Private property investors account for 1.5 residential investment properties in Australia today. The figure represents a quarter of the housing industry nationwide.

Property analyst Michael Matusik gives the public a profile of the typical Australian investor that holds a substantial proportion of the residential property business.

A primary characteristic of Australia's property buyer is that 80 percent of them buy for long term capital gain. Matusik point out that most investors expect property values to double every 10 years.

Matusik said nine out of 10 investors buy in their own state or territory, while two-thirds buy within a capital city. Inner-city locations or areas close to the central business district are most preferred. Home would always be where the heart is so half of investors buy in the same city and even the same suburb.

Three out of five investors get the money to acquire investment properties from loans and other forms of borrowings. As a result, Matusik said, one in four investment properties are withdrawn. Moreover, most property acquisitions are sold within 12 months, while half are sold within five years.

One third of the 34 to 54 year old investors sell because they need the money. About a quarter put properties on sale due to unsatisfactory capital growth, around 20 per cent sell because the rental returns are lower than forecast, and one in six due to lack of time to foresee the property.