University of Technology Sydney

16677 Property Investment Vehicles

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Design, Architecture and Building: School of the Built Environment
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): 16642 Property Investment and Valuation

Description

This is an elective subject usually taken in the third year of the Bachelor of Property Economics. This subject provides a comprehensive insight into the area of pooled property investment. It develops an understanding of the markets in which these vehicles originate and are traded, coupled with the legal framework. This subject focuses on the structure and operation of local and overseas property investment vehicles; it involves the main methods used to analyse these and the basis for comparing investments within the sector. Concepts covered in lectures are reinforced with workshop questions, case studies and assignments.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate a working knowledge of the history and development of Property Investment Vehicles in Australia
2. Know the key features of the types of Property Investment Vehicles
3. Identify the roles of Property Investment Vehicles within the Australian investment sector
4. Know how to undertake the practical analysis of the investment performance of Property Investment Vehicles
5. Understand the importance and function of the regulatory environment in Australia
6. Identify, understand and analyse equity and debt finance
7. Know the professional roles within the Property Investment Vehicles industry

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes to the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes:

  • Effectively apply a variety of communication skills and technologies in professional contexts (C.1)
  • Apply valuation theory and practice in the valuation of property for different purposes (P.1)
  • Analyse data to make investment decisions in various contexts (P.2)
  • Apply financial principles to property economics issues (P.5)
  • Source, evaluate and use information within defined parameters (R.2)
  • Critically analyse, structure and report the results of research (R.3)

Teaching and learning strategies

Delivery will be by weekly sessions and will include lectures on key concepts, presentations by guest lecturers on case studies and specialist material. Active learning opportunities will be integrated with each session through group discussion, class workshops, and in class participation by students and student groups. Moreover, some flipped learning strategies have been integrated into the subject learning philosophy, including the use of online presentations (UTS Online) which are to be viewed prior to the first lecture and weekly sessions.

Lectures are augmented with online quizzes to assess the level of understanding in the content and application. Online reference in resource material is provided throughout the semester. Relevant news topics (budget, RBA decisions) that relate to the subject will be incorporated into the weekly sessions. Students will be engaged through the use of pre-readings, online quizzes and hypothetical scenarios which stimulate problem-based learning. Collaborative problem-solving exercises involving current financial markets and case studies will reinforce key concepts and offer formative feedback opportunities throughout the subject. Feedback on submitted assessment items will be provided through UTS online.

Content (topics)

The history and development of Property Investment Vehicles in Australia

The key features of all the types of Property Investment Vehicles

The roles of Property Investment Vehicles within the Australian investment sector

The practical analysis of the investment performance of Property Investment Vehicles

The importance and function of the regulatory environment in Australia

Identify, understand and analyse equity and debt finance

The professional roles within the Property Investment Vehicles industry

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Participation & Discussion

Intent:

Subject delivery includes interactive activities related to key concepts plus current events and issues. This allows students to incorporate the applied nature of the subject with key theoretical concepts. Students are required to participate and contribute to these activities which will reinforce their learning.

Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

1, 2 and 3

This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.):

C.1, P.2 and P.5

Type: Exercises
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 15%
Criteria:

Refer to assignment task sheet

Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Effective analysis of data related to investment decisions in context. 33 3 P.2
Demonstrated application of financial principles related to property economic issues. 33 2 P.5
Effective professional communication and technological skills. 34 1 C.1
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 2: Analysis of Property Investment Vehicles

Intent:

This assessment task challenges students to analyse and critically assess information on property investment vehicles and to report professionally on their findings.

Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

4 and 6

This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.):

R.2 and R.3

Type: Report
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 20%
Criteria:

Refer to the Assignment Task Sheet

Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Ability to source, evaluate and use information within defined parameters. 50 6 R.2
Evidence of critical analysis and structure in research results. 50 4 R.3
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 3: Structuring Property Investment Vehicles

Intent:

Students will apply the knowledge gained throughout this subject to make decisions regarding legal structures, capital structure and governance and professionally report on their conclusions.

Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7

This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.):

C.1, P.1, P.2, P.5, R.2 and R.3

Type: Report
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 65%
Criteria:

Refer to assignment task sheet

Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Effective professional communication and technological skills. 17 3 C.1
Ability to apply valuation theory and practice in a variety of property valuations. 17 4 P.1
Effective analysis of data related to investment decisions in context. 17 5 P.2
Demonstrated application of financial principles related to property economic issues. 17 6 P.5
Ability to source, evaluate and use information within defined parameters. 17 7 R.2
Evidence of critical analysis and structure in research results. 15 1 R.3
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Required texts

Regular reading of the financial media; recommended sources are the Australian Financial Review, the business sections of leading daily newspapers and business, finance and investment publications.

Websites including, Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) also contain relevant information.

Recommended texts

Patrick Rowland, Australian Property Investment and Financing, Thomson Reuters, 2010.

Australian Property Institute Property Journal