Investment Property Guide: Learnings From Cate Blanchett

Who doesn’t know Hollywood star, Cate Blanchett?

It’s undeniable that her fame goes beyond the shores of Australia and the red carpet of Hollywood. But now we’re seeing that this star isn’t only an expert or articulate in front of the camera… She's also proving herself to be a suave property investor in the property space.

Her first purchase was a one-bedroom apartment in Coogee, Sydney, in 1996, which she then sold for $358,000 five years later via auction.

Then she purchased another property with her husband, Andrew Upton, in the same area in 1998: a two-bedroom apartment for $441,000.

Eventually, the couple sold it for $950,000 in 2011—yes, which was more than twice what they had initially paid for.

And that’s not all. Through the years, since Cate’s first purchase in 1996, she’s been able to successfully invest in multiple properties not only in Australia but also in Vanuatu and England.

To give you the gist, here are just a few of the properties Cate and her husband have invested in so far:

In 2005: a Gothic-style mansion with sprawling grounds in Hunters Hill, Sydney, for $10.2 million. The couple sold it for $20 million in 2017, getting a clean profit of $9.8 million.
In 2011: a luxurious property in the island of Efate in Vanuatu, with more than 200 metres of serene beachfront. They listed it for sale in August 2019 for $1.4 million, and the property is still waiting for a buyer.
In 2015: a five-bedroom apartment in Sydney’s CBD—with amazing panoramic views of the Opera House, Sydney Harbour and the Royal Botanic Garden—for $8 million. The couple decided to put it on sale in March 2020 for an initial asking price of $12 million; this property is also waiting for a buyer.

Currently, Cate, her husband and their four children reside in an English manor in East Sussex, England.

Named ‘Highwell House’, this historic property has 13 acres of beautiful English countryside. And the couple purchased it for $6.25 million in 2016.

Yes, it’s clear that Cate has been making her way towards property investment success and isn’t stopping any time soon.

Well, perhaps you find yourself wondering if you can be as savvy as Cate Blanchett is in property investing. (There’s nothing wrong with that.)

Or, perhaps, you’re just plain curious about the world of investment properties?

Or are you looking for a way to earn passive income?

Or, maybe you’re already immersed in real estate and now ready to commit to being a full-time property investor?

If your answer is ‘yes’ for any of these questions, then, you’re in the right place.

All property investors want to land the perfect property for their portfolios. And it all starts with understanding the type of properties available.

So keep on reading to the need-to-know what’s what with investment property today.

Table of Contents

Wait! Let’s Define What Investment Property Is

Why Purchase An Investment Property?

But Is It Worth Investing in Propertiesin the Long Run?

Interested? There Are 4 Investment Property Types Out There!

Investment Property Type 1: Vacant Land and New Developments

Investment Property Type 2: Residential Property

Investment Property Type 3: Commercial Property

Investment Property Type 4: Mixed-Use Property

'So, Which Property Type Works Best for Me?'

The Top 5 Frequently Asked Questions About Investment Property

Wait! Let’s Define What Investment Property Is

In straightforward terms, an investment property is a real estate property that you buy with the aim of getting a return on investment—by way of the future resale of that investment property or rental income or both. It can be a short-term endeavour or a long-term venture.

If it’s a short-term investment, an investor often engages in the game plan of buying, remodelling, or renovating real estate, then selling it at a profit within a short time frame (also called 'renovate and flip').

For investors who go into it for the long term, they work out a strategy —usually from 5 years to almost 20 years in some cases. From there, they conduct due diligence to pinpoint the most profitable, highest and best use of a property.

Why Purchase An
Investment Property?

People go into investment property for many reasons. More often than not, there are people—like me, for that matter—who aim to gain financial freedom as we live life and build our families’ future.

And this kind of financial freedom I’m talking about is not merely about being able to buy more stuff without worrying about the cash.

It’s the kind where you’re free from debt and can live comfortably within your means without worrying about funds for your future needs. So, this initial vision was my big WHY—the reason that I went to investment property.

You need to ask yourself what your big WHY is before you even think about properties.

You might have goals and dreams that you’re aiming to come into existence sooner than later. But you realise that the job you have now only helps in paying the bills.

And you wonder if going into investment property can help you take one step closer to attaining your life goals, such as:

spending more time with your family and friends
devoting some extra time to your favourite charity
traveling the world
building another business (or starting your first one!)
having the weekends off
achieving work-life balance (finally!)
quitting the job that’s draining you day in, day out
paying all your debts
finishing and self-publishing that book you’ve been working on
buying that new car you’ve been eyeing for some time now
retiring in your late 40s or early 50s
saving up for a grand wedding
saving up for your grandkids

It’s true: Financial freedom brought about by going into investment properties can lend a hand in making any of these dreams become a reality.

No matter what your big WHY is, investing in properties can be the vehicle you ride on to arrive at that future.

I once sat down with best-selling author and property investor expert Steve McKnight and interviewed him.

It turned out that he also envisioned financial freedom for himself and his family. For him, financial freedom meant contributing, adding value to people’s lives and being productive while also being able to be an intentional and present dad to his kids—especially during their formative childhood years.

He and his wife wanted to allow their children the chance to experience a life that they themselves didn’t have growing up, without spoiling them, of course.

And that compelling mindset helped propel him to the direction of investment property.

'I think for me, the vision was financial freedom which is working when you want, how you want, when you want, and with whom you want. And that was always the dream.'

Steve McKnight

With persistence and a whole lot of not-giving-up and carefully implemented strategies (yes, even when he and his initial business partner parted ways then and he had to go solo in his investing career at the beginning!), he still forged right on ahead.

Investing in real estate for more than 15 years now, he has garnered hundreds and hundreds of properties in Australia, New Zealand and the United States under his belt!

Okay, so that’s one way to go, right?

You yourself can be on your way towards financial freedom via buying an investment property.

Whether you have a full-time or part-time job or are looking into starting a career in real estate, you can start investing in properties.

But Is It Worth Investing in Properties
in the Long Run?

Like I mentioned earlier, it can be pretty daunting for first-time investors.

I felt intimidated when I first started. But with the right mentors and by doing my due diligence I was able to take the leap—and stay on this route for a while now. Since then, I’ve learned a lot and am still learning about investment property.

Here are three big reasons why I think it's worth going into the investment property track in the long run:

Investment property grows and compounds over time so it actually enables you to build wealth over the long term
It's a physical asset, which has value and can be seen, touched and changed. In comparison to shares, which you can't touch and control, investment properties are a much better investment.
The wealthy keep their money in properties, and investing in properties is something that has a proven plan that works if you just follow the fundamentals.

Think of Meriton Founder Harry Triguboff who has developed around 60,000 apartments—that’s somewhere around to 2,000 per year—as part of his impressive portfolio of overseeing 75,000 residential dwellings’ construction. His investments yielded a high cash flow because he’d followed the fundamentals when he first went into investment property.

Clearly, Harry Triguboff has been building his wealth over the long term, ever since he’s started. And he still keeps investing.

The bottom line, is whether you go into investing in properties in the short or long run, the advantages are undeniably there.

Interested? There Are 4 Investment Property Types Out There!

As with any options we have in the world—like with water, there’s cold, lukewarm, sparkling, mineral, hot, et cetera—, each type of investment property is unique. And there’s not one that is exclusively 'the best'. It simply depends on the angle from which you want to approach real estate, development or investment.

In my experience, I delved into what I determined was best for my situation and that is different for everyone.

But before I made any major decisions, I made sure I did the research and weighed the pros and cons.

Along the way, I discovered that I must consider a lot of other things when buying an investment property in the long run, such as the future capital gain and the capital gains tax that come with it, plus a mortgage and financing.

And there were other questions I needed to ask myself:

Will this investment bring in the kind of cash flow I want?
How will I maximise my investment?
Should I take an investment loan or find money partners?
What is my borrowing power?
Which lenders offer the best interest rates?

Yes, these are all important questions. And they seemed overwhelming at the time to me, too.

Figuring out what to do first can be daunting to any new investor.

But wait, don’t worry! When I initially started in my investment property journey, I just needed to answer just the one, first crucial question:

What type of investment property should I commit my money to?

As soon as I answered that, I was able to move forward from there. And you can do the same.

Now, to help you out, I listed down the four most common investment property types and the basics about each one.

Vacant Land and New Developments
Residential Property
Commercial Property
Mixed-Use Property

Take a look at each one. Weigh the pros and cons for yourself so that you’ll feel ready to take on the property market. Then decide what’s best for you.

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Investment Property Type 1: Vacant Land and New Developments

Property entrepreneur Nhan Nguyen recommends this type of investment property to his clients. He had bought his first three properties by the time he was 21 years old, and his biggest development project netted him a $1 million profit.

This investment property type is really, more often than not, suitable for property developers.

Typically, you’re taking control of a plot of land that you’re going to build on. And that means you need to understand what the local market wants. Plus, it means you need to commit time and energy to turn the development into a reality.

If this investment property type is the route that you want to go down, you must start small—which is something that Nhan Nguyen recommends to his clients. He also wants to educate other developers of this fact.

'When I suggest with people starting doing developments, whether it’s just a granny flat at the back or building a duplex is thinking big
and starting small.'

Nhan Nguyen

Nhan Nguyen makes it a point to know what his limits are, when to move fast, and when to slow down before deciding on his multiple investment-related projects. And it would benefit one to follow his example.

Trying to run before you can walk could lead to your downfall after all.

This type of investment in vacant land and new developments offer a wealth of opportunity. You can customise the deal and build specifically for the market. However, you also need to recognise that you’re taking on more work in the process.

To make it easier for you to see the big picture, let’s look at the pros and cons of going into this type of investment property.

If after thoroughly considering all sides and deciding that this type of investment property is the best choice for you, then be ready to go all in.

You never know—you can be on the same path Nhan Nguyen once walked on.

Investing In Vacant Land And New Developments

PROS:

You can develop a property based on exactly what the market wants.
Vacant land is much easier to manage than an existing property,
at least during the time that you hold it.
It’s more affordable than land that’s already developed.

CONS:

You need to put in all of the work as a developer, as well as an investor, to bring the land to its full potential.
It may prove more difficult to buy and sell vacant land.
You make fewer tax deductions for vacant land compared to land with property.

If after thoroughly considering all sides and deciding that this type of investment property is the best choice for you, then be ready to go all in.

You never know—you can be on the same path Nhan Nguyen once walked on.

Investment Property Type 2: Residential Property

This one is the type of property that many think of when they imagine themselves as investors. It’s also the type of property you’re likely most familiar with, especially if you own your own home.

Typically, your goal with residential property is to take on a tenant so you can generate cash flow. On top of this yield, you will also look to create capital growth if you decide to refinance or sell the property.

It’s a strategy that property investor, best-selling author and Somersoft Founder Jan Somers has put to good use.

She’s the housewife millionaire who has built an amazing portfolio of residential properties. When I sat down to talk with her, she shared a lot of useful advice for new investors who would want to go down this route.

'When you buy a property, I’d suggest you buy a medium residential price because that’s the sort of property everyone wants to buy in the first homeowner’s market.
It’s the kind of property that everyone wants to rent.'

Jan Somers

She also raised a good point about one of the challenges of investing in residential property: You must always consider what the market wants.

Sometimes, you may find a property that seems perfect at first. However, if you discover that it’s not what the local market needs, that property can become a money sink.

On another note, if you take on a tenant, you also have the property management side of things to consider. Still, residential properties can prove profitable, assuming you know what to look for.

Again, let us look at the pros and cons of this one.

Investing In Residential Property

PROS:

Rental income provides you with a stable cash flow, which helps with serviceability for future investments.
There are a host of tax deductions that you can make related to depreciation. If you have a negative-gearing strategy, these tax benefits may magnify.
Residential properties tend to increase in value over the long term.

CONS:

In the short term, you may have to deal with occasional market volatility.
If you struggle to find a tenant, a residential property can be a severe drain on your resources.
Residential properties need ongoing management, which means you may need to invest in good property managers.

This investment property type also reminds me of the story of experienced property investor Kevin Young. He has been in the real estate market of Australia for more than 50 years and has notably made an impressive 600 purchases over that period.

He actually bought his first property when he was just 21 years old and had to work three jobs to buy it. The second one he bought shortly after that was a residential property.

And that was when he discovered that he preferred investing in residential properties over commercial ones.

During my interview with him, he shared the advantage of having this type of investment property. He pointed out: ‘With the residential property, all you’ve got to do is halve your rents, and you’ll have them line up around the block to take the property.’

If you think that this type of investment property is for you, then take that leap like Jan Somers and Kevin Young have done.

Investment Property Type 3: Commercial Property

As the name implies, commercial properties are any type of property from which a business can conduct its operations.

It’s true that on the surface, it seems like this investment property type is similar to residential property.

Yes, you’re still buying a building and taking on a tenant, even if it is a different type of tenant. However, the big difference comes in lease lengths.

Successful long-time property investor James Dawson has a powerful portfolio of commercial properties. He has been in the investing world for over 40 years now.

True enough, he started his career as a real estate agent before moving into investing. And although he has experience investing in both residential and commercial properties, he’s pointed out that it is considerably easier to add manufactured growth to commercial properties compared to residential ones.

'So you know there’s this huge, many opportunities for manufactured growth in commercial [property]. I mean it’s similar to the idea of someone’s putting a granny flat or something on the back of a residential property.
It’s that on steroids.'

James Dawson

Also, in one of my interviews with him, I remember him aptly explaining how leases with commercial property differ from residential investments. He said: ‘I think that the prime difference is that the commercial investment is driven by a lease. So you’ve got a number of factors that really tie your investment to the lease.’

He then provided the example of a hair salon business that’s been in a rented commercial property for some time:

‘They’ve probably spent quite a lot of money on a fit-out in that property, and they’re making their livelihood from their property. So they want to have a long lease and they sign it for 3, 5 or even a 10–year lease. That’s a huge difference. For example, a 5–year lease [in a commercial property] makes a big difference compared to, say, a 6– or 12–month lease that you may have with a residential property.’

But of course, you have limitations when it comes to commercial properties.

When venturing into this type of investment property, you need to buy with a business in mind. And you must give a level of control over to your tenants. After all, they need to turn the property into something that works for the business.

You must also note that if a tenant leaves, you may have to spend more to refit the property. Nevertheless, commercial leases do last longer and often provide higher yields than residential properties.

In a nutshell, here are the pros and cons of this type of investment property.

INVESTING IN COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

PROS:

Commercial properties typically generate yields of between 6% and 12%. By contrast, residential properties tend to fall into the 3% to 6% bracket.
You have lower outgoings as your tenant will usually deal with all maintenance issues.
Commercial tenants have longer leases in place, and that means you don’t have to worry about vacancies.

CONS:

If your property does end up vacant, it usually takes more time to find a tenant than it does for residential properties.
Lenders typically want higher deposits, which means you need more upfront capital.
Commercial properties capital growth is determined by the rental yield and not market drivers.

Investment Property Type 4: Mixed-Use Property

When I began investing, I bought a mixed-use property first—commercial on the bottom and residential on the top. Mixed-use properties offer the best of both the residential and commercial worlds.

Typically, like the first property I invested in, mixed-use properties have a retail outlet on the ground floor and residential units above. That means that you can claim rent from two types of tenants for the same property. And because you usually have a long lease for the commercial client, you can cover the shortfall if a residential client leaves.

It’s like having the best of both worlds, so to speak.

One of the people I know who like this type of investment property is Harry Charalambous. He is a commercial property investor who owns a mixed-use property in St Ives as part of his whopping $20+ million portfolio.

He’s also one of the directors of Plan Assist Property Team. This team runs a business of giving property investors the help they may need to purchase properties. Plus, their business is also geared towards developing those with a focus on manufacturing equity in investments.

It’s worth noting that Harry Charalambous began a career in the electrical business—from doing an electrical apprenticeship when he left school at 15 years old to running and owning his own electrical business at the age of 19 until he was 35 years old.

Nevertheless, his early experiences gave him the grounding on investing, renovating and selling property he would need later on. In fact, he actually bought his first property at 18 years old!

That’s proof that going into investment property and growing your portfolio should not be limited even by your age. What matters is you do your due diligence and work smart in your strategies.

'I’ve seen people that come into their first property deal and may have a home—or it may even be before they’ve bought their own home—and they’re looking to do their first property purchase, and they’re looking for that first purchase to be their retirement fund. Just start small. Treat your investing journey like you do your business journey.'

Harry Charalambous

Much like Harry Charalambous, you could use this type of property
to lend some diversity to your portfolio. Still, there are some unique
issues related to mixed-use properties that you must consider.

Check out the pros and cons of investing in this investment property type.

INVESTING IN MIXED-USE PROPERTY

PROS:

You get to have the benefits of both commercial and residential properties in one building.
Such properties offer great opportunities for small business owners who want to avoid the hassle of commuting to work.
You spread your risk around two markets. That means you have protection if either the residential or the commercial market struggles.

CONS:

Some business owners may not feel comfortable having people living above them. That could limit your pool of commercial tenants.
Such properties generally require a larger deposit to acquire.
Such properties often prove difficult to sell later on.

'So, Which Property Type Works Best for Me?'

Like what I said earlier, it really starts with that one question when you venture into buying an investment property. And, whether young or old, every investor’s journey is unique.

For instance, I myself prefer investing in residential properties. It's always in high demand in the market because people will always need spaces to live in. Whereas, I discovered that my least preferred types of investment property are the ones in regional areas. Yes, they’re a good source of positive cashflow, but there’s not much capital growth there.

Each type of investment property has its place.

Once you’ve weighed your options, your challenge is to figure out which works best for you. Then from there, you need to build a strategy around that type of investment property—and, naturally, you’ll need to find the ideal property for your portfolio. And that is where we come in.

We at Property Investory can help you buy the type of investment property that your portfolio needs.

We can recommend the buyers agents who will ensure you get a good deal on a property that serves your strategy.

Just fill in the form below to get started!

Like what Steve McKnight once insightfully said when asked about his own real estate journey: ‘If you want something, make it happen yourself.’

So start now and don't put it off. The best time to invest in property is now.

Fast-Track Your Success

Learn how to get 10x return on your
property investments in less time

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Here Are Other Stories To Satisfy Your Curiosity

The Top 5 Frequently Asked Questions About Investment Property

1. What is an investment property?

In straightforward terms, an investment property is a real estate property that you buy with the aim of getting a return on investment—by way of the future resale or equity of that investment property or rental income or both. It can be a short-term endeavour or a long-term venture.

2. Why should I purchase an investment property?

You need to ask yourself what your big WHY is before you even think about investing or buying properties.

Going into investment property can help you take one step closer to attaining your life goals, such as spending more time with your family and friends, retiring in your late 40s or early 50s, or even quitting the job that’s draining you day in, day out, to name a few.

No matter what your big WHY is, investing in properties can be the vehicle you ride on to arrive at that future.

3. When is it best to invest in properties?

That depends on you. You can actually start today! (And we think that the best time to start investing is now.)

As long as you have the right mindset, grit and passion for educating yourself as you take all the steps needed to move forward on your property journey, you can invest in properties today.

4. Where is the best place to start investing in properties?

Well, that depends on what you need now in your property journey. If you’re building your portfolio and you’re onto buying a second or third property, then you must assess if the type of investment property you have your eyes on next fits what your portfolio needs this time.

If you’re just starting out, you must determine which of the four types of investment properties to add to your portfolio is most relevant to your goals: (1) Vacant Land and New Developments, (2) Residential Property, (3) Commercial Property or (4) Mixed-Use Property.

Take a look at each one. Weigh the pros and cons for yourself so that you’ll feel ready to take on the property market. Then decide what’s best for you. (You can read more about the four types of investment properties in this article.)

5. How do I start investing in properties or building my portfolio?

That is a great question. We at Property Investory can help you start investing in properties or buy the type of investment property that your portfolio needs. We can recommend the buyers agents who will ensure you get a good deal on a property that serves your strategy.

Just click on this link and fill in the form to get started.

If you’re craving for more insights on investment properties, check out the article above. We’ve spilled all the juicy, helpful details you’ll need to know on your property journey today.

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References

Inside Cate Blanchett's global property empire from England to Vanuatu

The Best Type of Property For Real Estate Investing

4 Pros (& 6 Cons) of Investing in Vacant Land

7 Pros and Cons of Investing In Rental Properties

The 9 pros and cons of investing in commercial property

The Pros And Cons Of Mixed Usage Properties | Lifestyle Home

Pros & Cons: Mixed-Use Developments

Investment Property Definition

4 Advantages of Purchasing an Investment Property