Just over 3 years ago I bought a property in Melbourne I did my research and with minor cosmetic repairs leased it out. Recently put it on the market sold for 33.5 % return on original purchase and cosmetics , rental return after expenses was only 3.1 % return on total outlay.
The original investment strategy was based on capital growth, the rental side was to maintain the property.
If I had put the money in the bank my return would have been approx 5% p/a prior to tax.
My investment return worked out to approx 14.2% p/a prior to tax.
The tax you pay depends on the structure of your investment vehicle.
The point of all of this is that if you do not do your research you will loose money, the same principle applies to shares but on a shorter time scale.
In response to your article your investment appears to have been based on poor choice in property and poor research .
