First home buyer in SA, Help pls :)

The 2 options that I personally can afford and would like to live in are as follows.

1. A one bed, one bath, one car Unit in Bowden. It looks amazing inside, lots of public transport around, cafes, etc etc. Roughly 375k (but obviously have to pay strata which I'm told is roughly $45 per week on this apartment. And who knows if strata will go up 300% in 5 years or not???!!)

or

2. A 2 bedroom townhouse. one study, 2 bath, 1 car in Lighsview. Same price. 375k

Now I personally think I would be happy as larry living in either. Leaning towards closer to town as I work in the city. However, I want to know, if I only live here for 3-5 years and then this property becomes my first investment. Which is a smarter idea?

Some investors say apartments are a good idea, and some have the opposite advice!

Anyone that knows Adelaide or has some good ideas feel free to help me out. Thanks.

 

Lightsview would probably be a better investment. Apartments kinda suck as an investment in Adelaide due to our cheaper rental market here.

Since its for you to live in, your own preferences will weigh into it more. Being closer to town is great, not that LV is very far away either.

Is it just yourself. Any plans for partner / friend / pet to be with you in future, that might influence decision?

 

Hey bud, Ive kind of decided that the 375k plus strata will be the very top end of my budget, and am kind of browsing 1-2 bedroom apartments in lightsview now. 35k-100k cheaper depending on what I do. May live with a partner in the future, but would not live with friends again.
If a one bed apartment is 280ish and a 2 bed is 340ish, Do you think its worth the extra 60k to have a "better investment" even though id happy live in the one bedroom.?
Thanks alot

 

typically, 1bdrs are far less desirable due to lower rental demand, lower captial growth
2bdr a no brainer if you were choosing of the two

also check lender servicability, depending on size it might be harder to finance, however given the price you quoted, I dont think size would be an issue

 

Have you considered renting where you want to live and buying an investment property on it's own merits?

 

I wouldn't buy either - you want to live in one of these, rent. There are heaps of them and only more supply coming.
This supply is going to limit the demand > price growth.
I would prefer to buy something that I think is going to increase in value.

1bed1bath apartment where there are going to be a heap more of the same thing. no thanks.