According to property expert and director of Right Property Group, Victor Kumar, January is the ideal time to set investment property goals that align with long-term wealth and lifestyle desires.
He said the start of the year is an opportune moment for investors to reflect with a clear mind, having stepped away from work and school routines and reconnected with family.
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“Personally, I do my planning between Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve, so I can start implementing my goal within the first week of January,” Kumar told SPI.
Kumar said that before planning any strategies, investors should review their portfolios and understand their current position.
“It is important to know where you are first: how much equity or savings you can access, what your borrowing capacity is, and importantly, how much negative cash flow you can tolerate without impacting lifestyle.”
He said that investors need to ensure their goals align with their personal wealth and lifestyle objectives.
According to Kumar, the household budget will be critical to determining whether investing is feasible, as will precise goal alignment with their partner.
Additionally, he said that investors should have clarity on available capital, lending capacity, with a clear buying timeframe, helping to structure approvals, advice and research.
Kumar said that projecting major upcoming expenses would also help investors understand what they can realistically afford, guiding them toward suitable property types and locations.
“You need to project major expenses coming your way in the year, such as private school fees, or a car, so that you don’t leave yourself short.”
“This will then lead you to what you can really afford, which can then point you towards a property type or area.”
To set up goals rightfully, Kumar said investors need a clear end goal, with a specific annual target, whether building cash flow or focusing on long-term equity and portfolio value.
“For example, the end goal could be owning several properties with a positive cash flow by 2040, or, depending on income, focusing purely on building equity where cash flow is less important, and portfolio value is the priority.”
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To keep up with goals and accountability, Kumar said investors should favour written goals, which are more effective than verbal discussions, and break them down into a 90-day action plan with key milestones.
“I personally set rewards for myself for every milestone achieved, and have a weekly check-in.”
“Something as simple as an automated email to yourself each Monday to push the goals to the forefront can be life-changing.”
“Most overestimate what they can achieve in one year, so you need to look at it also in 10-year snapshots in conjunction with the annual goal.”
While he encourages setting grand goals, Kumar said investors shouldn’t shoot for the stars too much, but should set achievable goals aligned with individual financial and lifestyle circumstances.
“We need to make sure it’s not pie in the sky stuff, and is actually achievable.”
While not every investor will set annual goals, Kumar said doing so can help prevent costly mistakes by keeping decisions focused and avoiding impulsive purchases.
“You are now operating off a set of rule books, and will likely be less prone to being swayed by the multitude of ‘buy now or miss out’ ads that come out every new year.
“It also allows you to operate away from the busyness of life, especially after school starts,” he concluded.