Where you invest in property is critical. This will not only dictate the future success of your investments, but will also affect your life. If you’re looking for successful stress-free investments, buy local. That means operating within a thirty- to forty-minute drive of your home.

This may sound like a tall order especially if you live in an expensive township or an area that lacks demand. However, you would be surprised how many areas of potential investment exist near you.

Long-distance property ownership is possible. However, the distance does place a strain on your management ability. Owning a property that’s far away means you have less choice in terms of how the property is managed and it can increase costs because you have to outsource so much of the work. This can mount up to additional financial expenses, which impact upon your bottom line.

Moreover, when a property is far away, it is impossible to make your rounds and this can create logistical headaches, especially when it involves critical decision making.

These factors should be taken into account when considering purchasing at a distance and my advice would be, unless the property is an exceptional bargain or very special, it is best to stick close to your local area.