Who should you turn to for property advice?

With countless mixed messages and hidden agendas, finding someone you can truly trust can be challenging.

In today’s property markets, very few advisers possess the perspective gained from having successfully invested across multiple property cycles. These individuals understand how to take advantage of the current stage of the cycle, offering unique insights into successful property investment.

Meanwhile, a new wave of self-titled “property experts” has emerged, promising quick results like acquiring ten properties in ten years or claiming access to data that supposedly guarantees success. However, data often reflects past performance rather than predicting future trends, and many lack the skill to interpret data effectively.

So, what sets true experts apart? The threshold for expertise typically involves years of experience in one’s chosen profession. These individuals stand at the top of their industry, shaping the path of progress through deep knowledge and proven results. Yet, the rise of social media has blurred these lines. While it provides fantastic opportunities for real experts to connect and share knowledge, it has also enabled self-titled “property experts” to promote themselves by flogging books, consulting sessions, training programs, and online courses.

Considering that less than 8% of property investors own more than two properties, and most fail to achieve the financial freedom they deserve, it’s crucial to seek independent advice from those with a significant, long-standing track record of success.

Who could you ask for property investment advice?

No One:  Many beginning investors assume they understand real estate simply because they’ve lived in or rented a home or apartment. This is a big mistake and could explain why around fifty percent of first-time investors end up selling their properties within five years. Knowing your local neighborhood isn’t the same as understanding the property market.

Friends or Family:  While it’s natural to seek advice from loved ones, ask yourself: are they financial experts? If not, their guidance might stem from concerns about the risk involved, often leading to advice to avoid property investment altogether.

A Real Estate Agent: Keep in mind, that agents work for the vendor, aiming to secure the best price for them. They’re unlikely to inform you about other great properties listed by competing agents in the area.

A Mortgage Broker:  It’s essential to have an investment-savvy broker to navigate the finance maze, but most lack the expertise to identify an investment-grade property.

An Accountant:  Accountants are invaluable for tax matters and structuring, but they typically don’t possess the deep knowledge of the property market required to provide reliable investment advice.

Financial Planners:  While licensed to deal in financial products, most financial planners lack a sound understanding of property. Many cannot advise on real estate because their companies restrict them or because their recommendations are influenced by a biased view, earning commissions from selling investments on their stock list.

A Property Marketer:  These salespeople may seem helpful, but they’re often aligned with a property developer, aiming to secure the biggest profit from the deal.

Investment Seminars, Webinars, and Workshops: Before attending these events, consider whether the host is a true investment expert. Are they financially secure themselves, or is their income reliant on teaching others?

A Property Mentor:  While a mentor can help you spot blind spots, provide guidance and support, and expand the way you think, be cautious. Some mentors are genuine, while others are disguised, property sellers or marketers. Choose someone who has achieved the results you aspire to.

A Buyer’s Agent:  They can assist in finding the right property, but many act as order takers, without creating a plan that addresses your family’s future needs or risk profile.

However, when you look at this list you can now see why you need… an independent, unbiased property adviser or strategist.

In my mind, it is critical to have a trusted advisor when making property investment decisions.

Trying to navigate the property market on your own or through trial and error often comes with a steep learning fee—paid in time, money, effort, and heartache.

It’s interesting to note that while wealthy people often rely on and are willing to pay for trusted advisors in various aspects of their lives, the average person either lacks advisors altogether or seeks guidance from salespeople who appear to be advisers but are far from independent.

By contrast, following the teachings and proven systems of those who have successfully achieved and retained their wealth through multiple property cycles can significantly increase your likelihood of success. While no system is guaranteed to work for everyone, leveraging the experience of seasoned professionals can make your path to wealth much clearer and more achievable.

What do property strategists do?

As a property advisor, my role is to help clients grow, protect, and pass on their wealth by using property as a vehicle.

While most people come to Ash Buyers Agency seeking property advice, what they’re really after goes deeper. Some are striving for financial freedom, others seek more choices in life—like working because they want to, not because they have to—and many aim to leave a lasting legacy for their family or community. Property is simply the vehicle they’ve chosen to achieve these end goals.

Unlike many advisors who come from real estate backgrounds, the wealth strategists at Ash Buyers Agency have expertise in financial planning, banking, or wealth creation. They combine this with a strong understanding of property and are successful investors themselves.

At Ash Buyers Agency, our Wealth Strategists focus on delivering sound strategic advice to ensure safe growth and help clients increase their wealth over the long term. The ultimate aim is to provide our clients with choices in life, opportunities, and the freedom to live on their terms.

When I first noticed a gap in the market for safe, strategic advice, I set out to fill it as a property strategist. While today many call themselves property “advisors” or “strategists,” quite a few lack the qualifications, in-depth advice, or experience necessary to truly support legacy building and wealth creation.

Things a good property advisor SHOULD do

1. A good advisor begins by understanding their client’s hopes and fears, then stays future-focused to help them achieve their long-term financial goals.
2. With so many mixed messages about property investing—many coming from parties with vested interests—a good property advisor helps eliminate their client’s anxiety by simplifying the complex. They provide clarity in the world of wealth creation, which encompasses much more than just property, but also finance, tax, economics, and the law. They ensure their clients understand both the risks and rewards of property investment.
3. Unlike most buyers’ agents or property salespeople, who are transactional and focus on the immediate sale or purchase, a professional property advisor seeks to build a long-term relationship. They help clients understand the next steps, even before taking the first. A good advisor sells advice, not a product or property. That’s why at Ash Buyers Agency, we begin by creating a Strategic Property Plan for our clients. Planning brings the future into the present, so we can act on it now.
4. Many clients approach a real estate advisor in search of the next big thing—whether it’s a shortcut, a hotspot, or a quick path to wealth. Instead, a qualified property strategist will prevent their clients from speculating by recommending proven strategies that have consistently worked.
5. A good independent advisor doesn’t have properties for sale but provides a list of potential opportunities, referring clients to a buyer’s agent who is part of their team to find the best opportunity that matches their budget, plans, and risk profile.
6. A strategic advisor never pressures clients into making investment decisions. Their knowledge, research, and experience guide clients to select the investment property that represents the highest and best use of their funds and will work hard for them in the long term.
7. A wise property strategist helps clients avoid the common mistakes of average investors, earning their fees simply by steering clients away from devastating errors, such as those made by investors who lost significant sums in mining towns, regional locations, house and land packages, or off-the-plan properties. Of course, a great advisor does much more than that for their fee.
8. As a student of history, a good Wealth Strategist offers perspective, insights, and often optimism, even when the media is filled with pessimism, and vice versa.
9. They advise clients to invest their money in ways that align with their own experience as investors—not as enthusiastic amateurs.
10. A good Wealth Strategist regularly meets with clients to objectively assess the performance of their property portfolio, ensuring they are heading in the right financial direction.

As you can see, becoming a great property strategist requires years of learning, experience, and the perspective gained from investing through multiple property cycles.

Some things a property advisor CAN’T do

As you read on, you’ll notice that some property “advisors” will claim they can achieve some of the things listed below—things they simply cannot do.

This often happens because they are unable to deliver on many of the aspects skilled, professional advisors can provide.

1. Even a qualified advisor cannot predict the future. They won’t be able to tell you how the market will perform, what will happen to interest rates, or what capital growth a specific property will experience.
2. They won’t be able to find the next hot spot for you, even though many so-called advisors claim they can. Essentially, they give clients what they want, rather than offering sound, solid advice.
3. Even the most qualified advisor cannot pinpoint the best time to purchase an investment property, other than reminding you that the best time to invest was 20 years ago, and the second-best time is now.
4. A skilled advisor won’t promise to help you get rich quickly or achieve extraordinary returns without taking on significant risks.

Property Strategist vs. Buyer’s Agent

The difference between a property strategist and a buyer’s agent is significant, even though many buyer’s agents may downplay this distinction, often suggesting they are the ideal people to help investors.

In my view, it’s essential to have both as part of your wealth creation team.

Your Wealth Strategist or Property Strategist will focus on the big picture, creating a tailored strategy that aligns with your current position, aspirations, budget, timeframes, and risk profile. They will consider all aspects of your situation to design a strategy that makes sense for you.

Buyer’s agents, on the other hand, are more like order takers. They will execute a brief to find a property, often with a bias towards the areas they specialize in, but this may not always be in your best interests.

Only a property strategist has the expertise to design that “order” to suit your specific needs. They will be your long-term wealth creation partner, regularly reviewing performance, identifying opportunities, and offering recommendations on when to take action and when it’s best for you to do nothing.

A good property strategist stays with you for life — while your buyer’s agent shouldn’t!

How do property advisors make money?

At Ash Buyers Agency, how we get paid depends on the services our clients request. Regardless of the arrangement, our fees are always disclosed in full before we begin working with a client. We take no commissions from vendors, salespeople, or developers, ensuring there is no vested interest or bias in what we recommend.

Some clients pay a fee for service to receive a detailed strategic wealth plan, while others pay a success fee after we research, source, negotiate, and secure an investment-grade property for them. This property is then valued by their bank at or above the amount they paid for their investment.

Is it worth paying for property investment advice?

That’s an important question, as you need to find someone who can provide unbiased advice, independent of any particular location or property.

Note: Most so-called “advisors” will only offer information about properties on their stock list or those that their buyer’s agents can source in a specific state.

In contrast, a trusted advisor tailors their recommendations to your personal circumstances, highlighting both the risks and rewards of your decisions.

Their advice is not biased by any property, product, or service to be sold. They will have their own team of on-the-ground buyer’s agents in several states, not ones who fly in and out thinking they’ve nabbed a bargain, while the locals know they haven’t.

So, one of the first questions I’d ask a potential advisor is “How are you getting paid?”

This reveals a lot.

If they are offering free advice or being paid by a third party (like a developer or property vendor), then the advice cannot be independent.

Put simply, if the advice is free, then you are the product!

Your advisor should be qualified and a member of a recognized organization, such as the Property Investment Professionals of Australia, and they should be an investor themselves.

They should have a thorough understanding of not only property, but also finance, economics, and the taxation system as it relates to real estate investment.

Similarly, your advisor should have no properties for sale, offer a range of investment options based on your circumstances, refrain from making recommendations at the first meeting, and never create a sense of urgency.

It’s interesting—every successful investor I know is willing to pay for professional advisors in different areas of their life.

On the other hand, most unsuccessful investors either seek no advice or rely on “free advice” and wonder where they went wrong.

At first glance, professional advice may seem expensive, especially when free advice is so readily available.

You know, free advice from real estate agents who are getting paid by the seller, or from property marketers selling off-the-plan apartments or house and land packages who are being paid by the developer (often quite handsomely).

That’s why, in my view, you should only take advice from someone who doesn’t have a vested interest in the outcome and who is therefore working in your best interests.

Financial Planner vs. Property Advisor

If you already have a financial planner, you may still be wondering if you need a property advisor. The simple answer is most certainly yes. You should speak with a property strategist because most financial planners are unable to provide advice on residential real estate as an investment class.

This is a real shame, as many Australians seek advice on the best investment options for their financial future, only to find that their financial planner won’t recommend property due to limitations in their license.

Those who do recommend property often steer their clients towards poor-performing “off the plan” properties from project marketers who offer financial incentives to the planner, making it a conflict of interest.

It’s the dirty little secret your financial planner hopes you never uncover.

Financial planners will very rarely suggest property as an investment option – and there’s a big reason why.

It seems completely crazy, right?

Despite the uproar caused by the Royal Commission into Banking and Finance, which exposed the bad and self-serving advice given by financial planners, no attention was given to why they avoided recommending property.

Buying property is likely the biggest financial decision you’ll ever make, yet your so-called “financial adviser” has no wisdom to impart to guide you through it.

If you’re expecting top tips or insider info, you’ll be disappointed when a visit to your trusty financial planner for advice on property investing results in a barrage of discouragement.

Real estate is so unpredictable!

– they might say, or,

Managing an investment property, tenants, maintenance… it’s so much more work… wouldn’t you prefer to stick with shares?

Why is this the case?

Here’s the reality: financial planners don’t profit from your foray into property investing. Unlike when you buy shares or set up a self-managed super fund, recommending property as an asset class isn’t in their best interests, as it would reduce their commissions and management fees.

After all, every dollar you invest in property is a dollar not going into products that earn them a big commission.

That said, real estate investing can be a powerful tool to build wealth and secure your financial future, along with the psychological benefits of owning bricks-and-mortar investments.

Your “financial planner” may dismiss your property investing aspirations, labeling them as a romantic notion without a sound strategy.

And, in some ways, they might be right – for every millionaire property mogul, there are many unsuccessful investors whose dreams never come to fruition.

But most of us aren’t trying to become the next Harry Triguboff and own half of Sydney’s CBD. Instead, we’re looking for a way to fund our retirement, secure our kids’ future, or bring in a second income to supplement our day job.

Not everyone seeks seven-figure returns—many simply want modest growth and a secure financial future, which is achievable through property investing.

Note: It’s important to understand that financial planners aren’t real estate experts.

Some may know less than you about this asset class.

If you’re seeking guidance on your wealth creation options, you’d be much better off consulting an independent property strategist.

These experts will assist you in searching for a property with strong growth potential, while also helping you evaluate potential purchases and negotiate effectively with sellers to secure the best deals. Their expertise will ensure you find the most attractive opportunities and make convincing investment decisions.

Property Investment Advisor vs. Spruiker

How much does a project marketer (property spruiker) make when they sell a buyer one of their ‘recommended’ properties?

I frequently receive unsolicited offers from developers and project marketers asking me to recommend (or rather, sell) their properties to our clients. While we’ve never sold this type of property or received this type of commission, our large database of clients at Ash Buyers Agency makes us a prime target.

I’ve been offered a 5% commission just to pass along a name—without even making a sale—but commissions are often closer to 8% or 10%, and I’ve been offered as high as 12%.

These commissions, along with the other marketing costs, are incorporated into the price that the unfortunate investor ends up paying for these properties.

The Bottom Line

While the property markets present a significant opportunity to build wealth for many Australians, statistics show that 50% of those who purchase an investment property sell it within the first five years.

Of those who stay in the investment game, 92% never progress beyond their first or second property.

That’s because wealth creation doesn’t just happen—it’s the result of a well-executed plan.

Planning is about bringing the future into the present so you can take action now!

buying an investment property alone is NOT a strategy!

It’s crucial to start with the end game in mind, understanding both what you need and what you want to achieve.

Then, you need to build a strategy, a plan, to get there.

The property you ultimately buy will be the physical manifestation of the many decisions you make along the way, and these decisions must be made in the right order.

This is because property investment is a process, not an event.

If you’re a beginner seeking a time-tested property investment strategy, an experienced investor who feels stuck, or perhaps you simply want an objective second opinion on your situation, I recommend letting the team at Ash Buyers Agency create a personalized and customized Strategic Property Plan for you.

With a Strategic Property Plan, you’re more likely to achieve the financial freedom you desire because we’ll help you:

• Define your financial goals
• Assess whether your goals are realistic, especially for your timeline
• Measure your progress towards your goals—whether your property portfolio is working for you or if you’re working for it
• Find ways to maximize your wealth creation through property
• Identify risks you might not have considered

The real benefit is that you’ll be able to grow your wealth through your property portfolio faster and more safely than the average investor.

Your Strategic Property Plan should include the following components:

• An asset accumulation strategy
• A manufacturing capital growth strategy
• A rental growth strategy
• An asset protection and tax minimization strategy
• A finance strategy, including long-term debt reduction
• A living off your property portfolio strategy

Click here now to learn more about this service and discuss your options with us.

Are you wondering how you should invest in this interesting phase of the property cycle?

If you’re like many property investors, you’re likely wondering what the right course of action is right now.

Should you buy, sell, or simply wait?

You can trust the team at Ash Buyers Agency to provide you with the direction, guidance, and results you need.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced investor, during times like these, you need an advisor who offers a holistic approach to your wealth creation—and that’s exactly what you get from the multi-award-winning team at Ash Buyers Agency, the best in the industry. Their attractive and convincing strategies ensure your success.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your property investment and need to best buyers agent in Sydney, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at Ash Buyers Agency. Our expert team is here to provide the tailored, independent advice you need to make informed, strategic decisions. Reach out to us today at +61 434 111 200. Let us help you build the wealth and future you deserve.