Questions people ask
General education only. Not financial, legal or credit advice.
About PROP101
What is PROP101?
PROP101 is a website and phone app for Australians buying a home or investing in property. It has video courses, calculators, suburb research and a portfolio tracker.
Do I need property experience?
No. Start with the basics, or pick a course on one strategy if you already invest. Lessons come with exercises that use the calculators.
How do I get started with PROP101?
Register your interest with your email address and we will contact you with the next steps for access. If you are already a member, log in.
What tools does PROP101 have?
- Suburb research: compare suburbs on prices, rents, yield, vacancy and homes for sale, and shortlist the ones you like.
- LocationIQ: a Census map of who lives in each suburb and street block: incomes, owners and renters, public housing and jobs.
- My Workspace: add the properties you are looking at and keep them in one place, with your notes, checks and offers, from shortlisted to bought.
- Calculators: how much you could borrow, loan repayments, the cash needed to buy, rental return and what a property costs to own.
- Portfolio and Game Plan: track what you own and owe, and try a purchase or sale before you make it.
Is this personal financial advice?
No. PROP101 is general education, not personal financial, legal or credit advice. The calculators give estimates. Check your own situation with a qualified adviser before you act.
Is PROP101 Australian property specific?
Yes. Every course is written for the Australian market - stamp duty, LMI, strata, cooling-off periods, state-based rules, the First Home Guarantee, and the way auctions and private treaty actually work here.
Buying a home
How much deposit do I need to buy a home in Australia?
Most lenders look for around 20% to avoid Lenders Mortgage Insurance, but you can buy with as little as 5% deposit. Government schemes like the First Home Guarantee can let eligible first home buyers purchase with a 5% deposit without paying LMI. The course walks through deposit, LMI thresholds and the schemes in detail.
Should I buy at auction or by private treaty?
It depends on the market and the property. Auctions are unconditional with no cooling-off period, so finance and building and pest checks must be done beforehand. Private treaty usually allows conditions and a cooling-off period. The course includes an auction bidding simulator so you can practise the decisions.
What should I check before buying a home?
Suburb data (median trends, days on market, owner-occupier ratio, flood and bushfire overlays), the contract of sale or Section 32, a building and pest report, and for units the strata report including levies and the sinking fund. The course gives you a complete inspection checklist.
What is LMI and who does it protect?
Lenders Mortgage Insurance protects the lender, not you, if you borrow more than about 80% of the property value. The borrower pays the premium. It can let you buy sooner with a smaller deposit, and the course shows when it is worth paying.
Commercial property
How is commercial property different from residential?
Commercial property is valued on its income, tenants typically pay the outgoings, leases run for years with options, and deposits are usually 25 to 35%. Vacancies can last longer but yields are often higher. The course covers leases, cap rates, WALE and due diligence.
What is a cap rate?
The capitalisation rate is the net operating income divided by the price, expressed as a percentage. It is the core way commercial property is valued and compared. The course includes a cap rate calculator and a deal where a strong headline yield hides a short WALE and a weak tenant.
How much deposit do I need for commercial property?
Commercial lending usually requires a larger deposit than residential, commonly 25 to 35% of the purchase price, with stricter serviceability and shorter loan terms. The course covers commercial finance and the going-concern GST exemption.
Ready to start with your own numbers?
Register your interest