Stories of Interest for April 2012

I post a lot of interesting articles to Twitter, but a few articles that have stood out for me this month are:

From April 12th:
 

Capital Growth AND Capital Gains!

Real Estate in Cambodia.

We focus on real estate in Australia, because that is were we are based.  I thought for a change it would be interesting to choose a country that not too many people are familiar with, and look at their investment and real estate market.

What do you know about Cambodia? Unfortunately most people are only aware of what happened in the 1970's  when millions of people were living in poverty, starvation was rampant, and hideous crimes were committed against it's citizens. These were very dark days.

Does A Holiday Rental Make Sense?

Having a rental property that you rent out full time makes sense, but what about a holiday home? A place where there will be a good percentage of the year where it's vacant?  Should you consider it an investment or is it more of a luxury?

It is commonly believed that it isn't a smart investment, but if you love the place and you will use it most of all, then maybe you are on the right track.  Lets look at some ways make the most out of the investment/luxury.

• Buy what you can afford. Makes sense for all investments really. But don't count on the income from the property to help pay for it. 

Don't Own It, Rent It!

So when you read the title, did you think?: 'No you're wrong! You're throwing money away when you rent!' Or  were you thinking: 'Yes! Renting gives me more flexibility!'

On Linked In there was a great discussion on this very issue, which made me think about the real benefits of renting your primary residence. I won't talk about investment properties, because, well, the point of buying a rental property, is so that someone will rent it off you!

So what are the benefits of renting your home, rather than owning it?

What to Look for When Renting a House.

When you are looking for a new house to rent, it's a wise idea to have a checklist handy so you don't have to remember everything.  Renting an apartment can be stressful, especially if time and money are limited. It's not uncommon for people to leap before they look just to relieve the pressure of apartment hunting. Selecting a place to live is important. If you're unhappy with your home, it can have a significant negative impact on your life. 

So, once you've determined the place is in your price range, take a pad and pen to make notes as you consider the following: