All Topics / Help Needed! / Is this possible? $40k a year salary and wanting to buy first investment property

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  • Profile photo of catsgravecatsgrave
    Participant
    @catsgrave
    Join Date: 2008
    Post Count: 14

    Hi everybody,

    I am 27 years old and I make $40,000 a year with about $3,000 in savings. I am currently renting and i can save up to $500 a month. I am digesting steve's book atm and i really would want to gain financial freedom before i reach 45. What do you think? Possible?

    I hope i can get some advise from the property gurus.

    1. 1. Do you think is possible for me to buy my first investment property with my pathetic salary? :) I don't mind to continue renting in order to secure my first investment property.
    2. What sort of price range should i be looking at?
    3. How many percent should i have at the very minimum? 30%-40%?
    4. Unit or House with land? I know for a fact land is where the capital growth is but i don't think i can afford a $350k – $400k hse.

    Please enlighten me your wisdoms. :)

    cheers,

    Profile photo of YnotnowYnotnow
    Member
    @ynotnow
    Join Date: 2007
    Post Count: 24

    hey , Iam definitely not a guru but I know a single mum with a similar income, who has bought a prop…

    surely you can do it !! You would need a bit more money for a deposit ,I assume they would want 15% of the prop value  but why dont you call some loan companies and enquire about possibilities and go from there

    dont buy 300-400k places, look for something really cheap to get in …mining towns are still booming

    I think its great ,that you are interested in building your future and not just  spending ….dont give up

    Profile photo of deanwdeanw
    Member
    @deanw
    Join Date: 2008
    Post Count: 3

    Hey,

    I was in your shoes about 1 year ago.  I was earning about 42000K per year.  I had about $12,500 in savings.  I approached a broker and he told me i could borrow up to $240,000K.  So i bought a place for $235,000K with a 5% deposit.  At the end of the day after FHOG and expenses my loan was about $228,000K.  My weekly repayments are about $400 a week.  Luckily i have sinced had a considerable pay increase so it's not too bad.  But at $42,000K a year i was clearing about $620ish a week of which i was paying $400 onto the mortgage weekly, leaving just over $200 a week for all other expenses.  At the time that was way too tight for me so i stayed renting where i was, $60 a week in a shared house, and rented out my IP for about $290 a week.  That way i was only out of pocket $110 a week.

    On the down side though, to avoid paying CGT you need to live in the place from settlement date for at least 6 months.  I can expand further on this if you would like.

    Anyway that is just a basic idea of what you might be getting any for.  Be sure you can afford to do it before you throw yourself in the deep end.  It's been a push for me at times, but i think it is probably the best thing that i have ever done.  If you buy a unit be sure to look into body corp fees and any proposed body corp work.  I got stung by this one because i did not do my research and now i am for about a $5,000 body corp fee to fix up a buggered driveway and plumbing system.

    Cheers,
    Dean

    Profile photo of catsgravecatsgrave
    Participant
    @catsgrave
    Join Date: 2008
    Post Count: 14

    Hi Dean,

    Thanks for the reply. I am really looking forward to buy my first property investment. As i have mentioned i don't have enough savings yet. I don't think i should attempt a 100% loan without deposit. What do you reckon?

    I am reading through steve's book and just getting into the formulas like ROI and GRR.  It's very new for me now.

    Do you reckon i should get a unit or hse with land.

    cheers,

    Profile photo of prusliprusli
    Member
    @prusli
    Join Date: 2007
    Post Count: 31

    hi catsgrave,

    I am not an expert and dont know your situation but I was in your situation and bought $180K investment.
    Salary $40K gives approx $2500 monthly into your bank.
    you can aim to save about $1500 per month if you dont have family or other debt(s).
    In 6 months you might have $9000 + $3000 saving + $7000 first home grant = $19,000
    you might be able to get $150K – $200K property. 
    Speak to a broker once you have enough savings and he/she'll tell you the options.
    This might sound cruel and boring life but without sacrifice I dont see any other way unless you find a new job.

    Profile photo of deanwdeanw
    Member
    @deanw
    Join Date: 2008
    Post Count: 3

    At the moment with rates up and banks being be bit more picky and who they will loan too, i would not recommend a 100% deposit either.  Ideally it is best to have 20% so that you can avoid LMI, but this is becoming more and more difficult.  Talk to a broker and see what your options, how much you can borrow etc and that will give you a foundation to see what you can afford to buy.

    Unit or house?  That's a tough one and not one that i can answer easily.  It all depends on a number of factors.  Where are you looking to buy?  What are the median unit/house prices?  Are you planning to buy and live in or rent out?  What would be easier to rent if that is the plan?  I bought a unit but i'm planning another purchase in the next few months which will be house.

    Cheers.

    Profile photo of Chris WhiteChris White
    Participant
    @chris-white
    Join Date: 2006
    Post Count: 65

    Hi Catsgrave 

    A quick scenario for you ………..
     

    An investment purchase
            

         Capital Costs                                          Cash flow 

       Purchase price    $250,000            I/O mthly loan payments             $2,100 
       Deposit (5%)       $12,500              Mthly rental income                    $1,041    
      
     Loan                   $237,500            Mthly cash shortfall                    $1,068 
       Costs                  $15,000          

       Total funds required                    $27,500 

    Note: all figures are approximates only. I have not taken into consideration your personal circumstances. Costs include LMI, Stamp Duty, legals and other.  

    As you are currently saving $500.00 per month, it may be a difficult to increase your monthly commitments to an extra $1000+ per month.
     There are many other variables and options (to name a few)  

    1.       Family guarantor for the deposit (could eliminate LMI)
    2.       Use of the FHOG ($7000 cash + no stamp duty)
    3.       Renting rooms to boarders 

     
    I would suggest that the next step is to run the numbers properly with a broker. Feel free to contact us if you wish.

    Chris White | Pillar Property
    http://www.pillarproperty.com.au/
    Email Me | Phone Me

    The Property Investment Specialists

    Profile photo of investor_eddieinvestor_eddie
    Member
    @investor_eddie
    Join Date: 2008
    Post Count: 3

    I'm in the same situation and hoping to buy a 250k IP next year to rent out. I will be fairly close to my serviceability limit in the banks eyes if interest rates continue to rise. What I'm wondering is with an offset account does the money I put into that automatically reduce my minimum repayments or would I need to refinance?

    I can save really well so should have no trouble reducing my LVR but my real issue I think is my ability to service debt on my average wage. I guess I'm just trying to get my head around how people buy properties once a year or every 2 years. They must be on a much higher salary or have properties close to the CBD that get higher capital gain (which I can't afford)??

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