All Forum Posts by: Samantha Smalpage

Hi @Blake Harris,

Apologies for the late reply. No, I haven’t looked at purchasing in Vancouver. Mostly due to the fact that the prices are similar to Sydney housing prices and also due to the 15% foreign tax as  @Peter Cudmore mentioned.

I’m interested in US property, as they generally have considerably higher returns in comparison to Australia, however there are a number of issues specific to foreign buyers that need to be navigated around. Being a property manager myself, distance is an issue for me. I like to be able to deal with a problem in person as quickly as possible. You however, have a great advantage working and living in the States. You have boots on the ground to be able to do the initial due diligence yourself. Also, because your income is earned within the US, hopefully you won’t experience the same difficulty foreign investors do when trying to obtain a loan from a conventional financier. Is investing in the US something you are considering?

I’ll most likely start my portfolio off in Australia when I return to get some experience under my belt, and then expand to the US at a later stage. I’ll be seeking duplex’s, triplex’s, quads, and small multifamily with value-add opportunities.

Also, something I just forgot myself which was mentioned to me when I first joined - When replying to someone, use the @ symbol and start typing their name and their name should pop up. This notifies the person of your reply when it's posted. @Blake Harris

Hi Blake!

Great to have another Aussie on Bigger Pockets! I'm from Sydney originally, but working as a property manager in Vancouver, Canada at the moment. 

Keep everyone posted on your progress, I'd be interested to learn about your investing journey from an Australian's perspective and the differences it has to the investing process at home.  

All the best!

Sam

Hi @Katrina M.!

Many thanks for the referral! Lindsay has already been in touch with me regarding US investment. I'm hoping to learn more from him in the future when his company launches their webinars.

Hi Jeff,

Yes tax is a big one. Also having to double up on some professionals (e.g accountants), as well as finding ones that are well versed in global investment/tax. Currency risk, the chance of being sued, finding a good team (especially a good property manager), not knowing the market in terms of good areas/streets to purchase within, having to rely on others people’s opinions to a certain degree (e.g real estate agents), and the general risk of distance – if something goes seriously wrong, not being able to be there in times of need.

To me, these seem completely solvable. They are just questions that need answering. But the internet is spread full of warnings, it’s enough to make investors not even investigate further, which is a shame, because I think there are serious opportunities in the US – especially compared to Australia (in terms of price and returns).

Thanks for your interest! I see you are investing in the Texas area. How are you finding it?

Sam

@Jeff Wallace

Hi BP Investors!

Just a quick shout out to see if there are any members from Australia that are investing in the US market?

I’ve been trying to find in-depth, credible information with no success. There just seems to be a million warnings against starting a property portfolio in the US. How did you go about finding solid information and how did you get started?

Many thanks!

Sam

@Account Closed

Kevin! That is fantastic news! Congrats!

I’m an Australian currently living and working in Vancouver, Canada as a property manager and looking at investing in the US. Property prices there are significantly cheaper than Australian property prices.

I have so many questions! Can I ask what resources you used to conduct your research and due diligence? I have been trying source credible, in-depth information and all I find are warnings saying not to invest in the US market. I obviously understand there are higher risks for foreign investors, and specifically those that do not live in America, but to me, it’s just a series of problems that need solving and questions that need answering. The returns seem to be worth the trouble, or at least giving it a try.

How did you go about first investing in the US? From what I understand, we require a US loan to invest in US property? Also, tax! Major question! How are you managing tax in the US and Australia? Have you found an accountant that is able to structure your investments correctly?

Sorry to bombard you with questions! I’m happy to have found an Aussie that’s investing the US market.

All the best, and have a safe trip home.

Sam

Welcome Ronald! 

Glad to see another Aussie on Bigger Pockets! I'm from Sydney, but currently living & working in Vancouver, Canada, as a Property Manager. I'll be looking to invest when I come home in a few years. 

If you haven't read it already, 0 to 130 properties in 3.5 years by Steve McKnight is a great Australian book on how to build a larger portfolio that I highly recommend if your looking for cash flow, buy and hold properties. It has some great information on how to structure your investment portfolio from a legal and tax perspective. Other than that, I'm sure you've heard of Rich Dad Poor Dad and the Cash Flow Quadrant by Robert T. Kiyosaki recommended on the podcast. I highly recommend them as well, they will give you a different perspective and get you thinking like an investor. 

Looking forward to hearing about your progress! Until then, keep learning.

Sam

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6071277-from-0-...

Hi Jay,

I'm also Australian (currently living & working in Vancouver, Canada) and just had some thoughts on your post - If transferring any money over to US currency, for your investment deposit or to pay for ongoing operational or capital expenditure expenses for example, you may need to consider the exchange rate as the US currency is significantly stronger than the Australian dollar at the moment. I recently had to exchange funds to the US currency when the Australian dollar was buying 71 US cents, so consequentially I lost a third of my money. This means you will have approximately a third less purchasing power. This doesn’t mean that investing in the US is not possible, it definitely is – if the finance is structured correctly with a lender and the investment cash flow covers all expenses, the investment could diversify your portfolio and hedge against the lower Australian dollar and any Australian investments. I’m not sure on the following point, but it’s something I would consider myself if investing in the US - where is your salary coming from? Is it being paid in Australian or US dollars? If Australian, conventional lenders in the US may take currency into account and may affect how much you could borrow. Anyway, just some thoughts! US property prices can be significantly cheaper than Australian property prices, so even with our currency being lower, you could still make a great return. Hope this helps!

Hi everyone!

So thrilled to have joined Bigger Pockets! I'm looking forward to meeting as many members as possible and continuing to learn. I'm absolutely loving the podcast, I'm currently binge listening to catch up on past episodes. 

I'm a Property Manager from Sydney, Australia. I have a Associate Diploma in Property Services & a Bachelors Degree in Property Economics. Most recently I worked for a national property developer in their investment property team managing their industrial assets.

My partner & I have just relocated to Vancouver, Canada, to gain some global work experience. I am now working for a property investment firm as a Residential Property Manager, which is giving me great insight into the large-scale residential investment world and providing me with valuable knowledge for when I start to build my own property portfolio. 

I'm currently drafting my investment plan and saving my first property deposit. My principal strategy will be 'buy & hold' with value-add opportunities, however I'm also interested in 'fix & flips' in order to raise the capital required for property deposits and portfolio expansion. I'll primarily be focusing on duplex's, triplex's and multifamily in Australia and will be looking to buy my first investment when I return home in a few years. 

If there are any conferences or meet-ups in the US, please shout out - I'd love to fly down from Vancouver and meet members in person. I should definitely take advantage of the close proximity to the Bigger Pockets community while I can - Vancouver is a lot closer to the US than Australia! 

A big thanks to Josh & Brandon for their incredible content and all round great banter. 

All the best,

Sam.