Does the property match the objective, budget, time horizon and risk settings in your written brief?
Investor Property Comparison Checklist
INVESTOR RESOURCES
Investor Property Comparison Checklist
Compare shortlisted properties with the same questions, record unresolved assumptions and make the trade-offs visible.
FHP field note · reviewed 10 October 2026
Review status: keep unknowns visible
The matrix is designed to resist sales-page comparisons. Re-score only when a source document changes—not because a new marketing claim sounds persuasive.
- Record the source and review date beside every transaction-specific input.
Primary sources used for this reviewMoneySmart — Property investmentChecked 10 October 2026. Government rules, thresholds and property information can change. Confirm current eligibility and transaction details with the authority, lender and relevant licensed advisers before acting.
Unknown is not the same as favourable.
A checklist cannot choose a property for you, but it can reduce inconsistent thinking. Complete it with current source information, mark unknown items clearly and avoid awarding a property a favourable score simply because evidence is missing.
Which figures are verified, which are estimates and which remain unknown or subject to professional review?
What are you accepting in return for the property’s advantages—and is that consistent with your strategy?
Keep the comparison evidence consistent
01
Property and contract
Record type, size, condition, inclusions, title or strata considerations and outstanding legal questions.
02
Location and demand
Compare amenity, access, local supply, planning context and the evidence behind tenant-demand assumptions.
03
Costs and cash flow
Enter the same categories for price, acquisition costs, finance, ownership costs, rent and vacancy.
04
Risks and next checks
List uncertainties, professional advice required, decision deadlines and the consequence of each unresolved issue.
Next evidence for investor property comparison checklist.
Evidence-weighted comparison
Compare confidence as well as apparent performance.
A property should not win a comparison because more of its assumptions were left blank. Use the same rows for every option, show the evidence status and apply a stop condition before using optional scores.
| Comparison row | Record for each property | Evidence standard |
|---|---|---|
| Brief fit | Purpose, budget, location, property type and holding-period fit. | Pass/fail against the written brief. |
| Total commitment | Price, acquisition cash, annual costs, irregular allowances and liquidity buffer. | Quotes or labelled assumptions; no blank costs. |
| Income case | Comparable rent range, vacancy allowance and collected-rent scenario. | Dated local evidence; estimate status retained. |
| Property evidence | Condition, inclusions, title/strata, defects and unresolved contract questions. | Documents and professional review identified. |
| Location case | Tenant proposition, competing supply, access, planning and constraints. | Both supporting evidence and counter-case recorded. |
| Finance resilience | Repayment pressure case, valuation risk, approval conditions and buffer months. | Individual finance advice, not a website estimate. |
| Exit and liquidity | Likely buyer pool, transaction costs, property-specific resale constraints. | Qualitative evidence with uncertainty acknowledged. |
Stop conditions before scoring
Missing legal explanation
A material contract, title or strata issue remains unresolved.
Finance not workable
The purchase depends on an unverified valuation, approval or unavailable cash.
Evidence conflict
Plans, listing statements, contract terms or cost figures materially disagree.
Only score options after stop conditions pass. Keep “unknown” separate from a low score: uncertainty can be more consequential than an identified disadvantage.
Official starting points
- MoneySmart: property investment — Australian Government guidance on costs, risk and property-investment decisions.
Investor Property Comparison Checklist: questions to resolve
Should every factor receive the same weighting?
No. Weightings should reflect your strategy and risk settings, not a generic score.
How should unknown information be treated?
Mark it as unresolved rather than assuming the most favourable answer.
What is the final step?
Review the comparison with the relevant independent professionals before making a binding decision.
General information only. This page does not provide personal financial, legal, tax or investment advice. Property information, prices and availability can change. Verify the current position and obtain advice appropriate to your circumstances before making a commitment.
Build a shortlist that can be audited.
Add properties to the matrix only when the same evidence fields can be completed for each option.
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