API-139 September 2012

COVER

200 best-performing suburbs under $350,000

Pinch yourself, that’s right you’re not dreaming, properties can be found for under $350,000 with decent capital growth and rental yields. Residex has hunted down the top 200 locations for investors to investigate.

FEATURES

30 ways to instantly boost your rental income

API reveals 30 ways to increase rental yield for your investment property.

Are investors coming out of hiding?

API investigates if investors are truly returning to the market with confidence.

Accidental landlords

What should you know when accidentally stumbling into property investing?

RESEARCH

Where are housing markets heading?

Part 1 Find out how you could benefit from capital cities over the coming years.

MY DEVELOPMENT – part 5

Preparing the site Troy Harris switches his focus to the backyard.

RENOVATION SECRETS

Do you have what it takes? Cherie Barber puts investors through the boot camp of renovating.

THINK MATUSIK

10 rules to help you buy well Michael Matusik is upfront about what makes a good investment property.

PROFILES

The pain of lender rejection How a couple with strong incomes, a good investment record and plenty of equity overcame financing obstacles.

My first property – part 2

After buying his first home, Ian Neubauer now plans to make it his first investment.

My short story: Amanda Sole

A numbers-only approach to renovating.

My most profitable deal

How a nightmare profit turned a cool $54,500 in 13 weeks for Emma Celis.

My short story: The Sweeneys

How this couple turned first-time mistakes into property success.

My short story: Tamsin O’Connor

An amazing result for an art deco pad.

My short story: Engelo Rumora

Find out where this investor purchased a property for the ridiculous price of $15,000.

REGULARS

News & Views

The latest property news,

Tax Straight Up and Ask the Experts.

Young Gun: Glen Finning

With $680,000 in equity under his belt, this 30-year-old has switched strategies to reach his million-dollar goal faster. How?

Property Intelligence

Christopher Joye investigates if property prices have indeed hit a turning point.

Dash of Salt

Bernard Salt looks at why capital growth will follow the latest social and economic trends.

Legal Help Desk

Rob Balanda explains why you should choose your pest and building inspector carefully.

Bricks and Mortar

API’s panel of experts tackles the difficult questions sent in by readers.

API Connect

Readers get the chance to ask API’s investors all the tough questions.

Real Estate Escapes

Tim O’Dwyer explains how a buyer got his deposit back on a delayed townhouse.

My Property Nightmare

How one investor has been put over a barrel by his strata manager’s rising fees.

Investor Psychology

The ripple effect of low confidence levels.

TAX

Tax guide for developer beginners Julia Hartman reveals what every first-time developer should know about tax.

FINANCE

Your questions answered Mitchell Watson talks private health insurance, credit cards and banks.

STATES

New South Wales

The South West Rail Link is under way. Which corridors might it open for investors?

Victoria

The foreign student market has dwindled recently in Melbourne, so where to next for student housing investors?

Queensland

Emerald is sparkling right now as more mining companies position their sites near the mining services town.

South Australia

Adelaide’s property market may be a little flat right now; the more reason to grab a bargain! Three investors reveal where and how.

Western Australia

Kardinya is sitting pretty as the $2 billion Fiona Stanley Hospital comes close to completion.

Northern Territory

Find out the quirks and perks of buying in Darwin in the first of a two-part series.

ACT

Planning changes are on the table for Canberra. Find out what the big bonus could be for investors.

Tasmania

Rent-free periods are happening in Tasmania. What’s being offered, for how long, and under what conditions?