You’ve just seen the perfect property. It looks gorgeous, features modern finishes you love, and it has dual living zones and multiple bathrooms. It’s a dreamboat. Or is it? Before you sign on the dotted line, slow things down: your personal response to this potential investment is positive, but that’s not enough to make it worth purchasing. Is it truly an A Grade investment? One that will increase your wealth and improve your financial position? In today’s Infolio blog, we look at the ‘magic formula’ which make a property truly premium.

Blue Chip Credentials

Whilst it’s true that you can buy a mega-mansion with all the bells and whistles in an array of outer-suburban locations for a competitive price, you are unlikely to enjoy the robust capital growth and tenant demand that you would when buying a property for a similar amount in a blue chip, inner-suburban locale. ‘Newness’ in a whizzbang property only lasts so long and doesn’t enjoy a premium: true value comes from purchasing property in a tightly-held blue chip area where land values (rather than the build price of a home) are where your property’s worth lies. Not all inner urban locales are equal either, with some postcodes very close to the city regarded as risky by financial institutions. Speak with your Infolio advocate to learn more.

History Repeating

The only way to look into the future is to begin by peering into the past. Surveying the historical property value data for a suburb will give you great insight into shifting demographics which will influence an investment’s capital growth today and tomorrow. As Melbourne’s population continues to grow, particular suburbs will grow exponentially in value. Looking at relevant data will clearly reveal to the savvy investor where A Grade buying can be achieved.

A Grade Amenities

An A Grade investment is one that appeals to the widest variety of tenants and potential purchasers. Having a property that is only suitable for one category of tenant or purchaser ultimately makes a property less desirable in the long run – so think carefully before buying that three-storey townhouse with a loungeroom on the top floor and no outdoor area on a main road! Amenities which appeal to a wide variety of individuals – increasing your property’s A Grade credentials – include easy access to public transportation, primary and secondary schools, universities, shopping amenities and parklands / sports facilities.

Property Features

An A Grade investment property will always be a strata title, not a stratum title or company share. For more on the importance of a strata title, speak with your Infolio advocate. Other features which set a property apart as a premium investment include an outdoor area (this could be a courtyard or a balcony), a carpark, and an internal size of at least 50 square metres. If purchasing into a body corporate, look for a boutique block of 18 properties or less. Also, make sure to avoid lifts, pools and gyms as part of your body corporate responsibilities. These luxuries cost the owner every time they need to be repaired or maintained, ultimately eating into your overall investment return. Think about the amount of natural sunlight in the property throughout the day, too – dank homes which don’t enjoy natural light can become mouldy and rot internally, causing expensive maintenance headaches.

Compromise Clever

If you can tick every body of the ‘A Grade Investment’ checklist, you’re onto a winner. Occasionally, quality properties can fall outside of this ‘magic formula’. When making compromises on your checklist, work in consultation with your Infolio advocate and an experienced property manager. They will help you work out where compromises might be made – say dropping the requirement of a carpark in favour of having an outdoor area. These decisions must always be made in context: what is your potential tenant / future purchaser likely to feel is a ‘non-negotiable’? It is worth compromising on one factor in order to gain a foothold in a premium suburb?

A Grade property investment should always be your aim, whether you are buying for your personal purposes, or as an investment. By taking the time to make an educated buying decision – rather than an emotional one – you’re well on your way to building an A Grade property portfolio!