A veteran Australian real estate investor who has operated in multiple global markets argues that U.S. real estate benefits from unique structural advantages that many American investors may take for granted.
The Fixed-Rate Advantage
“Most Americans take it for granted. They don’t realize that America is the only country in the world with 30-year fixed interest rate debt,” says Stephen Keighery, Founder of Home Buyer Louisiana, who previously built and took public a property technology company in Australia.
According to Keighery, this financing structure creates remarkable opportunities: “Any sane bank wouldn’t lend you money at a low rate for 30 years fixed, but America essentially is subsidized because Fannie and Freddie in the secondary markets buy those loans off the banks’ balance sheets and securitize them.”
Global Market Comparisons
Drawing on his experience in Sydney, which Keighery notes is “the second least affordable city in the world” based on income-to-value ratios, he highlights stark differences in investment dynamics between markets:
“The Australian property market is nowhere near as good as America,” Keighery says. “Properties can cash flow here. It’s not that big a deal to find cash flow in property. They should cash flow.”
In contrast, Keighery explains that Australian investment properties typically operate at break-even or slight losses monthly: “They were cash flow neutral, which is about as good as it gets in Australia – most people lose money every month. It’s just how Australia works.”
Strategic Advantages for U.S. Investors
These structural differences create unique opportunities in U.S. markets, according to Keighery. He points to the BRRRR method (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat) as particularly powerful given the 30-year fixed rate environment:
“I was able to buy a property, fix it up, put a tenant in place, refinance out all my money, and then leave 30-year fixed debt that my intention is to hold for 30 years, let it amortize, let inflation increase the rent and values while sitting on that property.”
Market-Specific Implementation
Keighery’s firm now operates across multiple Southern markets including New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He emphasizes the importance of understanding local dynamics while leveraging these national advantages.
“We want to maintain our local feel and roll out bit by bit, so that when we enter a market, we become locals, we become knowledgeable, we build deep relationships,” he says, noting that this approach allows better service to both buyers and sellers.
