Baby boomers face a bleak financial future. This all too common line seems to be finally sinking in, as many of the baby boomer generation are beginning to take a proactive approach to their retirement planning. As well as increasing personal superannuation contributions, many have begun to look at direct investing in both the share market and property markets. Unfortunately many of the property marketeering companies operating in Australia have sought to take advantage of this, and have targeted their marketing campaigns at them.

Two tiered marketing, where property companies sell investment properties (often off the plan) to interstate buyers, who are unaware of the current genuine market climate at highly inflated prices often $30,000.00 to $50,000.00 above true market value, have been rife in Australia for several years. The companies have a highly organised and professional approach, beginning with a free seminar that highlights the advantages of property investment and then offers a free assessment with one of their representatives to see what their current financial position will allow them to afford. After the initial pre-approval for finance process is complete they are offered free, or highly subsidised air fares to view interstate properties. The condition being that if they dont purchase they will have to foot the bill for the air fares. On arrival the first stop is to visit the finance broker to confirm how much they can borrow, followed by an intensive tour of properties in their price range. The day concludes with another trip back to the office, where they are encouraged to sign the dotted line and purchase the property on that day. High pressure sales tactics are employed throughout.

The book How to Research Investment Properties by Debra Lohrere aims to educate people about how to carry out their own assessment of properties, so that they will be able to recognise the difference between a good buy and a highly inflated proposition. It begins with a brief introduction of the amazing potential that property investment has for creating substantial wealth and providing for a financially secure future. It discussed what type of property should be sought after and the various features that are desirable to make a property both easy to rent, and give it the potential for the greatest capital gains.

It discusses the varying price ranges of property - low end, median priced and high end properties and explains the advantages of each. It covers the topic of Positive, Neutral and Negative gearing with an explanation of how these can all effectively be used. It gives examples of different investment strategies that will suit different investors, depending on their current financial situation and comfort levels. This book aims to give all the information required, to prevent would be investors being deceived into purchasing overpriced properties. The most important advise that anyone can ever give in relation to investing in anything, is to "Do your homework first". Research and knowledge are the keys that enable people to make intelligent, well informed decisions. This manual aims to give people to information they require to do this.

Debra Lohrere is an author of several books on property investment and how to create financial security. Please visit. http://www.debra.lohrere.com/home.shtml