Learn to: Make real estate a part of your long-term investment strategy Pick the right properties for profit Spot the best deals on financing Understand the new rules for purchasing properties using SMSFs Become a successful property investor with this user-friendly guide Are you thinking about real estate as a long-term wealth opportunity? Whether you're interested in a house, apartment, vacant land or commercial property, the second Australian edition of Property Investing For Dummies explains what you need to know to ensure you invest wisely. Discover how to build a winning property portfolio with practical advice on everything from choosing the right property at the right price to financing your goals with SMSFs, and much more. Decide which type of property is right for you choose an investment option that fits in with your financial plans Assemble a reliable support network research and enlist the help of lenders, buyers' advocates, advisers and other experts Explore your finance options learn about mortgage terms, lending fees and holding property in a self-managed super fund Evaluate properties worth pursuing find the right location, identify value and prepare to bid or make an offer Protect your investment discover what it's like to be a landlord, learn how to insure your property and manage risk Build a solid portfolio uncover the secrets to growing equity, diversifying and building an income stream Open the book and find: How to invest in residential and commercial properties Information on using a buyers' advocate Advice on shopping for a mortgage Tips for owning property with SMSFs Steps for signing contracts and leases Help with keeping on top of your paperwork Secrets for growing your profits

Learn to:* Make real estate a part of your long-term investmentstrategy
* Pick the right properties for profit
* Spot the best deals on financing
* Understand the new rules for purchasing properties usingSMSFs

Become a successful property investor with this user-friendlyguide

Are you thinking about real estate as a long-term wealthopportunity? Whether you're interested in a house, apartment,vacant land or commercial property, the second Australian editionof Property Investing For Dummies explains what you need toknow to ensure you invest wisely. Discover how to build a winningproperty portfolio with practical advice on everything fromchoosing the right property at the right price to financing yourgoals with SMSFs, and much more.
* Decide which type of property is right for you -- choosean investment option that fits in with your financial plans
* Assemble a reliable support network -- research and enlistthe help of lenders, buyers' advocates, advisers and otherexperts
* Explore your finance options -- learn about mortgageterms, lending fees and holding property in a self-managed superfund
* Evaluate properties worth pursuing -- find the rightlocation, identify value and prepare to bid or make an offer
* Protect your investment -- discover what it's like to be alandlord, learn how to insure your property and manage risk
* Build a solid portfolio -- uncover the secrets to growingequity, diversifying and building an income stream

Open the book and find:
* How to invest in residential and commercial properties
* Information on using a buyers' advocate
* Advice on shopping for a mortgage
* Tips for owning property with SMSFs
* Steps for signing contracts and leases
* Help with keeping on top of your paperwork
* Secrets for growing your profits

Introduction 1

Part I: Understanding Real Estate as an Investment 7

Chapter 1: Stacking Up Real Estate Against Other Investments9

Chapter 2: Covering the Landscape of Common Real EstateInvestments 27

Chapter 3: Opportunities in Real Estate 45

Chapter 4: Building Your Team 63

Part II: Financing: Raising Capital and Sourcing Loans85

Chapter 5: Sources of Capital 87

Chapter 6: Financing Your Property Purchases 105

Chapter 7: Shopping for and Securing the Best Mortgage Terms123

Chapter 8: Property in Self-Managed Super Funds 141

Chapter 9: The Ongoing Costs of Real Estate 163

Part III: Finding and Evaluating Properties 177

Chapter 10: Location, Location, Value 179

Chapter 11: Preparing to Bid or Make an Offer 215

Chapter 12: Signing the Contract, Inspecting the Property andSettling 245

Part IV: Operating the Property 263

Chapter 13: Landlording 101 265

Chapter 14: Protecting Your Investment: Insurance and RiskManagement 287

Chapter 15: Record Keeping and Accounting 301

Chapter 16: Tax Considerations and Exit Strategies 309

Chapter 17: Building a Portfolio 333

Part V: The Part of Tens 349

Chapter 18: Ten Ways to Increase a Property's Return351

Chapter 19: Ten Steps to a Real Estate Fortune (Or a GreatSecond Income) 359

Appendix: Sample Property Condition Report 371

Index 379