The real costs of investing in real estate?

As with owning any property, there are costs associated with investment properties. Making sure you understand these is important as they will have a direct effect on your budget and your overall net profit. While some of these expenses can be claimed not all of them can, so discuss each of them with your accountant or financial advisor.

Property purchase costs

This is the most obvious of all costs, but make sure when you are setting your budget you don’t spend all your budget on the property purchase as there are many other hidden costs you need to be aware of

Interest

As you have likely taken out a loan to purchase your investment property, you are going to be charged interest on that loan. Talk to your lender to work out what this is and the best option for you.

Mortgage fees

There are a number of charges associated with taking out finance. For instance if you are borrowing more than 80% of the home’s value you may be asked to pay extra charges such as lenders mortgage insurance – this is normally a one-off payment at the commencement of your mortgage. The cost of LMI will vary depending on how much you borrow and the type of loan you select but it will be approximately $10,000. Talk to your lender about any other charges they have.

Bank Fees

A lot of lenders charge an annual fee. This is an ongoing expense that you need to take into account. It normally isn’t a lot of money but still important to know exactly what you are up for.

Stamp duty

Stamp duty is a charge that is applied to the sale of residential property by state governments. It is not a fixed cost across the country – it differs in each state and territory and to find out the costs where you are read our state and territory specific articles.

Pest, building and Strata reports

While not compulsory, it is recommended that you get these professional inspections done before you undertake any negotiations, as knowing exactly what you’re getting into could give you additional bargaining power. The general cost is between $400 and $600 for a pest and building report and approximately $200 for a strata report

Legal costs

Buying an investment property s fundamentally a legal process so the help of legal experts, namely conveyancers and solicitors is critical. They will be an invaluable part of property negotiations and can help you through the paperwork. However remember they will charge a fee so make sure you factor this in. Some conveyancers will charge a flat fee while others will charge a sliding fee based on the properties sale price. Make sure you discuss fees and charges before you engage their services.

Strata Fees

Once a seller hands their property over, you immediately inherit all of the attached council and strata fees.

While both owners of houses and units are obliged to pay council rates, it is only owners of units or apartments that will have to incur strata fees.

Strata fees cover the property’s grouped maintenance and building insurance fees and are collected by the building’s owners’ or manager. These fees are ongoing costs that will continue to absorb your finances, generally quarterly, even after your initial property purchase payment, so it’s important to incorporate these into your ongoing budget.

The scope of strata fees will vary considerably depending on the age of the building, facilities, and location but you should expect to pay around $70 to $80 for the lodgement of application.

Property management fees

A property manager costs approximately 7-10% of your total rental income, however the services and expertise offered by a good property manager is worth much much more than this fee, plus in many cases the agents service fee is tax deductable.

Advertising for Tenants

You need to spend money to reach your future tenants. Your property manager will be able to advise you on how much this will cost but expect to pay approximately $600 to promote your rental property on top real estate portals and in the local newspapers.

General property maintenance

This is hard to guestimate as each property is different, but as a rule a property owner should allocate 2% of the property value annually for maintenance. Therefore if you a property is worth $400,000 the landlord should save a minimum $8000 for maintenance costs. Anything that ensures the property is livable for tenants is considered a maintenance cost

Council rates

No matter where you are in Australia you are going to have pay council rates to make sure the council can service you. These vary depending on the area so it’s a good idea to find out what they are. They are usually paid quarterly.

Insurance

It is recommended that you take out landlord insurance to protect you from things like malicious damage caused by the tenants, a lack of rental income from tenants who have damaged the property or failed to pay rent etc. Terri Scheer insurance are experts in landlord insurance and can will provide a quote however expect to pay approximately $1500 annually for insurance.

Accountancy Fees

Your accountant will help you complete your tax returns and the end of the year, assess things like depreciation, rental income and expenses. They are a valuable resource in working out what you can and cannot claim. They will pull all of this together and help you lodge your tax return. Make sure you find out how much they will charge to manage your property investment accounting needs.

The hidden costs of buying your first home

Congratulations – you’re looking to buy your first home. This is an exciting milestone in your life and one you undoubtedly have worked hard to achieve.

This article is in no way meant to scare you off buying, we are all for jumping onto the property ladder, but rather it is aimed at giving you a clear understanding of the different fees and charges associated with buying property. The real cost of buying a home is more than the actual sale price and being prepared for the additional fees and charges is critical to ensure you aren’t hit with any nasty surprises.

As a general rule if you factor in an additional 5-7% of the purchase price, on top of your deposit it should be approximately enough to help you cover the hidden extras.

Here is a look at the most common extra expenses you should expect to pay when buying a property for the first time.

The deposit

Deposits can be as low as 5 per cent, but preferably they are more around the 10%-20% of the home’s overall cost, depending on the type of loan you obtain.

Stamp duty

Stamp duty is a charge that is applied to the sale of residential property by state governments and is likely to be one of the greatest financial hurdles to buying your first home. The amount you have to pay depends on the area you live in, so check in with your local authorities. As a first home buyer, you may also be entitled to state-specific concessions, which can be around $10,000 according to First Home Owner Grant Online.

Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI)

If you want to borrow more than 80% of the property purchase price you will normally be charged Lenders Mortgage Insurance. This insurance payment covers the lender in the event that you can’t pay the home loan back. Sell my home in West Memphis

Get your budget and savings in order well before you buy to avoid this hurdle! The cost of LMI will vary depending on how much you borrow and the type of loan you select but it will be approximately $10,000.

Building Insurance

When you’re spending your life savings on purchasing property it makes sense to protect it. While building insurance is a compulsory requirement from your lender, there are other insurance policies that you should consider.

For example, mortgage protection insurance will ensure your mortgage repayments are met should you fall seriously ill. Income protection insurance will also help pay the bills should you be unable to due to an accident, major trauma or illness.

Legal Help

Buying a home is fundamentally a legal process so the help of legal experts, namely conveyancers and solicitors is critical. They will be an invaluable part of property negotiations and can help you through the paperwork. However, remember they will charge a fee so make sure you factor this in. Some conveyancers will charge a flat fee while others will charge a sliding fee based on the properties sale price. Make sure you discuss fees and charges before you engage their services.

Building, Pest and Strata

Having a building and pest inspection carried out on any property is usually a requirement by the lender but they are well worth investing in regardless.

If you are considering purchasing a unit or apartment, it is also in your best interest to have a strata inspection conducted – that is a report on the assets, liabilities and financial position of the apartment complex.

While having a building, pest or strata inspection completed on the potential property will cost you initially, it could be an invaluable safeguarding against buying a lemon.

Expect to pay around $400 for a building or pest inspection and around $200 for a strata report.

Council Rates and Strata Fees

Once a seller hands their property over, you immediately inherit all of the attached council and strata fees.

While both owners of houses and units are obliged to pay council rates, it is only owners of units or apartments that will have to incur strata fees.

Strata fees cover the property’s grouped maintenance and building insurance fees and are collected by the building’s owners’ or manager. These fees are ongoing costs that will continue to absorb your finances, generally quarterly, even after your initial property purchase payment, so it’s important to incorporate these into your ongoing budget.

The scope of strata fees will vary considerably depending on the age of the building, facilities, and location but you should expect to pay around $70 to $80 for the lodgment of application.