A practical guide to property for under 40s

Struggling to save a house deposit? Maybe you have one but want to make sure you’re taking the right steps to buying your first home? Or you could own already but want to understand how to become mortgage free sooner.

Understanding interest rates, real estate agents, lawyers, contracts, building inspections and property values can be overwhelming – and that’s without considering where and what to buy or how much to sell for. Owning a mortgage free home is the great Australian and New Zealand dream, and while it’s never been easy for first home buyers to achieve it’s even more difficult for Millennials.

In Property for Under 40s, Paul Argus shares his experience as a young property investor and uses his background in property and banking to deliver a complete property guide including tips for buying, selling, renovating, finance and investing. In his down to earth tone, Paul explains:

• What drives property values
• How to save a deposit, including sharing with others or buying with a lower amount
• How compromise will help you own faster and be happier in your home
• Where to access free property information
• The key factors to consider when buying
• How to pick the right spot
• The process of selling, including how to select a good agent
• How to renovate on a budget and not over capitalise
• How to lower your interest rate payments and be mortgage free faster
• What equity is and how you can use it to your benefit
• Building wealth through property investment, and why it’s a great option for your first home
• How to build a support team - broker, lawyer, accountant and property manager

About the Author

At the age of 26 Paul purchased his first property in South Auckland, New Zealand, pooling his money together with his brothers and stepfather. A second in West Auckland followed a year later with four more properties being purchased and renovated in Auckland and Sydney with his wife by his mid-thirties.

He managed ANZ Bank’s home buyer segment in New Zealand before making the move to Sydney in 2008 to run mortgage marketing for Commonwealth Bank, co-leading the creation of the Property Guide iPhone application, still used by over half a million Australians. After forming his own marketing company, Paul worked with CoreLogic, the largest property data company in the world. There he lead the creation of Property Value, offering a combination of free and subscription-based information and tools for home buyers and property investors.