Investing in beach side properties is a lifestyle decision that many Australians appear to be making. The Australia’s strong economy has withstood the global recession being experienced by many OECD countries during 2001 and 2002 thus interest rates have remained stable in general in the last 5 years notwithstanding recent rate rises.

Prices have continued to been determined by two factors:
a) Proximity to city and
b) Proximity to coast.
The biggest beneficiaries were those who owned property in Melbourne’s inner or bayside suburbs, or on the beach side properties located close to the city.

One area in particular is the Bass Coast region of San Remo, which offers stunning island, ocean and bay views, with a cliff top outlook that affords an idyllic getaway opportunity for landlocked Melbournians searching for the serenity of a coastal town. Bay views, beach walks, wineries and the explosion of golf clubs and resorts strongly support the growth in interest for beach side properties.
The following are reasons why beach side properties are booming:
a.    Families growing interest in owning beach front properties for holidays.
b.    Easy freeway access and by-passes that reduce travel times.
c.    Local councils support for tourism-based infrastructure.
d.    Increasing housing level quality and new.
e.    Development of resort style properties ready with family.
Appreciating population, tourism rental prospects, declining household sizes and rising incomes ensure that demand for dwellings constantly outpaces supply and prices continue to rise.
Investment options in these locations range from buying your own holiday house for your own personal use, to buying a holiday apartment which provides a year round rental return. If you hope to negatively gear your holiday house remember you can only claim tax deductions on the period the house was actually occupied by tenants throughout the year, a common mistake made by many aspiring investors.
Beach side property investment continues to attract plenty of Australian investors. This trend is set to continue as more and more people join the bandwagon attracted by the lucrative prospects that beach side properties offer. Most beach side properties like other real estate investments appreciate in value with time, this means that a timely and prudently done investment in this sector will afford an investor gainful returns for a long time.

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Purchasing an investment property is a complicated business decision.  Make sure that you study this subject in detail prior to taking action, don’t hesitate to consult with a professional i.e. your attorney, accountant, or real estate agent on this matter.  That said, it is always prudent and well advised to have a plan in mind before you start looking for help.

Tips and strategies to bear in mind when searching for property investing.
Investment Type:  Unoccupied land, rental houses, condos, apartment buildings, commercial properties, industrial properties, mobile homes etcetera. Each has different level of risk and reward associated with it.  For beginners, a rental house or small apartment building is ultimately the finest choice.
They offer the chance for income on a regular basis, have shorter vacancies on average than commercial or industrial property, are less regulated than condos and mobile homes in most areas, and there are many places that you can get information and education on becoming a successful landlord in small residential properties.  It is a good place to start, and it is the investment type we will be concentrating on in this article.

Area Selection:  Buy property in an area that has a varied economic base offering many employment opportunities.  After all, the tenants will need an income in order to reliably pay rent.  The area should offer good schools, shopping, and transportation.  Idyllically, it should be an easy drive from your residence so that you can keep an eye on your investment.  And, the area should be safe. Profits and money are not worth risking your life for, and the quality tenants that you want to attract do not want to risk their lives either.

Research property values and rents: This information readily is available from real estate agents, as well as from a variety of other services in most areas.  You will want to call rental ads in the paper and talk to local landlords about what they are offering, how much they are charging, and what their experience is with the market.  Some of them may be open to selling their property and may even be willing to finance it, so don’t hesitate to ask.

Property Investing can be fun, just be sure you conduct your research first.

Love life, not just the weekends. You only have one life, Live It! @ www.NicciAndLee.com

It’s a popular market sentiment that property prices will experience a downward trend in 2009. Thus 2009 being a buyer’s market means that bargain hunters will be busy on the lookout in the Australian property market. Since some location fare better than others, market analysts are already searching for property hotspots. Lower housing affordability together with rising interest rates, skyrocketing fuel prices and increasing household spending continues to fuel the demand for the broader market.

The Australian bureau of statistics has reported that house prices depreciated to the lows of 1.8 per cent in the last quarter, the biggest documented drop since 1980s. The only cushion for the market being the active employment market, immigration and well controlled supply. The situation has slowly worsened, with the global recession being viewed to likely bring about asset disposals and, possibly, a depression. This turn of events has forced Market analyst’s to adopt a more protective approach towards investment opportunities.

Their attitude is informed by the belief that besides general opportunities to pick up troubled assets, there are areas that will experience greater property volatility than others. Though the occurrence of this situation offers greater bargain opportunities and capital gains for the longer term, it is important to be objective.

Many property forecasters believe that Adelaide and Melbourne stands a better chance than most of the other metropolis in the long term, this is because easier land supply boosts affordability hence makes the city a property hotspot and easy for private developers to work. Adelaide and Melbourne both have the benefit of competitive land supply and strong immigration levels.  Queensland area is more of a wildcard. The government has declared that it wants to establish a green belt on the south coast and is releasing land in the hinterland; an action many believe will stop growth.

Perth will most likely be linked with the mining sector and a move that carries greater investment risk, since prices are already overstated. Darwin is also believed to be expensive. Sydney has historically favored to move towards the Sunshine State, so the looming wave of retiring baby boomers should help keep the floor under control. Property hotspots are hard to ascertain, but do your research carefully and you will benefit.

Love life, not just the weekends. You only have one life, Live It! @ www.NicciAndLee.com