Despite a challenging 2020, and the volatile property market that’s come with it, property values are finally creeping upwards, increasing across much of Australia. This marks great news for those planning to turn their home into an investment property, but organic increases in value are only one half of the story. It may be possible to increase the value of your home beyond the base market rate by making a few smart investments that not only boost property values but also reduce average days on the market. Here are five changes that could generate a significant return on investment:

Many people will have set property investing goals for the new year and unfortunately, many will fail to achieve them. Others may not set any goals at all, because it is very easy to just live in the present without a set plan to move forward, which is an easy habit to fall into. Whether you’re a new or existing property investor, it can be incredibly beneficial to set property investing goals to guide your investing for the year to come. These tips can help you set your 2021 property investing goals and ensure you don't lose sight of them and are able to take the necessary steps to see them achieved.

Prospecting for new, feasible development sites is hard. Which is why Real Estate Investar is excited to be partnering with Archistar. We aim to make identifying and assessing small scale property development opportunities as quick, painless and accurate as possible. We are thrilled to be adding Archistar's deep-dive property development software to our already powerful suite of tools to make property development easier for investors. Level the playing field and use the same platform that Mirvac, Frasers and other major property developers are using to assess their next site! Real Estate Investar members will have access to the Archistar "Starting Out" package with the following features: National access Find Sites - search, site details, filter and digital planning library Map Visualisations - base package which includes zoning, overlays, heritage, building height, contours, flooding, bushfire and basic satellite imagery Assess Sites - quick estimate (residual land value) and due diligence reports Domain Listings and Suburb Insights Commercial Real Estate Listings

In the current climate, we are starting to see a big push away from CBDs, with both investors and homebuyers looking to regional areas and even interstate to find properties. With the low level of stock on the market, it is causing a number of buyers to put in offers on properties without ever seeing them. For many people, the idea of buying property sight unseen could be a scary proposition, however, there are a number of things you can do to make sure you’re mitigating any risks.

Although ‘upgraders’ once dominated the Australian house buyers market, there has been a rapidly growing trend over recent years for turning a home into an investment property and building a small yet strong portfolio.

To own, or to rent? That's the question many investors and home owners ask themselves. So how do you know which option is better for your hip pocket, now and for your future? The location of your property can help determine which avenue is smarter. This infographic shows the top three suburbs in Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales that make more sense to purchase than to rent.

For real estate investors looking for their next opportunity, property investment auctions present unique opportunities and also challenges. Compared to private treaty sales, at an auction you are bidding against other potential buyers and the highest bidder will win. And if you are bidding against a competitive field, coming out on top without overpaying can be a difficult task. So here are six tips that can help you succeed negotiating at auction.

For most people, whether they are owner-occupiers or property investors, purchasing a property is not a decision to be taken lightly. For that reason, it’s important that you understand the process of making an offer, which will allow you to hopefully get the best deal you can. One of the final stages in the buying process is putting an offer in, however, there is a fair bit of groundwork you need to do before you get to that point. Putting an offer in on a property is a combination of understanding the value of the property and then negotiating to try and achieve the best outcome for all parties. Here are five tips for you to consider before making an offer on a property, whether it is going to be your home or an investment property.

Investar Search is a powerful search engine that allows you to use all sorts of search filters to find investment property that match your investment strategy or buying rules. We had a quick brainstorm in the office, and here are ten simple tips to help you use Investar Search more efficiently to get better and more targeted results. Please note this blog is aimed at Real Estate Investar subscribers.

The discount property investment strategy involves purchasing investment property below valuation, not below the vendor’s asking price.

Property has long been considered a popular path of wealth creation for Australians. Buying their own home is often the first significant investment most people make, and purchasing another property may well be the second, even before shares and other assets. This article gives you an introduction to property investment and some of the key points to consider before buying your first property.

Finding accurate and timely comparable sales data is a vital part of your research before purchasing an investment property.

Supply and demand is one of the most fundamental concepts of economics and the cornerstone of a market economy. There are several indicators of property investing supply and demand within a market that you can measure and track when it comes to property investment to help with your research.

Do you want to invest in a rental property that will give you premium yields? The location of your rental property can help determine how much return you are likely to make and ultimately how successful the property is as an investment which generates positive cash flow for you. Yes, those four little numbers mean much more than helping the postman, they make a huge impact on your investment, so pay attention! For a rental property to give you the best possible return you can consider starting your search by targeting a location which produces high gross rental yields.

Purchasing investment property can be complex. This infographic shows 9 tips for first time property investors. It can can help you start your property investing journey more successfully and set you on your way to a profitable investing career. Hope it helps!