Can You Benefit From Property Investment Without Buying A Property?

Picture of Article by Alan Greenstein
Article by Alan Greenstein

The answer is YES.

There are more ways to gain exposure to property than simply buying into it. Debt-based real estate investments have grown in popularity and availability in recent years due to a number of factors, outlined below.

In the past, investors seeking exposure to Australian real estate investments were mostly only able to do so through direct or indirect equity investments. Direct property investment is especially popular among retail ‘mum and dad’ investors: data from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) shows that over 20% of Australia’s 11.4 million taxpayers owned an investment property in 2019-20, and collectively they own 3.25 million investment properties1.

However, approximately 70% of those owners own just one property, meaning they have significant concentration risk: with a large amount of wealth tied up in one asset, it is heavily dependent on asset selection – in other words, putting all their eggs in one basket. In addition, there can be significant and often unpredictable maintenance costs, plus sensitivity to rising interest rate costs.

Another way to ‘own’ real estate is through Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), but these are particularly sensitive to valuation fluctuations. For example, the S&P/ASX 300 A-REIT, which tracks Australian REIT performance, is yet to recover from the significant drop it experienced at the start of the pandemic2.

Against this background, debt-based real estate investments have grown in popularity and availability in recent years. Just as corporate bonds provide an alternative to buying shares in companies, CRED provides exposure to the property market without needing to own the assets.

In a period of rising inflation and interest rates, CRED has a number of attributes that may make it attractive to investors.  

Secured

Loans are secured by real assets (e.g. development site), with investors taking precedence among creditors in the event of the loan defaulting (see Figure 1). This helps to manage risk.

Predictable Income

Borrowers agree to pay interest over the life of the loan, and this is the basis of ongoing ‘coupon’ payments to investors. This is unlike dividends for equities, which are discretionary and dependent on the company’s cashflows.

Pricing Power

Loans are negotiated on a deal-by-deal basis. This means loans can be priced according to market conditions, even if interest rates rise. Most new loans to do incorporate some form of variable rate pricing mechanism.

Zagga’s latest white paper outlines the market dynamics driving the popularity of such investments.

Click here to read more

[1] https://data.gov.au/data/dataset/taxation-statistics-2019-20
[2] S&P/ASX 300 A-REIT | S&P Dow Jones Indices (spglobal.com)

This article is for information purposes only. It does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Any opinion expressed in this article are of the author and is subject to change without notice. Readers are reminded to exercise caution and use their own judgment when interpreting and applying the information contained in this article.

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We would like to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands, seas, and communities in which we provide our services. We would also like to pay our respects to the Elders past, present and emerging, and the continuing cultural influence they have on Australia.

Zagga Market Pty Limited (Australian Credit Licence 490904) ACN 611 662 401 acts as the Servicer of loans acting on behalf of the credit provider, Zagga Investments Pty Limited (AFSL 492354) ACN 615 154 786, trustee of the Zagga Investments Lending Trust

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All portfolio numbers quoted correct as at 30 October 2024.

*Average investor return across the active portfolio as at 30 October 2024.

**Target return is after expenses and any applicable management fees for the year ending 30 June 2024. OCR = Australian Reserve Bank Official Cash Rate.

Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance and investments are subject to investment risk, fees and costs. Returns are not guaranteed.

Prospective investors wishing to invest in a Zagga direct investment or a Zagga Fund should fully consider the Information Memorandum, ZFF Fact Sheet and/or ZWF Brochure, available from Zagga, before applying to invest. Investments are subject to risks.

Articles on this website have been prepared by Zagga Investments Pty Limited (AFSL 492354) ACN 615 154 786 (Zagga) for information purposes only. It doesn’t take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs, nor is it intended as a substitute for any accounting, tax or other professional advice, consultation or service. Nothing in this article shall be construed as a solicitation to buy or sell any financial product, or to engage in or refrain from engaging in any transaction.

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