Free test · 8 questions · 1 minute

What kind of property investor are you?

Buying a home, your first rental or just thinking about it? 8 honest questions show how you make property decisions, where that could cost you, and what to do first. No sign-up.

1. You walk into a flat with a beautiful kitchen. You think...

2. How do you decide your budget?

3. The survey finds a few problems. You...

4. After the deposit, how much cash would you have left?

5. How do you judge a rental property?

6. When an agent says 'there's a lot of interest', you...

7. What does 'rent is dead money' mean to you?

8. Interest rates rise. Your plan...

Your result

    Want the full plan? The full guide to buying, selling, renting out and investing in property on numbers, with country specifics for the UK, US, India and Dubai and a 90-day plan, is in Real Estate: Everything You Need to Know.

    See Real Estate: Everything You Need to Know

    Is it better to rent or buy a home?

    It depends on how long you'll stay, local prices compared with rents, and what your deposit could earn elsewhere. Owners pay unrecoverable costs too (interest, maintenance, fees, insurance), so compare those with rent rather than assuming rent is wasted.

    How much house can I afford?

    Not necessarily what the bank offers. Work out the monthly payment at a higher interest rate than today's, add all running costs, and check you can still save and keep an emergency buffer. Remember buying costs like taxes, legal fees and surveys on top of the deposit.

    How do I know if a rental property is a good investment?

    Start with net yield: annual rent minus all costs (repairs, insurance, management, empty months, service charges), divided by the price. Then check cash flow after the mortgage, the area's rental demand and the condition. A property that only works if prices rise is a bet, not an investment.