Perth: A bargain hunter’s paradise?

12 OCT 2015 By Rory O'Rourke 12 min read Hotspots

Property investors looking for a good buy in a capital city should now consider the Perth market.

Blogger: Rory O’Rourke, principal, O’Rourke Realty Investments

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Property sellers in Perth are now offering some of the biggest discounts in Australia as underlined by the latest CoreLogic figures.

CoreLogic figures for the year end September 2015 show the average discount off listed house prices in Perth was 6.2 per cent and seven per cent for units.

This discount for houses was the second highest in Australia next to Darwin at seven per cent, and much higher than the boom capital cities of Sydney (four per cent) and Melbourne (4.3 per cent).

However, in terms of discounts for units, Perth is now the best capital city to secure a bargain with the average discount of seven per cent, which is now the highest in Australia, with Darwin holding second place at 6.7 per cent. In comparison, the average discount off the listed price for a unit in Sydney stood at just 3.9 per cent.

This price discounting in Perth has seen the median house price drop by 3.8 per cent over the past year, and prices are still under pressure.

A key part of buying prime real estate is all about timing. Most first-time investors make the mistake of buying at the top of the market based on publicity hype with headlines saying ‘buy, buy, buy,’ rather than at the bottom of the market when everyone is saying not to buy.

It is also important to consider that ongoing publicity about the downturn in the resources boom in WA ignores the fact that the state still has a diversified economy with other sectors now performing strongly, such as agriculture.

It is only a question of time before consumer sentiment improves and the property market in Perth rebounds.

Based on my experience in the property market for over 40 years, I believe now is a great time to buy an investment property in Perth because it is a bargain hunter's paradise.

Currently, there are great bargains to be had in the apartment market due to an oversupply in some areas because of overbuilding by developers.

If you buy an apartment in a good location in Perth at a heavily discounted price, then you will secure a great property investment moving forward.

Over the years I have purchased a number of apartments for investment purposes in Perth, and below I have highlighted some of the important lessons I have learnt from this experience:

Tips for buying an apartment for investment purposes:

Choose an apartment that is close to key lifestyle attractions such as the beach, cafes, theatres and transport facilities.
Check the exact internal floor space of the apartment. The price of the apartment should be measured in the cost per square metre and this will give you a good comparison to similar apartments in the same area.
Before purchasing an apartment, check the average weekly rent for a similar apartment in the same location. This will give you an indication of future rental returns.
Check the quarterly strata fees and if there are any plans to upgrade the complex.
Check how many apartments in the complex are owner-occupiers. Owner-occupiers tend to take a much more active interest in the upkeep of the complex. If more than 50 per cent of the apartments are owned by owner-occupiers, then the complex should be well maintained.
The views that the apartment can offer is important. If you are buying an apartment with good views, check that nothing in the future will interfere with these views, i.e. the construction of a new building in front of your apartment.
Parking is also important when buying an apartment. Check that your apartment has a dedicated car bay and the ownership structure of car bays in the complex.
One-bedroom apartments as opposed to two and three-bedroom apartments are popular, because more people are tending to live alone.
Remember that if you are buying an older apartment for renovation purposes, you may have to obtain approval from the other owners for certain improvements, i.e. the installation of air conditioning.