The Property Academy Podcast

In this episode, we discuss the 6 reasons that property prices could turn around in 2023. These reasons include positive net migration, improving house-price-to-income ratios, rising wages, a tight labour market and improving house price momentum. This allows property investors to consider when they should make their next investment. This episode effectively doubles as a property market update. To...

In this episode, we are joined by Derry Brown – a property investor and financial adviser. Here we discuss a case study of some of the investors Derry has been working with. He shares how this couple plans to build a passive income of $140k over the next 20 years. And we also mention our My Wealth Plan software which is absolutely free to use and find out how much of a wealth gap you have.

In this episode, we review Liberty Finance and the lending products they offer for renovations-focused investors. We go through the types of loans the non-bank lender offers and how they can be used by investors to keep investing even when the main banks say no. This includes discussing situations where Liberty will lend to investors with as little as a 20% deposit. This lets property investors be...

In this episode, we discuss whether Du Val – an Auckland-based property developer – will go broke in the near future. We detail the warnings the Financial Markets Authority has sounded about the developer's mortgage funds. We also discuss the recent news that a Du Val-related entity has gone into a court-ordered liquidation. Finally we discuss how long their properties are taking to be built,...

In this episode, we discuss the finer details of borrowing money to invest through a look-through company. When an investor decides to purchase a property through a look-through company (or a trust) they will often need to sign a personal guarantee. This means that if the investor stops paying the mortgage, they are on the hook for the money they owe (rather than the trust of the look-through comp...

In this episode, we discuss how an investor can continue borrowing money on interest-only for as long as possible. This is based on the story of a Queenstown-based investor who messaged into the show and is struggling to get her mortgages approved for interest-only. This is causing stress for her household budget as all her mortgages are currently on principal and interest.

In this episode, we discuss how to read a property management statement. We go through real examples of property management statements, picking up on any anomalies within the statements. Ultimtaely this will help property investors get a sense of what money comes in and goes out when working with a property manager.

In this episode, we discuss a set of financial projections that have been prepared and marketed by Williams Corporation. We go through the numbers presented in these cashflows and unpack whether they are robust (or not). This includes looking at whether all the correct expenses have been included, whether the rent is correct ... and even whether the purchase price is correct. All of this is so pro...

In this episode, we are joined by Simran (Sim) Kaur from Girls That Invest to discuss how she became a millionaire at 26. We walk through her property investment journey and talk about the first home she purchased in Hamilton, and how she's renovated the property. We also discuss her next moves in property and how she splits her investing between shares and real estate.

In this episode, we discuss a recent column written by Mary Holm for the New Zealand Herald. This column discusses whether a potential property investor in Auckland should buy an investment property (or not). We go through Mary's column line by line to show whether we agree with her advice or not. Ultimately this is to show the differences between New Zealand financial commentators, including...

In this episode, we are joined by property investor, Ilse Wolfe from Opes Accelerate⁠ , to discuss how much a renvoation costs for an investment property. We walk through each of the Cashflow Hacking steps going through exactly what each step costs. Ilse shares that the average renovation typically costs between $60 - $80k, and that the sweet spot is usually $65k. However, this depends on the valu...

In this episode, we discuss what property investors and landlords should do if their tenants don't pay rent. This includes the practical steps to take (such as contacting your tenants) and the specific legal steps you need to take. This is useful for property investors ... even if you use a property manager. This is because you need to understand the steps that your property manager will take...

In this episode, we discuss a recent Tenancy Tribunal case where the adjudicator determined that the property investor had set the rent too high. We go through the tenant's response and how that decision to increase the rent impacted the landlord/tenant relationship. We also discuss what the tribunal's decision really means for property investors and whether there is a limit to how much a...

In this episode, we discuss the different types of insurance that property investors need. Rather than cover the standard insurance like house insurance and landlord's insurance, we dig into life insurance, income protection insurance and mortgage protection insurance. We go through the instances when these types of insurance would be useful to a property investor, and the point when a propert...

In this episode, we discuss whether property investors should consider investing in the West Coast, a small region in the South Island. We go through the reasons why property investors have historically been interested in the West Coast – namely the cheap property prices and the relatively high rental yields. However, we go through some of the reasons that should give investors pause, such as – th...

In this episode, we discuss a case study of a couple from Blenheim who has created a plan to build a $120,000 passive income. Andrew walks us through the story of how Aaron and Natasha were both 57 when they first met Andrew. At the time they had already paid off their own home. They'd also put a sizeable cash deposit down on an invetment porperty that was currently under costruction. Andrew w...

In this episode, we are joined by Carl Comber from Comber and Comber to talk about how to stage your property the right way. Carl, also walks us through case studies of where homeowners have been able to sell their properties more quickly and for money after staging their properties. This Stuff article also gets a mention, which discusses whether staging is a con, or a can't miss.

In this episode, we discuss the difference between good debt and bad debt.  This includes a discussion about the types of debts that will hold you back from growing your wealth – credit card debt, personal loans, car loans and AfterPays. Whereas, we define good debt as the sort of borrowing that will drive your wealth creation forward. For instance, student loans, loans that allow you to...

In this episode, we discuss how some property investors need to be more realistic when considering what they'll do in property investment.  We specifically talk through some situations that would be realistic and some other scenarios that would not be realistic for a property investor to attempt at the early stages. 

In this special bonus episode, you'll hear the audio from the recent Opes Accelerate webinar where we were Ilse and Dani looked at the ways that two Kiwi couples have cashflow hacked their property portfolios and and have made $100,000 through renovating their rental properties, how they did it, and where they are on their property journeys.

In this episode, we discuss how much money Kiwis need to invest in property based on a range of situations.  For this, we use the Investment Ready spreadsheet and run several case studies to give you a sense of how much income each property investor would need to purchase their next investment. We also mention our upcoming First Home buyers seminar in Christchurch   and the First Home bu...

In this episode, we discuss the difference between Growth and Yield properties.  This includes how you as a property investor can tell the difference between the two types of properties and the reason why each type of property has its own unique characteristics.  For instance, why do growth properties increase in value faster but have a lower rental yield?  And, why do yield propert...

In this episode, we go through TradeMe listings to discuss the sort of properties you should buy, as a property investor, and which ones you should stay away from.  We specifically focus on New Build investments in Christchurch and Auckland, since that's what we have the most experience in, here at Opes Partners.  Ultimately, property investors can use the information in this episode, wh...

In this episode, we are joined by financial adviser, Stevie Waring, to discuss a case study of a professional rugby player, who is looking to build a property portfolio.  We go through the unique challenges of being a professional athlete, especially around how they will often be on a high income initially and then their income will often drop once they retire from their chosen sport.  T...

In this episode, we discuss the Reserve Bank's most recent increase in the OCR and how this will impact mortgage interest rates.  We go through our mortgage interest rate predictions and walk through the comments made by the Reserve Bank Governor and senior Reserve Bank staff at their most recent press conference.  This is to help property investors get a sense of how high interest rates...