Silverhall kicked off the seminar season with our first seminar on Wednesday the 14th of September in Parramatta.  It was so great to see so many familiar and new faces there.

It was great to received such positive feedback from our guests.

''An excellent and very informative presentation that was very well presented''

Silverhall clients have just settled on 20 properties at Campbelltown and Glenmore Park, with more to come.

The Ebony Apartments at Campbelltown were purchased by Silverhall clients from $324,000 in 2012. Recently released stock in the complex, held back by the developer until settlement, are being sold for prices from $455,000.

Neighbouring suburbs to Glenmore Park have achieved sales of over $500,000 for apartments very similar to those acquired by Silverhall clients from $445,000 in mid-2014.

Read more to see recent photos of these two developments.

An interesting article from RP Data recently confirmed what we have known for a while in that demand for property is outweighing supply in Australia.

"The Australian Bureau of Statistics released building activity data this week, showing the total number of dwelling commencements fell by 11.4% over the year to June 2012. Based on the June data, the number of housing starts was13.4% lower than the ten year average. The weak results highlight just how weak the housing construction sector has been since building activity started to fall in early 2010."

Read the full release from RP Data here

For more information or advice on property investing in the current market, call Silverhall on 1300 662 143.

Whether to buy an off-the-plan property is right for them is one of the common questions investors have when looking to invest in properties. Solid research and consideration of your financial circumstances are key aspects, and there are some clear benefits of investing in an off-the-plan property that may appeal to some investors.

If you are among the quickest investors you have the chance to get into the project on the ground floor. This can mean that before building commences, developers commonly offer lower prices to attract the necessary funds to meet their financing agreements. Once building has commenced, prices for these properties may increase. This can be a quick capital gain for the early investor. Another benefit of getting in early is that the range of properties available is the largest and you can choose a property with the best floor plan to appeal to future tenants.

Another appealing attribute of buying off-the-plan property is the tax benefits available. New properties attract the most depreciation and an off-the-plan property is the best way to maximise these tax breaks. Another great benefit of off-the-plan property is once you have paid your deposit – roughly 10 per cent of the property price – you may have up to 18 months’ time or longer before you will have to pay the outstanding amount. This extra time can provide a significant opportunity to save money to lower the amount you need to borrow and reduce loan repayments.

Are you looking for positive cash flow properties but not sure where to start? Silverhall provides guidance and strategies for property investors. Book a free consultation online or contact them today on 1300 662 143.

Too often rental properties are seen as a foolproof source of steady income where the investor "can't lose" This is often not true.

Many novice landlords are not aware of the costs incurred throughout the investment and don't take advantage of all the benefits.

Some of the biggest costs for landlords are incurred before finding tenants - in safety items such as smoke alarms and circuit breakers as well as insurance.

Statements of agent fees can often appear complex and confusing. Rental income can quickly evaporate when subject to management fees, letting fees, marketing fees, strata levies and even a fee for the statement itself.

Cameron Anderson of Silverhall says, landlords often make the mistake of choosing the cheapest property manager.

"A good property manager should be making sure you have properly managed tenants, timely inspections and communicate with the landlord at the right times. Good property managers will inform the landlord when a lease is due for renewal to ensure the new lease period reflects the proper market rent. I see too many times property managers not communicating with landlords and accepting less than market rent.”

Management fees vary between states. This is usually a factor of supply and demand of property managers for a particular area.

Landlords need to ensure agents demand punctual rental payments to avoid extra loan interest.

It's also important to recognise the value of further investment in the property, which can attract higher-quality tenants and is often tax deductible. However, be careful not to overcapitalise.

Better tenants mean lower arrears, higher rent and less maintenance costs.

For more information on property investment strategies, check out Silverhall’s range of FREE informative ebooks, or contact us on 1300 662 143.