Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa August 2015 | Page 55

importance of buying in the right area to successfully fix and flip a property. The investment in the renovation was well worth it: we changed an average, dated house into a modern home, which meant it had market appeal and was an easy sell. The lesson we learnt is that it is advantageous to buy a decent house in a good area: there is always a high demand for properties in those suburbs.” “At every stage of our journey, we were aware of the role of the right property in realising our immediate needs.” Jenny adds that selecting investment properties, acquired with the view to rent them out, involves different motivators. “When buying an investment property, we are critical about location appeal, market growth, rental returns and, of course, affordability.” “At every stage of our journey, we were aware of the role of the right property in realising our immediate needs, in creating additional income and in legacy planning,” she says. ADVICE FOR WOMEN WHO TO START INVEST IN PROPERTY • Take control of your own future and have the confidence not to leave such an important decision solely to someone else. Ensure your voice is heard if making the investment decision with a partner, especially if you are contributing financially. • Do not let fear stop you from entering the property market. You can up-skill yourself by attending property-related conferences, seminars and networking events. Subscribe to industry newsletters and research the best-of-breed services providers (mortgage providers, attorneys, estate agents): you want to build a relationship with them. • Chat to a mortgage specialist about the ins and outs of qualifying for a home loan, the long-term commitments and all the costs of buying a property. You need to be clear on what you are in for - now, on transfer and in the long run. • Be clear on the reason why you want to buy a property. You will approach the purchase decision with a different mindset if you want to create a home for a growing family than when investing in a property to rent out to a tenant to earn a subsidiary income. RESOURCES Cypriot Realty www.reimag.co.za AUGUST 2015 SA Real Estate Investor 53