A buyer's agent is meant to work exclusively for the property investor, not the seller. A real estate agent is engaged (and paid) by the vendor to get the highest possible price for their property. A buyer's membership agent like Investment Property Buyers sources, assesses and negotiates on your behalf, with your strategy and financial position as the priority. We operate with a buyers membership model that sees a small membership fee to provide a tailored solution for your needs. Generally once happy with the property and price, we seek the new property builder to pay for your membership, making ours a free service.

A free 30-minute Discovery Meeting is where we learn about your current financial position, goals and starting point, and you learn how we work. It's a no-obligation conversation, not a sales pitch — the outcome is clarity on whether a tailored Investment Property Strategy makes sense for you. Book a free Discovery Meeting.

An Investment Property Strategy is a step-by-step plan built around your individual cash flow, equity, income, age and goals. Because everyone starts from a different position, a strategy that worked for someone else may not suit you — the components (cash flow, borrowing capacity, timeframe, risk tolerance) all need to be assessed together before you buy.

Our Buyers Membership Fee is typically between $2,500 and $5,000 vary dependent on the scope of work, but every engagement starts with a free, no-obligation Discovery Meeting and our fee only applies after we have secured a property, obtained finance and funding to comfortably proceed. Then we ask that the new property builder pay this on your behalf, thus making our service typically free.

Timeframes depend on your starting equity, borrowing capacity and goals, but most clients build their portfolio in stages over several years rather than all at once. Each purchase is assessed against your strategy and current financial capacity before moving to the next step — this is deliberate, not a delay.

The knowledge of investment property strategies of how each lender assesses investors lets them structure and sequence your loans so you can borrow more, protect your cash flow, and keep growing your portfolio. This is incredibly helpful and can save buyers a considerable amount of funds over the investing journey and assist in building a portfolio easier.

A property investment accountant ensures your purchase and ownership structure comply with Australian tax law — including ATO requirements and, for SMSF purchases, the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act (SISA). Beyond compliance, they help optimise your tax position, manage lodgements, and structure ownership entities to support long-term portfolio growth.

Yes, subject to strict SISA rules — including using a Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangement (LRBA) if borrowing within the fund, and ensuring the property meets the sole purpose test. This is a specialised area that requires your accountant and financial planner to be involved from the outset, and it's a core part of how we work alongside your existing advice team.

Only new property is currently eligible for plant and equipment depreciation under Australian tax law; established property depreciation benefits are far more limited. A Year 1 depreciation claim on a new property can be substantial (commonly $12,000–$18,000), which materially reduces your taxable income and can be claimed either at tax time or progressively through reduced PAYG withholding.

Negative gearing occurs when a property's holding costs (interest, rates, management, insurance, maintenance) exceed its rental income. The result can be an "artificial" negative gearing position driven mainly by non-cash costs like depreciation, or a genuine cash loss — the difference matters, and needs to be weighed against expected capital growth over your holding period. This is a strategy decision best made with your accountant, not a default setting.

A cash buffer covers periods of vacancy or unexpected costs so you're not forced to sell during a lean period. Since quality investment property has historically grown at 7–8% or more annually in Australia over the long term, having enough reserve to hold through short-term gaps is essential to capturing that growth. New properties generally require a smaller buffer than established ones, given lower near-term maintenance needs.

Maintenance is the property owner's (investor's) responsibility. New properties typically need little maintenance for the first 7–10 years, and rental increases over that period generally more than offset any costs that do arise. Established properties can require maintenance from year one, which is where buffer funds become particularly important.

We assess key factors including capital growth potential, rental demand, vacancy rates, local infrastructure projects, economic drivers, demographics, and long-term market performance. Our recommendations are data-driven, not emotionally driven.

Our role doesn't end at settlement. We help align you with a select property manager, oversee build and handover where relevant, and provide ongoing portfolio review to keep your strategy on track as your circumstances and the market change.

New property generally offers stronger depreciation benefits, lower near-term maintenance and a smaller required cash buffer, while established property may offer different growth or renovation potential depending on location. The right answer depends on your strategy, cash flow position and risk tolerance — it's assessed case by case, not a blanket rule.

We focus on strategy before property selection. Our goal is to help you build long-term wealth through carefully selected investment properties that align with your financial goals, rather than simply helping you buy real estate.