29 February 2008Full Steam Ahead to the NZPIF Conference 2008 in Rotorua“This years New Zealand Property Investors Federation Conference will be held in Rotorua’s Energy Event Centre” says NZPIF president Martin Evans.“We are delighted the Rotorua Association has put its hand up and taken on the challenge of hosting the conference,” he says.
In keeping with the areas geothermal attractions the Rotorua Property Investment Association (RPIA) have given the conference a theme – Steaming Ahead!
Mark Williams president of the Rotorua Property Investors Federation has wanted to bring the Conference to his town for some time.
“We have a really strong and active association here. There’s a real passion within the membership and it’s great to be able to share that with the wider Property Investment community. The title Steaming Ahead! not only represents Rotorua, but the idea of growth and wealth creation which is what property investment is all about” says Mr Williams.
The volcanic plateau is perhaps an appropriate choice of location this year given the current uncertainty in market ‘plate tectonics’ – a subject that will be addressed by some of the high caliber speakers the Association is sourcing. Whilst the final list of speakers is still being decided, they have already secured headliners such as Dr Fred Grosse, Sir Robert Jones and Dean Letfus.
Fritz Fröhlke, who heads the sub committee responsible for the organisation of the conference, says, “We want to provide really top notch speakers who will provide delegates with really tangible take home value”.
A variety of workshop sessions will also enable property investors to choose a topic most relevant to their area of interest or the level they are at with building their portfolio. Workshop speakers will include recognised experts in the property investment arena, Kieran Trass, Roger Hardie and Mick Llloyd.
The conference is taking place over the labour weekend, a deliberate decision made by the committee to enable delegates and their families to also take advantage of the fantastic range of activities Rotorua has to offer. For further information on accommodation, speakers, continuous updates about the conference go to the newly dedicated website propertyconference.org.nz.
To this end, the committee has negotiated a range of tour and activity packages at specially reduced NZPIF rates.
“Delegates can bring their family, knowing they’ll have plenty to do whilst they’re attending conference sessions” says Maree Mortimer, RPIA Vice President.
Delegate social networking events, which take place on the Friday and Saturday nights, will also highlight the region. Bathed in Glory, the casual Friday night event is set in the stunning Art Deco ambiance of The Blue Baths and the Saturday night Banquet, Viva-Roto-Vegas will be a fusion of glitter and Kiwiana with the chance to dress up in theme.
“As well as putting on a fantastic and memorable conference, we really want to showcase our town” continues Ms Mortimer, “and Rotorua is the perfect place to let of steam” she adds with a giggle.
As an incentive the first 100 people to register will receive a copy of a Bob Jones book. Early Bird registrations are a $100 saving on the full price and you go in a draw to win back your registration money in full. For full details go to propertyconference.org.nz. 16 April 2008Sir Robert Jones to speak at the NZPIF Conference 2008 The World According to Jones The New Zealand Property Investors Federation is delighted to announce Sir Bob Jones has been confirmed as a keynote speaker at the 2008 National Conference which will be held at Rotorua’s Energy Event Centre from the 25-26th of October (Labour weekend). Sir Bob Jones will be discussing his experiences in Property investment. As one of our best known property investors, many New Zealanders have followed his advice on their path to wealth creation. NZPIF President, Martin Evans says “Bob Jones is a New Zealand Icon, he comes from the old school and property has worked for him. He’s controversial, he’s got plenty to say and he’s not afraid to say what he thinks. I’ve no doubt conference attendees will pick up plenty of tips”. Mr Evans believes learning from the success stories of others is one of the most valuable things investors get from being a member of an association. “Hearing success stories like Sir Robert Jones and using them in their own investment process, is what it’s all about. The annual Federation conference provides an opportunity for investors to pick up tips, not only from the speakers, but by networking with other investors” says Evans. Networking is definitely a one of the fundamentals that Sir Bob Jones advocates. He says, "Imagination and wide knowledge of human affairs aside, the other essential requirement to succeed in commercial property investment is networking. It is a most useful tool in one's kit." June 2008 Dr Fred Grosse - Black Belt of the Mind The hosts of the 2008 NZPIF conference, Steaming Ahead, The Rotorua Property Investors’ Association (RPIA) are delighted to present Dr Fred Grosse, internationally recognised business speaker and author of several books including the acclaimed Black Belt of the Mind, as their headlining speaker. Says RPIA president, Mark Williams “One of the key benefits to delegates attending the NZPIF conference is the opportunity to hear speakers of this calibre at this cost which is significantly lower than what they might otherwise pay. We are so excited to have Dr Fred Grosse headlining and hope to see a record number of delegates attending”. Born in New York, not only does Dr Fred Grosse have a doctorate in clinical psychology, but he is also an ordained rabbi. This eclectic blend of learning has given him a unique insight into how the mind, body and spirit all play a part in lives we lead and the success we attain. In the initial part of his career he focused on marriage and family counseling. Whilst engaged in this work, he noticed that the same issues often carried into his clients’ business lives. He extended his client base and began coaching business people, helping them realise their full potential. He is now a sought-after business speaker, coach, mentor and author. Mark Williams says “I became aware of Dr Fred Grosse through the work he was doing with a long time friend, Stephen Jones of Professionals Real Estate, here in Rotorua. Stephen was already a top performer, but he just kept reaching ever higher levels. I was really impressed by what I saw so for me Dr Fred Grosse was an obvious choice as our headlining speaker”. Dr Fred speaks on a huge range of topics, one of which is wealth creation. “This is a highly relevant topic for NZPIF delegates” says Williams “and through this they will also gain a huge amount of value on other levels, such as motivation, inspiration and personal growth”. “Investing is a source of wealth creation,” says Grosse “and Property is a great way to do it”. According to Grosse there is a process to wealth creation, which can be summarized in the stages: make it, shelter it, re-invest it, pass it on. However coupled with this is a psychology to investing. Part of that is dealing with the willingness to be wealthy. Grosse says that many people have phobias about being wealthy and self sabotage. A key part of his programme has people investigating what it is that holds them back and then using those very things to create a “head of steam” that powers them forward - a message that is very much inline with this year’s conference theme “Steaming Ahead.” He expresses frustration at seeing too many people spending too much time trying to make a living and not fulfilling their destiny. He equates working for a salary with slavery, saying the worker becomes addicted to their pay cheque at the expense of living the life they want to. Says Grosse “I would like to train everyone to be an entrepreneur”. The ideal he promotes is for people to identify what makes their “hearts sing” and create the wealth needed to allow them the freedom to fully engage in it. His goal is to teach people to create wealth early in their lives, enabling them to create the lives they want. “Imagine a world where everyone was doing this!!” enthuses Grosse. “Can you imagine how magnificent that would be?” Dr Fred Grosse will be speaking at ‘Steaming Ahead’ NZPIF Conference 2008 at the Energy Event Centre, Rotorua on October 24th, 25th, 26th. For more information, or to register, go to www.propertyconference.org.nz. Register before 1st July to qualify for the Early Bird discounted rate, receive a free Bob Jones book and go into the draw for a full refund. 22 july 2008 NZPIF Conference Speaker, Rachel Barnes of Property Women says: If Shop-a-holics focus on property, a Woman’s lot will be a LOT more! The Rotorua Property Investors’ Association is delighted to present Rachel Barnes, of Property Women Australia, as part of their top line up of speakers at the NZPIF Conference 08, Steaming Ahead! With 50% of attendees at NZPIF conferences being women, there have been persistent requests to include speakers who represent this emerging group in the property investment arena. The job of researching top female speakers fell to Maree Mortimer of the Rotorua Property Investors’ Association, herself a successful female property investor. “Rachel Barnes was a name that just kept cropping up!” says Mortimer. “Property Woman is a strong company in Australia, providing education and support for woman wanting to get into property. Rachel has several investment properties in New Zealand, which means she knows the lie of the land here.” So why is property investment a great option for women? Financial control and wealth creation are the answers and these have never been more important for women than they are today. To borrow phrases from Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth, a woman’s superannuation will be typically half that of a man’s at retirement; 40% of Australian women over 50 will be single through choice, divorce or the death of their partner (a similar statistic applies to their Kiwi counterparts); the number one issue couples argue about is … money; in most cases if there is a divorce the woman will end up with the kids …and kids mean you need money to feed, cloth and educate them, let alone to have the little luxuries that make life worthwhile. “Property investment is an excellent way to create wealth and raise a family simultaneously” says Mortimer, who gave up a successful physiotherapy career to become a fulltime property investor. “I can attend an open home my son, but I can’t treat a patient with a kid in tow” she explains. The other key benefit Rachel Barnes will offer Conference attendees is her investment strategy. Previous speakers have focused on finding properties with a high capital yield. “Rachel uses a completely different strategy and it’s a great to see how different methods can be employed to achieve wealth creation depending on people’s circumstances.” says Mortimer. Rachel is currently in the Greek Island’s, and upon her return she may have an exciting announcement about the addition to her portfolio, but she took time out to talk to us about her speaking role at the NZPIF Conference 08, Steaming Ahead! Interviewer: How did Property Women start? Rachel Barnes: “Property Women was originally started by the renowned Reno Kings from Brisbane, Queensland. They had seen a growing trend of women attending their workshops and achieving some great results with renovating and property investing in general. They saw there was a good opportunity to provide some niche workshops specifically designed for women. Judith Taylor was employed by them at that stage and was the female brains behind the business. I started speaking with them from the 2nd event in early 2007 and Judith and I were offered a partnership with the Reno Kings to be involved in and run the Property Women business.” Interviewer: How has the organisation grown? Rachel Barnes “It’s been an amazing journey! Property Women’s first event set a strong foundation and, although the only paid advertising has been predominantly through Australian Property Investor Magazine, word of mouth and media exposure have taken the data base to just over 12,000 in only 18 months, with about 900 women having attended at least one of the women only workshops. Each month we speak to women who have got on board and started, or resumed property investing, and have found it a fantastic way to take control of their future and change their lives. Hearing their stories is so inspiring for us all.” Interviewer: Your own story is pretty inspiring and you use quite a different strategy from some, tell us a bit about that? Rachel Barnes: “From a property investing perspective, I consider myself to be a normal person, who has just made some extraordinary decisions. The key concept of my ‘point of difference’ if you like, is that my partner John and I started investing only about 8 years ago and started with very cheap properties. Most people were buying for capital growth so our strategy was quite different. We couldn’t afford to do that, as we needed to borrow all the money for our properties and we needed to have our investment properties pay for themselves completely (including the loan interest). Initially we just purchased one cheap property as an aid to our superannuation. After 12 months we thought it had been a good buy, despite the negativity we’d received from our friends and colleagues. So the next year we thought we’d buy one more – but we ended up purchasing another 8 properties in about 12 weeks.” Interviewer: That’s quite an achievement, where to from there? Rachel Barnes: “All these properties were in South Australia, so next we decided to diversify our risk and look for other opportunities interstate and overseas. In total we purchased 75 properties within South Australia, Queensland, North Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania and last but not least, in the North and South Islands of New Zealand! We don’t advocate selling properties usually, but for a number of different reasons we have sold 5 properties and so we now hold 70. Over the past couple of years we have been looking for and working on buying properties in USA and Europe.” Interviewer: What particular skills, attributes and strengths do women have which enhance their Property Investment careers? “Women are fundamentally (and generally) great home-makers. Statistics have shown that 80% of the decision-makers relating to renting or purchasing a home are women. Anyone in sales knows that you need to understand your target market when you want to promote a product. If you are a woman, then you understand that 80% of the target market of tenant or home buyer…so you’re already way ahead of the guys. It is also generally accepted that women often have a ‘flair’ for shopping. We love a bargain! How exciting for women to be able to go shopping for properties which appreciate, rather than for shoes and handbags which depreciate. I love shopping for shoes and handbags as much as most women, but spending the profits of your properties is much more logical than using pre-investment dollars.” Interviewer: Husbands and wives often team up in property iinvestment, does understanding each other’s strengths and weaknesses promote a successful partnership in property investment? Rachel Barnes: “The better the team, the better the results I believe! However, if you’re not with a life partner who understands and wants to get involved in property investing, there’s nothing stopping you having an investing buddy who you can partner up with, either just for emotional support, or as a joint venture partner. I’m extremely fortunate that my partner and I have the same basic belief system, but different skills and attributes. We usually find that when we both think a property is a good investment, it turns out to be a good decision to buy it. We can each play the ‘devil’s advocate’ when weighing up the positives and negatives of a property deal. It’s great to have a good partner involved, but it’s also important to have a good team around you, including a property savvy lawyer, accountant etc.” Interviewer: You have developed a fantastic reputation as a speaker, what motivates you to share your success? Rachel Barnes: “I love speaking to people who are eager to improve themselves and their situation, and I find it so rewarding to see the light in their eyes when they realise what they really want to do in life, and they finally understand and accept that they can achieve it. It’s something very hard to explain in words, but the feeling it gives me is like a warm glow, and that drives me to spread the word about property investing. I had never dared to dream when I was younger that I would be where I am today – and yet if I had, I would have arrived at this point so much sooner!” Rachel Barnes will be speaking and running workshops the NZPIF Conference 08, Steaming Ahead! She will be sharing the story of how she turned $5,000 equity into 70 rentals across Australia and New Zealand, the three secrets to becoming a “Lucky” property investor and three key points of difference between NZ and Australian property investing. Steaming Ahead, The NZPIF Conference 2008 will be held at the Energy Event Centre, Rotorua on October 24th, 25th, 26th. For more information, or to register go to www.propertyconference.org.nz. 20 augustSuccess in a Cold Climate - NZPIF Conference speaker Andrew King shows you how!
The housing market has cooled, leaving some investors wondering what the change in the economic climate means for them? It is not all doom and gloom according to Andrew King, Vice President of the New Zealand Property Investors’ Federation (NZPIF) and speaker at The Federation’s national conference, Steaming Ahead!, which will be held in Rotorua over Labour weekend 2008. In fact he contends we are in a lot better shape than we were at this time in the previous property cycle. “House prices are still high and affordability is a real problem, however the economy is generally in better shape, interest rates are on the way down again and didn’t peak as high this time round” King explains. He also believes there is more potential for wage growth and points out that New Zealand still has positive immigration. At the end of the last cycle, 10,000 people per annum were heading for greener grass on the other side of the economic exclusion zone. This doesn’t necessarily mean it’s time for everyone to get out there and start buying though. “The impact of the change in climate will vary depending on individual circumstances” says King. “Prices have escalated but rents have not risen in tandem. This makes it difficult for some investors to fund new purchases. Interest rates are still high and some people will be struggling with mortgage repayments. There will be investors out there who have over extended and now need a good strategy to save them from losing ground.” Having the right strategy is paramount accordingly to King and never more so than in this part of the economic cycle. “Those who now find themselves struggling often haven’t catered for changes in the environment, but changes invariably happen” he says. He should know. King is a seasoned property investor and within the property investment community he is a recognised and respected figure. In addition to holding the current Vice Presidency of the NZPIF, he formerly held the post of President of the Auckland Property Association for 8 years. He also published Residential Property Magazine between 1996 and 2003, and is the author of two books on the subject. But how do property investors maximise their growth when the hot spots have gone cold? “The first step to devising a strategy to maximise your property portfolio in any climate is to know exactly where you are. Property investors need to ask themselves: What is the business environment? What is my personal situation? Is this a good time for me to acquire more property and if not, when? What is the right type of property to look at?” “Everyone’s situation is different,” says King. “It’s about getting the right mix between the number of properties, the type of properties, personal goals and your time frame.” “Some investors will be sitting on a potential treasure chest, but, lacking cash flow, others may be nervous about whether to purchase more property when this could be a very good time for them to do just that. There are people who simply own the wrong sort of properties when all they need to do is invest in the right sort - and they’re there!” He goes on to say that there are people who could retire right now and simply don’t know it. “Some people may have the wrong type of property, so rather than buy more property, they just need to replace what they’ve got with what they really need.” As a speaker at the 2008 NZPIF Conference, Steaming Ahead!, King will invite attendees to go through the calculations to establish exactly what their current position is. King suggests attendees bring a calculator to his sessions. “The key point I’d like to make is that the numbers paint a very clear picture. From there I will be exploring a number of strategies to suit the needs of investors in different circumstances, even those who are facing some tough times”. King especially hopes to see those who may be in this position attending conference. “This is a great opportunity for people to get a really good handle on what their best move is” says King who is naturally an advocate of the conference. “The benefits of attending the NZPIF conference go well beyond the great sparks of knowledge you get from the speakers. It is often the discussion, open debate and information sharing between delegates where even greater learning occurs.” “Belonging to a Property Investors’ Association gives you access to the national conference at reduced cost. I hope to see as many of our members taking advantage of this as possible.” Steaming Ahead, The NZPIF Conference 2008 will be held at the Energy Event Centre, Rotorua on October 24th, 25th, 26th. For more information, or to register, go to www.propertyconference.org.nz. Good lineup of workshopsFor Mick Lloyd and Roger Hardie - Workshop it … so you can work less! Two boys from the Bay, Mick Lloyd and Roger Hardie are two of the Workshop presenters line up at the NZPIF Conference 08, Steaming Ahead, where delegates can pick and mix the sessions that work for them. Both men have quite a lot in common. They are both from the Tauranga/Mt Maunganui area, both extremely successful property investors and well known within the property investment community. They also both take a “creative” approach to property investment. Where they differ, is the form these approaches take. In his Chartered Accountancy firm, one of Mick Lloyd’s key objectives is to provide creative solutions to property investment. His firm’s motto “Not your every day bean counter” says it all. Mick’s creative approach entails looking at things from a different perspective. In his workshop sessions he will be focusing on long-term strategies, which still allow for flexibility. “There is a place for different types of investment,” says Mick “be it trading or holding. In my sessions I want people to explore the long-term benefits of holding. If people adopt a long term plan,” he explains, “they get to enjoy the long term benefits. In my workshop I will be encouraging people to look at the asset base of their properties and exploring the flexibility that will give them over time rather than focusing on what the property is worth and the current market value.” Mick enjoys the opportunity to speak in a workshop type environment. “It’s great when you get a discussion going and you are able to respond to questions. Other investors can tune and ask themselves ‘How does this scenario work for me?’ A lot of the learning comes from sharing experiences and issues with other property investors.” “Even the experienced investor can get creative with their strategy. If we keep doing what we’ve always done, we will get the same result”. says Mick. “There may be a huge opportunity right under your nose that you haven’t noticed because you are looking the other way.” As well as discussing the latest taxation issues, Mick will also be examining some of the influences and strategies to use in order to avoid creating problems in designing and managing a property investment portfolio. Taxation is something Roger Hardie will also discuss, as he does at speaking engagements throughout New Zealand, Australia, the UK and the US, but from the point of view of using it to fuel property investment. Roger Hardie champions the no cash, no credit method of investing. This also entails looking at things from the different point of view. “I have called my workshop What I wish I’d known when I Started Investing because I really enjoy the opportunity to share what I have learnt throughout my career.” says Roger. It is a career that spans 28 years, covering all facets of the property industry. He attributes his “creative” approach to lessons learnt as a private property investor during which time he built up a management portfolio of 1000 rentals. His reputation as the “no cash specialist” came from his method of enabling struggling investors to get out of the apartment market by helping others in, using the no cash, no credit method. “This strategy has been around for 100 years” says Roger, “but people are afraid of what they don’t understand. In my workshop I aim to take away the mystery”. “Most of what prevents us succeeding is our own relationship with prosperity”. says Roger. “If people aren’t getting what they want they need to look inside, not outside”. “From my session I want people to come away understanding the biggest misconception about property investing. I will also look at negotiating; How to qualify motivated sellers and buyers, the single biggest mistake that you can make when negotiating plus the simple mistakes which prevent us from getting great deals”. Other workshop speakers include: Andrew King, Rachel Barnes, Dean Letfus and Tracey Turner, and Ele Duncan from the IRD. Says Mark Williams, recently re-elected President of Rotorua Property Investors’ Association, the Conference Organisers, “Workshops are great, because they give people the opportunity to choose the topics that are relevant to where they are in their investment journey. We want to make sure we have catered for new comers, but also have something gritty for the more experienced investors to sink their teeth into”. Workshop sessions will run during the afternoon of Saturday, 25th October at the NZPIF Conference, Steaming Ahead. Steaming Ahead, The NZPIF Conference 2008 will be held at the Energy Event Centre, Rotorua on October 24th, 25th, 26th. For more information including the full Conference programme, or to register go to www.propertyconference.org.nz.
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