First investment property in Perth — what to check first

Lower purchase prices relative to rents have historically meant Perth properties are easier on weekly cash flow than the eastern capitals. For a first-time investor on a normal income, a smaller shortfall is not a small thing — it's the difference between holding through a rough patch and being forced to sell.

Test it for yourself with the holding costs estimator rather than trusting an advertised gross yield.

Western Australia's economy is more exposed to resources activity than most, and the property market has historically moved in longer, sharper cycles because of it. Buying late in a run of strong growth carries different risk to buying early. Nobody can time it precisely, but going in aware that the cycle exists is better than assuming a straight line upward.

When a market gets national media attention, marketing follows: interstate seminars, house-and-land packages, rental guarantees. Ask directly who pays the person recommending the property. Independent input before you sign is cheap compared with fixing a poor purchase later.

• Transfer duty for investors — check RevenueWA for current rates.
• WA land tax thresholds, aggregated across your holdings in the state.
• Residential tenancy rules under WA legislation.
• Build quality, trade availability and timelines if you're considering new builds.
• Distance management: a good property manager matters more when you can't drive past.

Before any of the above, know your deposit or usable equity and what a lender will support. Start with the usable equity calculator and the national first-investment guide.

Share your equity, income and super and we'll pass your enquiry to one independent property specialist. We match Australia-wide, so the answer might be Perth or it might not be. Free, and no obligation.