In this episode, we discuss one of the key dangers that property investors face – analysis paralysis. We talk about what analysis paralysis is and how to overcome it.  We also give case studies and examples of what would be: a) not enough analysis, b) too much analysis, and c) the right amount of analysis. This way property investors can make sure they are balancing making a good decision, with making a decision at all.  We also mention our How to buy your 1st investment property video on our YouTube channel. You can also use our My Wealth Plan software to see whether you're on track for your financial goals. Click the link to use the software for free.

In this episode, we go through TradeMe rental listings to show the key mistakes property investors are making when renting out their investment properties.  We pull up rental listings that have stuck around and not moved and show you how the marketing of the property (or the property itself) could be improved so that it rents faster.  Ultimately, this means that property investors can avoid these mistakes and rent their properties out more quickly.  We also mention that you can use our My Wealth Plan software to see whether you're on track for your financial goals. Click the link to use the software for free.

In this episode, we are joined by property investor and financial adviser, Kathy Faulkner to discuss a case study of two property investors she's been working with.  Kathy shows us how these two investors became mortgage-ree before the age of 40, and what they're doing now to build a property investment portfolio for their future.  Ultimately this allows you to get a sense of what you might need to do if you want the same results.

In this episode, we discuss what Opes Partners' strategy is. This includes what properties to buy (and when), how many properties you need to buy, and who this strategy is (and isn't) the right fit for.  This comes from a question from a recent Instagram follower who wanted a high-level overview of the property investment strategy we tend to recommend.

In this episode, we discuss how long it takes to find a tenant in the New Zealand property market. For this, we are joined by Caitlin Blanchfield from Venture Property Management.  Here, she shares the it takes between 1 - 8 weeks to find a tenant depending on the rental market and the quality of the property.  But, on average it should take 4-5 weeks. 

In this episode, we are joined by Caitlin Blanchfield from Venture Property Management to discuss how to find a good tenant.  This includes a discussion of what a 'good' and 'bad' tenant looks like, and how to spot whether a tenant will be good or bad.  Ultimately, this helps property investors get a sense of how to find the right tenant for them. We also mention that you can use our My Wealth Plan software to see whether you're on track for your financial goals. Click the link to use the software for free.

In this episode, we discuss how First Home Buyers and property investors can find a flatmate to help them pay down their mortgage faster.  This includes the practicalities of how to find a flatmate, what agreements to set up, and what to do with the money you collect.  Ultimately, this helps Kiwis avoid mistakes when getting a flatmate in. We also mention these resources: Portfolio Planning spreadsheet  Tenancy Services Flat/House sharing agreement template  Property Academy podcast episode 1244  which covers the Mortgage Buster strategy. We also mention that you can use our My Wealth Plan software to see whether you're on track for your financial goals. Click the link to use the software for free.

In this episode, we compare what would happen if an investor held their properties in a trust vs a look-through company, when restructuring their debt.  This is a more advanced show where we go through the details of a rent-vestor who decides to use their investment property to help them buy their own home.  This helps property investors understand the differences between the potential ways of owning a property. We also mention that you can use our My Wealth Plan software to see whether you're on track for your financial goals. Click the link to use the software for free.

In this episode, we discuss what will happen to the Hawke's Bay property market after Cyclone Gabrielle ravaged parts of the North Island.  For this, we look at what happened to Christchurch property prices and rents after the Canterbury earthquakes.  We specifically point out that in the 5 years after the Christchurch earthquakes, property prices rose by over 80%. At the same time, property prices in regional New Zealand only increased by 20% over the same period.  We then discuss whether the same effects might be seen in Hawke's Bay ... and how property investors can help the region in the recovery. We also mention that you can use our My Wealth Plan software to see whether you're on track for your financial goals. Click the link to use the software for free.

In this episode, we challenge Andrew to create a passive income plan to help 2 investors earn a $100,000 passive income in 19 years.  In the challenge, he has to understand their situation, test their assumptions and come up with a plan for how they might invest in property.  This gives property investors the chance to see how they might create a Wealth Plan for themselves.  In addition, we mention that you can use our How Much Will I Need in Retirement calculator, to see what your passive income goal might need to be.  We also mention that you can use our My Wealth Plan software to see whether you're on track for your financial goals. Click the link to use the software for free.

In this episode, we discuss 5 times that Andrew walked away from a developer and chose not to invest with them.  This includes times when the price was too high; when the shareholders of the company appeared dodgy; and other times when the quality of the properties just wasn't up to standard.  This helps property investors avoid making mistakes and investing with the wrong developer.

In this episode, we are once again joined by Lexia Marshall from Hassle Free Airbnb to discuss which properties make the best Airbnbs in Christchurch.  Here, Lexia shares which properties make the most money as Airbnbs, and which properties should never become Airbnbs.  This includes a few dealbreakers that show when a property should never become an Airbnb.

In this episode, we are joined by Lexia Marshall from Hassle Free Airbnb, a large Airbnb manager in Christchurch and wider Canterbury.  Lexia takes us through how much money property investors can make by renting out their properties on Airbnb (or another short-term rental website).  This includes looking at how much more properties rent on Airbnb, the costs to budget for, and the expected cash flow property investors can expect.

In this episode, we discuss the most common property investment terms and explain what they mean (in simple terms).  This is to help new investors and new listeners of the show cut through the jargon jungle so that they can learn about property more easily.  We define terms like equity, useable equity, cashflow, negative gearing, and banking terms, like UMI (uncommitted monthly income). We also mention that you can learn even more property investment terms in the Opes Partners Glossary of Property Investment Terms.

In this episode, we discuss what return on investment (ROI) means in terms of property investment.  This includes what return on investment measures, how to calculate it, and when the measure is useful – and when it's not.  We also discuss how much more money property investors can make when they purchase investments that have a high ROI. And if you want to run the numbers and calculate the return on investment for your property, download the Opes Partners Return on Investment spreadsheet here.

In this episode, we discuss 8 different strategies that property investors can use to handle higher interest rates.  This comes from a listener of the show, who wanted to know how to handle the cash flow when more money goes to the bank to pay interest.  The strategies discussed include: choosing the right interest rate, shopping around for cheaper interest rates, using a bank's cashback, and using a revolving credit, as well as four other strategies.  Ultimately, property investors and homeowners can use these tactics to preserve cash flow. We also mention that you can use our My Wealth Plan software to see whether you're on track for your financial goals. Click the link to use the software for free.

In this episode, we are joined by property investor, Ilse Wolfe, to discuss two different case studies. In both case studies, the property investors added additional bedrooms to their properties.  However, in the first example, the additional bedroom was added to the current internal floor plan.  In the second case study, the property investors converted a garage into 2 new bedrooms. Ilse takes us through what this costs and the pros and cons of each approach. We also mention that you can learn more about Ilse's Opes Accelerate Coaching Programme by clicking this link.

In this episode, we discuss what happens to new build properties in Auckland that have been damaged by the floods and Cyclone Gabrielle.  Although some properties have been badly damaged through these extreme weather events, most new build properties have not been damaged.  If your property has been damaged, we go through the process of what to do, including getting a build report from your developer and engaging a building inspector before you go unconditional.

In this episode, we discuss how property investors and homeowners can still sell their properties in a slow real estate market.  This includes how to make your property attractive to buyers, how to price your property, and how to present your property for sale.  We also discuss how much you should spend on marketing and where those dollars should be spent. 

In this episode, we discuss the top 3 property investment strategies in New Zealand. This includes Passive Buy and Hold, BRRRR, and flipping.  We go through the pros and cons for each so that you, as a property investor, can choose which is the right strategy for you.  Andrew also gives us an idea of how he has used each of the strategies at different parts of his investment career. 

In this episode, we discuss whether property investors should bother testing their rental properties for meth contamination.  This is based on the 2018 report from Sir Peter Gluckman. We react to parts of the report that suggest that meth testing isn't necessary (most of the time), and the signs to look for to tell whether you should test for meth.  We also talk through previous Tenancy Tribunal cases to show whether you or the tenant need to pay to fix any damage.  We also mention that we'll be speaking at a property investment seminar – in partnership with Wolfbrook – at the Christchurch Crowne Plaza hotel. It's on Tuesday 22nd February. Click this link if you're keen to come along.

In this episode, we discuss how young Kiwis can become first-home buyers. This includes our first home buyers blueprint that comes directly from our book – Wealth Plan.  We recommend those first-home buyers start by deciding how they'll use their first home to start an investment portfolio. Will they aggressively pay down their mortgage, or will they renovate?  That will determine what sort of property they'll buy. We talk about these two options and how they work, as well as the four-step blueprint.  We also mention these articles and podcasts: The Mortgage Buster Strategy The Fast Five Deposit Sources first-home buyers can use Property ExpLained (our sister podcast)

In this episode, we discuss where the best places to invest in New Zealand are (right now).  This includes looking at which areas are most undervalued, which areas are growing in population, and which parts of New Zealand are most affordable.  We also discuss that we see the most opportunities in Christchurch, Canterbury and Auckland in early-2022. But, that Wellington could make a comeback in the next couple of years.  We also mention you can watch the video version of this episode by subscribing to the Opes Partners YouTube channel. We release new videos every Monday and Wednesday.

In this episode, we are joined by a financial adviser, Dennis Schipper, to discuss a case study of how his clients will pay off their mortgage by selling an investment property.  We go through the detail of how their property portfolio was going to be $66,000 negatively geared. But, by selling a property and reinvesting the funds, they'll be significantly better off.  Ultimately, you can use this information to think about how you might need to change your property investment portfolio.

In this episode, we discuss the three main steps property investors should take to find a good investment property.  Step #1 – Choose your strategy … whether that's passive buy and hold, renovate and hold, or flipping.  Step #2 – find the right area to invest in. This includes looking for regions that are undervalued, have decent population growth, and a good-sized population to begin with.  Step #3 – Find the properties and run the numbers. 

In this episode, we discuss what landlords can and can't ask their prospective tenants when renting out their investment properties.  This comes after the Privacy Commissioner introduced new rules in 2022 about what property management companies can ask, and when.  Ultimately this is to help you – as a property investor – avoid mistakes, fines, and accusations of discrimination. We also mention that we'll be speaking at a property investment seminar – in partnership with Wolfbrook – at the Chirstchurch Crowne Plaza hotel. It's on Tuesday 22nd February. Click this link if you're keen to come along.

In this episode, we discuss whether property investors should furnish their rental properties.  This includes a look at how much extra rent you can change, the cost to furnish a property and the expected return from renting your property with furniture.  We also talk through which types of properties can be profitably furnished ... and which ones are best rented without any furniture included.  Ultimately, this lets you as a property investor decide what the right decision is for you. We also mention that you can use our My Wealth Plan software to see whether you're on track for your financial goals. Click the link to use the software for free.

In this episode, we discuss how investors can use their KiwiSaver when purchasing (what will become) an investment property.  This may come as a surprise to some listeners of the show since it's widely reported that you can't use your KiwiSaver as the deposit for a rental.  However, there are some ways that canny investors can still access this money to achieve their goal of purchasing an investment. This episode shows you how. We also mention that you can use our My Wealth Plan software to see whether you're on track for your financial goals. Click the link to use the software for free.

In this episode, we discuss how the slow property market is causing some deceptive developers to bring deals that are "too good to be true".  We specifically talk through deals from Titus Group and Investment Build NZ. We go through some of the bad things that have happened to some investors working with these types of businesses.  The key point of this discussion is that when buying a new build, the developer is just as important as the property you are buying.  We also mention that we've released a new show, the Property ExpLained podcast. In this new podcast, our in-house journalist, Laine Moger reads her articles aloud.

In this episode, we discuss why interest rates may not increase as much as previously feared … and why the worst may be over for property investors fearing increasingly high-interest rates.  We go through the latest inflation data to get a sense of how it might impact the Reserve Bank's decision, and why the latest inflation numbers (while high) could have been substantially worse.  We also mention you can watch the video version of this episode by subscribing to the Opes Partners YouTube channel. We release new videos every Monday and Wednesday.

In this episode, we discuss a case study of a property that some of Andrew's investors have been interested in over the last few weeks.  We use this as an example of how property investors can go about analysing their potential investments.  This includes how to assess whether a property is well priced, how to create a robust pros and cons list, and how to calculate the expected returns from a property. We also mention that you can read our full analysis on this property here – Cross Street Case Study. You can also learn more about Progressive Payment Builds through this article.

In this episode, we discuss whether property prices can double every 10 years.  We talk about how fast house prices in New Zealand tend to double and how fast you should expect house prices to increase in the future.  This helps property investors get a sense of whether they should continue investing in real estate or they should start considering something else. We also mention that you can use our My Wealth Plan software to run your numbers to see if you're on track to hit your retirement goals.

In this episode, we debate whether the NZ superannuation scheme will survive the next 20-40 years.  This includes a discussion about whether property investors should include a pension when they are putting together their financial plans for retirement.  Andrew argues that the pension system will get scrapped, whereas Ed argues it will largely stay intact.  We also go through the major changes that could be expected in the system and how they would impact property investors' plans. We also mention that you can use our My Wealth Plan software to run your numbers to see if you're on track to hit your retirement goals.

In this episode, we discuss the Auckland floods and how property investors can work with their tenants to make sure that both sides come out happy.  This includes looking at the Residential Tenancies Act, and seeing what the legal obligations for both sides are, and how to reduce the rent appropriately (if your property is damaged).

In this special bonus episode, you'll hear the audio from the recent Property Live webinar where we looked at the "How To (Actually) Start Your Property Investment Portfolio In 2023 ", what to look for in a property, the 3 main property investment strategies, what to look for in an area and how to find the right property.

In this episode, we are joined by Ilse Wolfe, a property investor, to discuss what she would do if she had a time machine. We walk through the property investment mistakes she would avoid and how she would do it over again.  This includes talking about how she would manage her money differently, the types of properties she'd invest in, and where she would invest instead.  We also go through the state of Ilse's current portfolio and the changes she's currently making to her portfolio. Ultimately, this helps you avoid the same mistakes.  We also mention that you can use our My Wealth Plan software to run your numbers to see if you're on track to hit your retirement goals.

In this episode, we discuss the 7 steps property investors need to take before renting their own home.  This is because many owner-occupier homes are not ready to be turned into rentals straight away.  The gardens may need to be adapted, the walls may need to be painted, you need to have a key for every lock, and (most importantly), you must make sure the property is Healthy Homes compliant.  If property investors don't follow these steps, they could make costly mistakes or face fines from the Tenancy Tribunal. We also mention our webinar, which is on tonight (Tuesday 31st January) at 7 pm. Join us to learn how to actually start investing in property. Click the link to register.

In this episode, we discuss the top 8 property investment trends that prospective landlords need to look out for.  These include when property prices will bottom out, how far house prices still have to fall, the impact of the election, when inflation will flatten ... and who is currently propping up the housing market.  Ultimately this lets you, as a property investor, get prepared for what could happen this year.  We also mention our upcoming webinar, where you'll learn how to actually start investing in property. It's on Tuesday 31st January at 7 pm. Click the link to register.

In this episode, we are joined by property investor and financial adviser Stevie Waring to discuss a case study of an investor who didn't follow her advice.  The investor had a complex situation where he had done a property investment JV with a friend ... and had done a land deal with his sister.  We go through how the situation with his sister deteriorated to the point where he has potentially lost $50,000+. We go through what happened so other property investors can avoid the same mistakes. We also mention our upcoming webinar, where you'll learn how to actually start investing in property. It's on Tuesday 31st January at 7 pm. Click the link to register.

In this episode, we discuss the upcoming election in 2023. New Zealand's political landscape changed over the last few weeks, with Jacinda Ardern stepping down as prime minister.  We talk about whether National has got the election all sewn up or whether Labour could make a comeback under its new leader – Chris Hipkins.  All of this is to get a sense of whether Jacinda Ardern's taxes on property investors will survive another year.  We also mention our upcoming webinar, where you'll learn how to actually start investing in property. It's on Tuesday 31st January at 7pm. Click the link to register.

In this episode, we discuss how 2 different valuers can give incredibly different valuations for similar properties.  This is based on a recent example where some of the investors we were working with at Opes Partners owned similar properties.  However, because the investors were assigned different valuers, the valuations came back with a difference of over $100,000.  We go through the reasons behind the different valuations and what you, as an investor, can do to protect yourself from a low-ball valuation. We also mention that you can use our My Wealth Plan software to run your numbers to see if you're on track to hit your retirement goals.

In this episode, we discuss how you can start to think like a pro-investor. This includes digging into the 4 mindset shifts that successful property investors make so they can hold on to their properties and make a significant profit.  These include:  looking at how you view the money you make,  the way you look at lower prices,  the risk you think each asset class has, and  how you think about volatility in the market.  Even for the most seasoned investors, this episode is a good reminder of the basics needed to succeed.  We also mention that you can use our My Wealth Plan software to run your numbers to see if you're on track to hit your retirement goals.

In this special bonus episode, you'll hear the audio from the recent Opes Accelerate webinar where we looked at the "3 Steps To Unlock Your Rental Cashflow In 2023", what to look for in a property, and how you should calculate cashflows to guide your property investment choices and create better cashflows in your current investment properties.

In this episode, we continue on from yesterday's show and discuss how Wade – an Ashburton lad getting started in property – can buy his first investment and eventually grow to a portfolio of 5 rental properties.  You'll hear what Wade currently owns and get a sense of whether he'll be able to purchase an investment right now.  We then go through the steps he'd need to take to get into his first rental ... and then the next 4. We also mention that you can use our My Wealth Plan software to run your numbers to see if you're on track to hit your retirement goals.

In this episode, we discuss whether you should go to a bank or a financial adviser when trying to figure out your property investment goals.  We discuss a case study of a listener of the show – Wade – and his experience when he went into a bank at Ashburton to discuss what he should do to grow a portfolio.  We also go through the differences between working with a bank and a mortgage adviser and the differences between a mortgage adviser and a financial adviser.  We also mention that if you're looking for a good mortgage broker, you might like to check out our sister-company, Catalyst Financial. Click the link to view their website. 

In this episode, we discuss the 7 proven tactics that property investors can use to increase the rent on their investment properties.  This is important in today's market, where high house prices, rising interest rates, and a higher cost of living mean that some property investors may struggle to keep their properties if their rent doesn't rise.  These tactics include raising the rent to the market level, including furnishings in the property, renting via Airbnb, and renting the property out over a shorter term. We also mention that you can watch the video version of this episode by subscribing to the Opes Partners YouTube channel. Click the link to subscribe. 

In this episode, we discuss a case study of two investors – William and Catherine. We go through the intimate details of their financial situations, including what they earn, how many properties they currently own and what they're worth.  You'll then get an understanding of how close they are to achieving their financial goals and what their next steps are in property.  Ultimately, that lets you compare your situation to William and Catherine's to see whether what works for them ... might work for you too. We also mention that you can download our Return on Investment spreadsheet to create a cashflow forecast for your investment properties.

In this episode, we discuss the psychological concept of loss avoidance and how it relates to property investors in New Zealand.  We go over how many Kiwis want to build a property investment portfolio. But they're often scared to do so because they don't want to lose money.  So this episode takes you through how you can overcome loss avoidance and feel confident when investing in property.  You'll also learn the stats of how often houses go down in value and when that happens.  We also mention that you can use our My Wealth Plan software to run your numbers to see if you're on track to hit your retirement goals.