Having decided upon your reason for investment you will then need to consider the type of housing you wish to purchase for there are almost as many types of housing available as there are houses for sale. We believe there are some general guidelines that are useful to follow, depending on whether you are an investor, a developer or a trader.

Some investor property tips include:

• Buying in the same area you live in is often preferable, as it is easier to keep an eye on the property.
• Three or four bedroom homes are usually easier to rent and normally have a quicker chance of re-sale should you need to sell at any time in the future.
• Low maintenance cladding materials on the exterior of the home will help to reduce ongoing maintenance costs.
• Double income properties, for example homes with a granny flat, often offer excellent rental yields
• Watch that rental yield. As a general rule you should be looking for high yielding investments - the cheaper the property, the higher the yield.
• The location of the property tends to be more important than whether the property is a house or a flat.
• Properties down a right of way are difficult to inspect from the road.
• Look for properties that have an X factor. Can it be extended? Is it sub-divisible? Is its location superior?

It is best to talk these things through with your estate agent, as they know the area you are buying in and what good properties are available.