Invest
Should empty-nesters consider rentvesting?
Rentvesting is generally “more popular” with young Australians, but older Australians should “definitely” consider the strategy as well, Propertyology has said.
Should empty-nesters consider rentvesting?
Rentvesting is generally “more popular” with young Australians, but older Australians should “definitely” consider the strategy as well, Propertyology has said.
According to Simon Pressley, the managing director of property investing service, Propertyology, there aren’t many older Australians who have pursued rentvesting — an investment strategy where the renter lives in a property that suits their lifestyle needs, while simultaneously receiving rental yield from their investment property or properties.
There are two reasons for that lack of interest in the older demographic, he explained. Older Australians may “just be too emotionally attached to the family home” after what could be 40 years spent living there, or, it could be that older Australians just “haven’t thought of it”.
“I think if more became aware of it [rentvesting] and looked at it properly, you would see a lot more of them do it,” he said.
“It's not just young people [who rentvest], although there is no doubt that it is more popular for young people. We have got some real life clients that are of the Baby Boomer generation and their motivations are completely different.”
He argued that Australians “just don’t invest enough” and added that the aged pension may not be enough to live off comfortably.
Giving the example of an empty-nester couple with five-10 years left in the workforce, $150,000 in super and “pretty good equity” in the family home who realise that their super “isn’t going to last long”, he said rentvesting can be a retirement strategy for those with little time.
He further detailed: “One client in particular looked at the pros and cons and made a conscious decision to sell their family home. The house was worth $1.2 million but they still owed about $400,000, so they sold the family home.
“Now, they've got $800,000 dollars cash in the bank. They then went and rented a place… the place they were renting was actually offering a much better lifestyle than their family home.”
Additionally, the couple put that $800,000 towards four investment properties worth $2 million with the rents covering the repayment costs.
He argued that if the average rate of value growth was 5 per cent over the four properties “hypothetically speaking”, then 5 per cent of $2 million worth of investment properties would work out to have greater value 10 years down the track than a hypothetical 5 per cent growth on the family home.
Despite what Mr Pressley presents as a potentially lucrative prospect, the strategy hasn’t caught on widely yet. The director of wealth advisory, Empower Wealth, Ben Kingsley said that, as a broker, he hasn’t seen a large proportion of older Australians considering rentvesting.
However, with the government making “some movements in that space” to allow certain lump sums to be contributed to super nest eggs, “[We] probably may see these Baby Boomers starting to say: Wow, I could experience some city living for several years and see if I like that and then potentially a sea change and then a green change.
“I think it would have attraction so long as it didn't have these drawbacks around how it affects their pensions or their super, and I encourage government to do more work in that space.”
The two industry members agreed that rentvesting comes down to personal preference, with Mr Pressley in particular noting that potential rentvestors “have to think it through fully”.
Property
Retirement communities: a pivotal element in meeting Australia's housing targets
The Retirement Living Council (RLC) has recommended that retirement communities should be considered a vital part in the Australian Government's initiative to fulfill the Housing Australia Future Fund ...Read more
Property
Australians adjust financial strategies amid changing property market dynamics
The 2023 calendar year saw Australian borrowers acquiring a total of $300.9 billion in new loans for property purchases, marking a 12.7% decrease from the previous year. Read more
Property
Split home loans unlocking doors for Aussie buyers
Australians are teaming up to dive into the real estate market and seize the advantages of home ownership, with the trend of split home loans surging as family and friends unite to buy properties ...Read more
Property
Real estate investment: Spotting high-growth potentials
Investing in real estate has long been a favoured approach for Australians looking to grow their wealth. Read more
Property
Granny flats become Aussie families' cost-effective solution to soaring living costs
As the cost of living skyrockets, a forward-thinking trend is sweeping across Australia – granny flats are becoming a favoured living arrangement for older Aussies seeking comfort and proximity to ...Read more
Property
Homebuyers grapple with extended savings period amid affordability crisis
Gone are the days when an Australian dream home seemed just within reach. The path to homeownership in Australia has extended by at least two arduous years, as revealed by the latest insights from ...Read more
Property
Hybrid development unlocks new potential for NDIS housing in metro hotspots
In a ground-breaking strategy aimed at addressing the stark imbalance between the location of Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) developments and the actual areas of demand, Aligned Disability ...Read more
Property
Property prices boosted by housing policies: RBA
The central bank has outlined the “pervasive” impact that policy has on property. Read more
Property
Retirement communities: a pivotal element in meeting Australia's housing targets
The Retirement Living Council (RLC) has recommended that retirement communities should be considered a vital part in the Australian Government's initiative to fulfill the Housing Australia Future Fund ...Read more
Property
Australians adjust financial strategies amid changing property market dynamics
The 2023 calendar year saw Australian borrowers acquiring a total of $300.9 billion in new loans for property purchases, marking a 12.7% decrease from the previous year. Read more
Property
Split home loans unlocking doors for Aussie buyers
Australians are teaming up to dive into the real estate market and seize the advantages of home ownership, with the trend of split home loans surging as family and friends unite to buy properties ...Read more
Property
Real estate investment: Spotting high-growth potentials
Investing in real estate has long been a favoured approach for Australians looking to grow their wealth. Read more
Property
Granny flats become Aussie families' cost-effective solution to soaring living costs
As the cost of living skyrockets, a forward-thinking trend is sweeping across Australia – granny flats are becoming a favoured living arrangement for older Aussies seeking comfort and proximity to ...Read more
Property
Homebuyers grapple with extended savings period amid affordability crisis
Gone are the days when an Australian dream home seemed just within reach. The path to homeownership in Australia has extended by at least two arduous years, as revealed by the latest insights from ...Read more
Property
Hybrid development unlocks new potential for NDIS housing in metro hotspots
In a ground-breaking strategy aimed at addressing the stark imbalance between the location of Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) developments and the actual areas of demand, Aligned Disability ...Read more
Property
Property prices boosted by housing policies: RBA
The central bank has outlined the “pervasive” impact that policy has on property. Read more