Sort Your Property Out

A handbook for investing in property in a smart and strategic way

There’s so much more to investing in property than having a double-digit property portfolio. Whether you’re a home buyer, a beginner, or a seasoned investor, Sort Your Property Out will revolutionise the way you think about property. When it comes to building lifelong financial security, property investing is about being creative and being prepared. In Sort Your Property Out, you’ll learn exactly what you need to know — and what you need to do — to buy well in today’s markets around Australia.

Inside, author John Pidgeon, co-host of the money money money and this is property podcasts (and a property investor and coach for over 25 years), will show you how to hone your investor mindset. You’ll discover actionable, step-by-step guidance on how to build a strategic portfolio. Ultimately, you’ll learn how to buy what’s right for you today — and how to set smart, realistic goals for tomorrow.

Sort Your Property Out: And Build Your Future will help you:

• Get your head around finance: understand loans, grants, schemes, and taxes, and use smart strategies for putting together that essential deposit.
• Choose the right property: learn the pros and cons of different property types and the signs that you’re looking at a hotspot (or a not-spot!).
• Buy successfully: get valuable tips for making a successful offer and securing your ideal property, through private treaty or at auction.
• Use advanced strategies for growing a diverse, sustainable portfolio: learn about rentvesting, joint ventures, residential property development, and more.

Sort Your Property Out is a comprehensive guide for buying property and building an investment portfolio in a responsible, sustainable way. Through its unique 8-Point Property Plan, worksheets, resources, and real-world investor profiles, you’ll get the skills and knowledge you need to build your future through property.

Foreword by Glen James ix

Introduction xiii

how to get what you want 1

1 knowing your targets + learning how to get there 2

2 home sweet home: the Great Australian Dream fallacy + the New Phenomenon 36

3 developing your 8- point plan + unlocking your investing 62

4 assembling your dream team 86

money and the technical stuff 105

5 how lending works + getting the best deal 106

6 tailoring your mortgage + lending smart 134

7 someone call my accountant 162

8 i’m making some money + paying my bills 186

getting on the ladder 217

9 finding your hotspots + notspots 218

10 property radar: activated 236

11 from 100 to 1: Let’s go shopping! 262

investing for your future 293

12 creating your long- term investing timeline 294

13 an advanced investing strategy 326

where to from here? 357

a note on generosity and the affordable housing issue 359

acknowledgements 365

references 367

index 371

JOHN PIDGEON is the co-host of the popular This Is Property podcast (formerly my millennial property), a property investor, coach and buyers agent, and has a multi-million-dollar property portfolio stretching across Australia.

it’s time to get the property you want

There’s so much more to investing in property than having a double-digit portfolio. Whether you’re a first-home buyer or a seasoned investor, this timely book will give you creative, hands-on strategies for getting the keys to your first or next property sooner.

In Sort Your Property Out, John Pidgeon—podcast host, property investor and investing coach—will show you how to adopt an investor mindset. You’ll discover actionable, step-by-step guidance on how to build a strategic portfolio, case studies from real investors and a range of worksheets and resources for every stage in your property journey.

Start planning ahead and build your property portfolio in a relaxed, sustainable way. Learn how to:

• determine your goals and create a strategy for investing
• master your finances and pull together a deposit
• understand your financing options, from loan structures to grants
• choose the right property in the right location for you
• employ advanced strategies as a buyer, developer or landlord.

Property doesn’t have to be complicated. Discover the skills and knowledge you need to build the future you want.