Property as part of a diversified portfolio

Unless you have only invested in term deposits, you have probably had some experience or knowledge that most non-bank investments provide higher returns over time with the trade-off being occasional swings in value.

The degree of variation depends on the type and mix of your investments. The key to achieving more consistent growth is by holding a diversified portfolio of assets, such as fixed-income investments, shares and property.

Time to read: 3 mins

The concept behind a diversified invest­ment portfolio is that each type of asset will perform slightly differently at a single point in time helping to smooth returns. Further to this, diversification within each type of asset is important as different industries or properties can perform differently over the same period of time. A classic example given by investment advisers is that of the ice cream seller and the umbrella seller. One prefers sunny days, while the other rainy days. By owning shares in both, you have lowered the influence that weather has on the performance of your investments.

Property is one of those investments that adds value to an investment portfolio, although it’s important to understand the different ways you can gain exposure to the New Zealand property market, and what those options mean for you in terms of the risk and returns.

The most well-known form of investment in property is via direct investment in residen­tial property. For larger investors, they may also hold commercial property. The attrac­tion of direct property investment for many people is that it’s a physical thing that can be viewed and utilised, i.e. you own ‘bricks and mortar’. Equally, property is an asset that can be borrowed against and in times when it’s appreciating, your returns are enhanced (both positive and negative) by using the bank’s money to finance your ownership. What few people appreciate is that you can gain high-quality exposure to commercial and industrial property through the share market and managed funds in both large and small quantities, although the ability to borrow against these types of investments may be less than with direct investments.

The New Zealand share market includes a number of property investment opportunities covering a range of property types. The char­acteristics are very similar to direct property ownership, i.e. income through rents and leases (paid as dividends or other distribu­tion), and returns are equally enhanced by a degree of bank debt within the investment vehicle. The key difference is the liquidity of these investments as your ‘share’ of ownership can be sold at any point in time for a minimal brokerage cost. Most of the options are also structured to be tax-efficient for investors through a PIE structure. The risks remain similar though; mainly from low occupancy and rising interest rates.

This is where the merits of diversification come in. It is not currently possible to get direct exposure to the residential property market through the share market, and the Auckland residential property market in 2019 has been sluggish as best. Contrast this with share market listed property companies where the average increase in 2019 has been over 20%! Without doubt, this has been an exceptional year so far and property invest­ment hasn’t always favoured listed property, but those who were exposed to both residen­tial investment and listed stocks will have benefitted from a more consistent result.

By extending this idea of being diversified beyond property, we can construct portfo­lios of investments that contain a degree of consistency and resilience, regardless of the economic environment. The key to a success­ful strategy is determining a level of return that reflects your ability to accept the risks that might exist. By engaging an adviser, investors develop a strategy with the appropriate level of risk and are more likely to achieve their objectives around long term investments, a comfortable retirement, and estate plans.

Article by Will Roberts

DISCLAIMER: No liability is assumed by Baker Tilly Staples Rodway for any losses suffered by any person relying directly or indirectly upon any article within this website. It is recommended that you consult your advisor before acting on this information. 

Download article

Sign up to our newsletter

Thanks for signing up!

Our website uses cookies to help understand and improve your experience. Please let us know if that’s okay by you.

Cookies help us understand how you use our website, so we can serve up the right information here and in our other marketing.