Which is better? 8% Gross Yield or 5.5%

30 September 2019 by Ross Barnett

Which is better? 8% Gross Yield or 5.5%

It might sound like a really silly question, but which is better?
 

Higher Yield – Tokoroa Property, 8% Gross Yield

First property I could find in Tokoroa on Realestate.co.nz was 176 Balmoral Drive.

 


On the market for $229,000.
Currently tenanted $280 pw.
 
That’s a 6% yield based on 50 weeks.  But say you could wave your magic wand, and buy it for $175,000.  Now that’s an 8% Gross Yield!
 
Would you buy it?
 
The full figures are below, but it loses $2,402.50 per year!  Would you still buy it?
 


Lower Yield – Hamilton Property, 5.5% Gross Yield  

 
First property I could find in Hamilton on Realestate.co.nz was 3/60 Wellington st.
 

On the market for $619,000.
Currently tenanted $660 pw.
 
That’s a 5.5% yield based on 52 weeks.
 
Would you buy it?
 
The full figures are below, but it makes $3,463.40 positive cashflow per year! 

 


OVERALL GROSS YIELD AND LOCATION
 
Gross Yield is a great tool for comparing properties in the same location.  But be careful with different locations.  If one location has low rent, a high Gross yield property can still be negative cashflow!
 
So make sure you work out and review the full cashflow for any investment you are looking to buy!
 
 
In this example, the cashflow on the 5.5% newer property in Hamilton is a lot better than the 8% older property in Tokoroa.
 
 
NOTE – this doesn’t mean I would buy either!
 
 
I hope you have found this useful
 
Kind regards
Ross Barnett

 

Property Accountant | New Zealand

preview image - The Summer Reset

The Summer Reset

Summer has a way of easing the pressure. The days feel longer, the calendar softens, and life slows just enough to remind us that not everything needs to be urgent, solved, or optimised right now. It’s a subtle shift, but a powerful one. And it’s what we like to think of as the summer reset.

18 December 2025 by Lifetime
preview image - Lifetime Book Club: Ikigai by Héctor García & Francesc Miralles

Lifetime Book Club: Ikigai by Héctor García & Francesc Miralles

“The happiest people are not the ones who achieve the most. They are the ones who spend their lives doing what they love, with purpose.”

That is the central idea of Ikigai.

This is not a hustle manual or a step-by-step guide to success. It is a gentle, thoughtful exploration of what gives life meaning, and how small, intentional choices can lead to a longer, happier, more fulfilled life.

16 December 2025 by Lifetime in Lifetime Book Club