Ask Paul: We owe $2.3 million on property - should we worry?
By Paul Clitheroe
Q. My husband [26] and I [27] own four investment properties in Brisbane with 10% equity - they are negatively or neutrally geared with interest-only payments.
We have a large investment property mortgage of $2.3 million and we owe HECS debt but no personal or credit card debt.
We have saved $350,000 in our offset account, own $80,000 worth of shares and have combined superannuation of $80,000.
We plan on moving into one of our investment properties next year and starting a family. .
We have our own business (on which we have a $430,000 business loan) which brings in $2000 a week (after tax) for my husband, and I do contract work at about $2000 a week (after tax). I would drop to no work when having children and do casual work if required.
I just wanted to get an opinion on where to go now. I also question whether we have over-leveraged ourselves.
Should we continue to invest our money or should we keep that as a cash buffer? - Louise
A. Pause and take a breath is my advice to you, Louise.
I can see you have reasonable equity, you have a solid amount of cash in your offset account, your business is doing very well and your income is excellent.
But with thoughts of a child and moving to one income it is time to consolidate.
I would be adding to that offset account as rapidly as I could.
With four properties, you have plenty of skin in the property game.
I would be "de-risking" your position by building more cash.
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