The business end: beyond residential
Scarred by share-market volatility and concerned at falling interest rates, SMSFs have discovered commercial property. James Dunn talks risk, returns and syndication.
Matt Nichols, managing director of southeast Melbourne–based commercial property agency Nichols Crowder, is 'run off his feet' doing presentations to customers looking to buy commercial, retail and industrial property. But the presentations are to a new kind of customer, with which Nichols Crowder had little to do even a few years ago: SMSFs.READ MORE

Mining for solid 9% gains in Karratha
Most super funds are only attracting 4% to 5% at the moment, but investment packages returning double this rate are on offer at Pelago West, Finbar's new apartment complex in Karratha. WA's largest apartment developer, Finbar currently has seven leased apartments in its inaugural Karratha development which are offering five-year leases at a net yield of 9%. This far exceeds any other property sector within the country. READ MORE

How to choose a property manager
Residential-property investors spend hours researching hot spots, visiting properties, selecting loans and negotiating the sales price. Expert property manager Leah Calnan knows that this is only the beginning – to really maximise your returns from investing in property you need to get your property management right. Excerpt from Leah's new book, Simple and Successful Property Management.READ MORE