as it forms part of the loan).
DEFINITION
Pest and building inspection
A pest and building inspection is performed by a licensed inspector who will provide a written report of the property's condition. It includes details of any significant building defects or potential issues such as rotten timber, cracks, safety hazards, the presence of asbestos or a leaking roof, and evidence of termite infestation.
It is important to identify any potential problems with the building that might surface and cost you money to repair in the future.
DEFINITION
Principal and interest
Principal is the balance of the actual loan being paid off. Interest is the charge paid to the lender for the privilege of borrowing the money from them.
Mortgage loans are usually set at a default principal and interest right from the start, which means you are paying off both with each repayment you make. It is also possible to switch to an interest-only loan for a period (usually between one and five years), which will lower your repayments.
Interest-only loans offer some short-term advantages, including decreasing your initial outlay and freeing up cash flow when purchasing a property. However, borrowers sometimes run into trouble when the interest-only period ends and their repayments suddenly increase again, so it is important to use these loans as part of a thought-out strategy to ensure you don't get stung by a shortfall. You might, for example, have a plan in place to increase the rent at the end of the interest-only period.
DEFINITION
Conveyancer
Conveyancers conduct all the legal work required in a property transaction. Conveyancing plays a big part in the purchasing of property, so it is important to have at least a basic understanding of the process.
The best way to find a good conveyancer is through a referral from someone you know. It pays to do your research, read reviews and make some phone calls to ascertain whether they are credible and their fees are reasonable. You can arrange an in-person meeting or conduct the entire process remotely, from initial contact to settlement. This is particularly useful when buying property interstate.
Playing catch-up
The weeks following the exchange of contracts for my first property were both exciting and terrifying. I worried about being able to pull it all off and whether I would be able to scrape enough money together