GRA Blogs

Articles by John Rowe

TRADING VERSUS LONG-TERM CAPITAL GROWTH

AUTHOR: John Rowe

POSTED: 15 July 2013

There is a lot of talk about the current property boom in Auckland and how prices will continue to rise due to the high demand for housing. There are two ways investors can benefit from those capital gains, one less risky than the other.

Strategy 1
The first strategy, which we've seen a lot of people doing, is to buy a property in a high capital growth area, with the idea of holding on to it long-term in the hopes of making a financial gain. The trouble is, most high capital growth properties generate negative cash flow due to their low yields. In other words, the rental income doesn't cover the cost of owning them.

At the end of the day, a profit will be made if and when the value increases, but this poses three risks:

• Pressure on cash flow, having to contribute to the costs of owning the property from your own pocket. If something happens to reduce your personal income, you may not be able to hold on to the property.
• Possibility that the increase in value will not be as great as expected.
• Chance that the market will correct and the bubble will burst before you decide to sell, reducing or eliminating gains.

Strategy 2
The second option is to trade - buy property and on-sell quickly for a profit. Yes, you have to pay tax and the profit will be smaller, but your exposure to risk is greatly reduced.

If you buy for the right price and/or add value in some way (e.g. with cosmetic renovations), you'll be able to sell for more than you bought the property for and make a tidy profit. You are not relying on long-term growth, nor do you have to cope with a drain in cash flow.

What's more, you can repeat this strategy multiple times, so at the end of the day your total profit will be as much as, if not greater than, the capital gains you would have made from a long-term hold property.

We believe that in this market, trading is a superior strategy to holding a low yielding property long-term.

Request a Meeting

John Rowe
Director
Business Accounting Services

09 522-7955

[email protected]

© Gilligan Rowe & Associates LP

Did you like this article? Subscribe to our newsletter to receive tips, updates and useful information to help you protect your assets and grow your net worth. We're expert accountants providing expert advice to clients in NZ and around the world.

Disclaimer: This article is intended to provide only a summary of the issues associated with the topics covered. It does not purport to be comprehensive nor to provide specific advice. No person should act in reliance on any statement contained within this article without first obtaining specific professional advice. If you require any further information or advice on any matter covered within this article, please contact the author.

Comments

Testimonials

Property School provided an excellent environment to learn from the experts. The senior partners and experts presented and shared current and relevant experiences which was invaluable. The one-on-one sessions offered with experts in each area meant I could discuss my situation with confidence referencing key learnings from the school. Thank-you for giving me practical knowledge that I am applying now - Anon

Would you like to receive . .

. . tips, updates and useful information to help
protect your assets and grow your net worth?

Investing in residential property?

Put this at the top of your reading list.

If you're investing in residential property, seeking to maximise your ability to succeed and minimise risk, then this is a 'must read'.

Matthew Gilligan provides a fresh look at residential property investment from an experienced investor’s viewpoint. Written in easy to understand language and including many case studies, Matthew explains the ins and outs of successful property investment.