Taking on board what property market researchers, economists and many well-informed specialists are saying, some good opportunities in the real estate market may be just ahead. As a property investor – and a landlord – you are very aware that property investment is not a one-off event but a process. Simply buying the investment property doesn’t guarantee you to be the successful investor.

Succeeding as a property investor begins well before you buy your first property. We’ve seen extremely low vacancy rates in many markets across the country for some time, we are still seeing it and it is very likely that this scenario will continue for quite a while. Even with the interest rate increases and some recession talk, there seems to be a general feeling that most property markets passed through the bottom of their cycles early this year. The opportunity to get in at the beginning of a new property cycle doesn’t happen very often.

With this in mind, now may be a very good time to consider expanding your property portfolio. Formulating a property plan and getting the right advice is more critical now than ever. Your property manager is here to help, so talk with them about popular areas where they are seeing growth. They may refer you to a sales agent to discuss what properties are available. Talk with the people in the know about rental return and the potential for overall return on your investment.

Last year saw Australia’s single largest annual intake of migrants and that figure is only going to grow. Migrants set up new households. New permanent residents often tend to rent for some time before they buy a home. If they are students whose parents are paying their way, they still need homes, and many will become tenants.

This is driving demand. The tight rental markets and high rents are likely to continue. Property prices and rents tend to keep rising when the housing supply-demand equation continues to tighten. So, it is time to prepare and get set to act on the investment opportunities you identify.

By Lyn Cox