Property Investment
4 min read
Want to invest in property? You might consider using a property investment company.
These companies help you create a financial plan and then find properties to invest in.
It’s a bit like if you use a company such as Milford or Fisher Funds to look at other types of investment.
Because property investment companies don’t always charge and offer similar services, it can be hard to choose the right one for you.
So, here is my honest review of the top 5 property investment companies in New Zealand – in no particular order.
First up is Opes Partners. Yes, that’s us. The company I own, and the website you’re reading this article on.
And I get it. It probably seems biased to include ourselves on this list, but here’s why I did it:
Opes Partners is one of the biggest names in this space, so if you want to know what’s out there, you need to know we are an option.
We help investors grow their wealth through New Build investment properties.
To do this we use our Wealth Plan framework. This is a five-step process designed to help investors buy and manage investment properties over the long term.
We also provide an all-in-one service for investors. As well as finding a property with Opes Partners and Opes Property, we also have:
So, all the main advisers you need can work in the same office. I believe that makes communication easier so your advisers understand each other.
Unlike some other companies on this list, we don’t charge a fee to use our service.
Instead, if you choose to invest in a property we recommend, the developer pays us a marketing fee.
Education is a big part of what we do. We produce New Zealand’s #1 investing podcast, The Property Academy Podcast. I host that with our economist, Ed McKnight.
Ed and I often write for Stuff, the NZ Herald, OneRoof, and Woman’s Day.
We also run webinars and have NZ’s #1 property YouTube channel.
Positive Real Estate has operated in Australia for 22 years and in New Zealand for 15 years.
Sue Mathieson (née Irons) leads the New Zealand team. They have 15 staff across offices in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
Here’s how it works.
Investors pay up to $10k to join their Lifetime Mentoring Programme. After that they can look at properties with the company.
Their mentoring programme gives you a structured investment plan. Then they guide you through to retirement.
Up until recently, Positive Real Estate’s coaches weren’t financial advisers.
The Lifetime Mentoring Programme starts at $4,995 and can go up to $9,995, depending on the services provided.
This fee covers the mentoring services. You don’t have to buy a property off them if you use their mentoring programme.
Property Factory is a Kiwi-based property investment company. It also specialises in New Build properties.
They officially launched in 2010 and rebranded as Property Factory in 2016.
The company was originally run by Campbell Venning and is now led by Andrew Wilson.
Their team consists of 16 staff, and they work with well-known developers like Wolfbrook, Golden Homes and Mike Greer.
Unlike some investment companies, Property Factory is a real estate agency. They are not financial advisers. So you don’t go to them to get a financial plan; they just help you buy a property.
Their sales team is registered with the Real Estate Authority. This means you’re working with licensed real estate agents.
Like Opes, you don’t pay a fee to work with Property Factory.
Instead, they earn a commission from the developers when you buy a property through them.
Staircase Financial Management has been operating since 2001 and it’s owned by Kylie Turgis and Robert Bull.
Staircase offers a one-stop shop for property investors.
They can help you buy a property and also provide mortgage advice, property management, insurance, and accounting ... all under one roof.
Like several other names on this list, Staircase doesn’t charge for their financial advice.
They are paid by the developers they work with, along with income from their subsidiary companies e.g. property management.
They can help you invest in properties in Auckland, Tauranga and Queenstown. Often the owners of Staircase will also own the properties they are selling.
Formerly known as Money Empire, Properli is a financial advisory firm.
This means offering services from mortgage brokering through to property investment guidance.
The current director is Jess Wahlstrom, but the company was founded by Kayne Wahlstrom.
Their goal is to help clients achieve financial freedom through strategic property ownership.
Properli also designs and builds residential developments, so they may recommend that you buy a property they own.
The company has over 20 years’ experience and has been operating in the New Zealand market for 12 years.
Properli operates primarily in Auckland, with its main office located in the CBD.
The right choice depends on what type of service you’re looking for and how involved you want to be in finding properties.
If you want a one-off property transaction, Property Factory might be the right fit.
If you prefer structured education with coaching, Positive Real Estate could be the better choice.
If you’re looking for a full financial plan, wrap-around services, and an ongoing relationship, Opes Partners might be a better fit.
Now that you know the key differences, it’s up to you to decide:
Which property investment company is the right fit for you?
Managing Director, 20+ Years' Experience Investing In Property, Author & Host
Andrew Nicol, Managing Director at Opes Partners, is a seasoned financial adviser and property investment expert with 20+ years of experience. With 40 investment properties, he hosts the Property Academy Podcast, co-authored 'Wealth Plan' with Ed Mcknight, and has helped 1,894 Kiwis achieve financial security through property investment.
