Maitland, NSW -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/09/2014 -- Despite the ups and downs of the real estate market, the fact is that property is still one of the best investments that can be made. This is true not only for those seeking retirement income, but for anyone who wants to be able to make decent money in a fairly passive way. For this reason, Investment Property of Australia has announced its selection of houses and other properties for sale.

"One of the keys to being successful as a landlord is choosing the right houses to buy. It can be tempting to look for cheap offerings or fixer-uppers, but those aren't good ones to use as rental properties. Instead, it's best to look for homes that won't need a lot of ongoing repairs or upkeep," said Kate Rollan of Investment Property. "The problem with cheap, older homes is that they're just like old cars: There's always something going wrong. This costs money, eats time, and worst of all, draws a lower class of tenant than would come to a better house. For this reason, we offer well-maintained homes that will work well as investment properties."

The importance of a nice-looking home cannot be overstated when the property is intended to be used for rental income. People who have good, stable incomes and healthy lifestyles like to continue their general life trend by seeking better houses to live in. This, in turn, means that a well-kept house is less likely to attract tenants who'll have trouble paying their rent or that will treat the property badly. While it's important to note that there are always exceptions, buying houses that are in good condition puts the odds in the landlord's favor.

Another important thing to consider is the neighborhood the home is in. We suggest that people drive through the area both during the day and in the middle of the night to get a good feel for the types of activity that go on. Those looking for investment property for sale should seek areas that are very quiet at night. Most tenants like to be able to sleep during the standard hours, so the potential to get higher rent is best where this is easy to do.

"There are different factors to look for depending on the intended tenant base," Rollan agreed. "Still, someone can easily get started with investment property by keeping a few key things in mind. Look for houses in good condition that are in safe areas. With those two things in place, investors will find that it isn't hard to rent out houses to desirable tenants while avoiding high ongoing maintenance costs."

About Investment Property
Investment Property is an Australian company specializing in selling houses to people who are seeking to make ongoing passive income in a low-risk environment. Investors are often people looking to make money for retirement, but those of any age can get started on building a portfolio of properties that can eliminate the need for standard employment while still providing a regular income.