Queensland’s unlikely top investors ranked by occupation

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Nurses, teachers, truckies and cops are ranked among the nation’s top property investors, debunking the myth that Queensland’s landlords come from the highest-paying professions.

Data compiled from latest ATO statistics reveals a typical investor is far from the stereotype of the greedy landlord, prompting property insiders to warn political attacks aimed at investors were most likely to hurt essential workers.

While general managers and CEOs were the most prolific investors, registered nurses came in at an impressive third place, numbering 55,519.

Teacher helping young girl using digital tablet in classroom

School teachers outnumbered IT workers as property investors

School teacher investors outnumbered IT workers, truck drivers edged out solicitors, and police also made the top 20, showing lower-income groups provide homes for the nation’s renters.

Real Estate Institute of Queensland CEO Antonia Mercorella said the data challenged the political narrative that only the super-wealthy invest in property.

“We often see analysis of the occupations with the highest proportion of property investors and this list is typically dominated by the highest earning medical professions, but when you look at the data by total numbers it tells a very different story,” Ms Mercorella said.

Real Estate Institute of Queensland CEO Antonia Mercorella

“It shows everyday hardworking Australians, including essential workers, see property as an attractive investment option even after considering all of the associated risks and obligations.

“Despite the misconception that investors are ultra wealthy and greedy, a typical residential property investor has an average income and one or two investment properties with the long-term goal of financial self-sufficiency in retirement.”

Ms Mercorella said property was considered a safe long-term investment and was usually managed by real estate professionals, making it a relatively passive option that was attractive for those in time-poor jobs like healthcare and education.

Property is seen as ‘safe as houses’ by essential worker investors

“There’s a reason the saying ‘safe as houses’ exists.

“It’s a tangible, bricks-and-mortar asset with a proven track record over time.”

Property investment could also be a byproduct of transient careers.

“People may buy a home to live in and then need to move for work, perhaps to a new school or hospital. Rather than sell, some are able to retain that property as an investment property,” Ms Mercorella said.

“As a general rule, if you hold onto a property long enough, it will serve you well.

In order to hold on to a property for the long term, it needs to be sustainable – this means that people who consider the initial cost as well as the ongoing holding costs of the property, and ensure these are within their means, are best set up for success.”

Less than half of Australias’s property investors are negatively geared

Less than half of Australia’s property investors are negatively geared, with 949,519 claiming tax deductions, compared to over 1.318 million paying additional income tax on rental earnings.

Property Investors Council of Australia director Ben Kingsley said the stats exposed the flawed narrative of landlords holding multiple properties, a claim pushed during Bill Shorten’s 2019 campaign to end negative gearing, and echoed by The Greens today.

“It’s everyday Australians buying, or accidental investors who upgrade and keep their first apartment, or those who inherit,” Mr Kingsley said.

Truck driver Skye Loveday pictured with her Kenworth road train in Quilpie, far western Queensland

He said lower-wage workers, like nurses and teachers, tended to invest in affordable properties and would be most impacted by policy changes, like tax reforms or interest rate hikes.

“If you don’t have these extra supports or you charge them more, higher-income earners won’t be affected.

“But for the nurses or school teachers, this is their only hope to build financial security for themselves and their family.”

Data shows nurses were among the biggest users of negative gearing, with 27,639 claiming losses. Similarly, more than half of police landlords were negatively geared, while most CEOs with investment properties were not.

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Mortgage broker Tim Boyle, of Finance4Nurses, said nurses generally recognised the value of getting into the market early to secure their financial future.

“Nurses skew toward the younger demographics, allowing them to work hard and earn more with fewer financial dependants than many 35-year-olds,” Mr Boyle said.

“They recognise the need for additional income and wealth to avoid tough shift work later in life. As one nurse recently said to me, ‘I don’t want to be working 12-hour night shifts in my 50s’.”

Mr Boyle said remuneration within the sector was often complex, comprising significant overtime and other allowances which weren’t always recognised by banks and lenders in determining borrowing capacity.

Registered nurses can often access lender breaks when financing a home loan

While most nurses prioritised owning their own homes first, strong market growth over the last four years in Queensland in particular had enabled many to leverage equity into buying additional properties.

“We’re seeing a shift where many nurses are compromising on location, and/or opting for townhouses and apartments instead of free-standing homes as investments.

“The strong rental returns and shortage of rental properties in all major Queensland populations centres mean they are enjoying good rental income with a very low risk of vacancy,” Mr Boyle said.

Property Investment Professionals of Australia chair Nicola McDougall said 71 per cent of landlords owned just one investment property, with 89 per cent owning no more than two. Fewer than 1 per cent own six or more.

“These percentages have been similar for many years.” She said most investors were ‘mum and dad’ buyers, often investing with a partner to afford the property.