Recent reports from the banking sector have warned those of us at the front line of an emerging new economic order – where historic low interest rates are stimulating our housing markets, but doing little to budge the overall economy – that a rise in credit arrears is on its way.

Like a nice vintage car, property investments need to be well looked after in order to maintain their value in the market.

Fads come and go in the property world. People jump on all kinds of bandwagons, depending on where most of the development dollars are being spent at any given time, and invariably buy something that doesn’t quite gel with their investment goals, strategy or portfolio.

You’ve signed a time restrictive contract of sale to purchase your next property and are just waiting on the bank to come back with a valuation to confirm your unconditional loan approval. But what happens if your lender’s appointed valuer decides the numbers don’t quite stack up in your favour?