A young investor property research checklist is the structured due diligence framework every first-time Australian property investor needs before committing capital. It covers financial readiness including pre-approval, deposit of 10 to 20 percent, transfer duty of 3 to 5 percent, conveyancing and inspection costs and three to six months of cash reserves; suburb research across population growth, employment diversity, household income, vacancy rates below 3 percent and infrastructure; property-level checks including building and pest inspection, title search, zoning, lease and body corporate records; investment analysis using NOI, cap rate, cash-on-cash return and a DSCR above 1.25 stress tested at plus 5 percent vacancy, plus 15 percent expenses and plus 1 percent interest; and ongoing management covering property managers at 8 to 12 percent of gross rent, capital expenditure reserves of 1 to 2 percent, and a 7 to 10 year hold period to maximise the CGT discount.
https://wealthnest.com.au/blog/young-investor-property-research-checklist-2026-guide