Interesting thoughts Benny. I tend to agree that we’ve allowed the issue to become very politicised. I don’t trust either side. I think both the left and right are motivated by greed and desire for more power.

Whether climate change is natural or man-made, it just seems to make sense to me that we should care for the environment. Fossil fuels…[Read more]

Hi SBH. The question of whether to buy a PPR is not as objective as making an investment decision because there are personal and lifestyle motivations (not just financial goals) driving the decision. Here are a few questions to consider…
– Is it more expensive to own than rent in the area?
– If so, will buying a home restrict your progress…[Read more]

That depends on the area. If demand overall is relatively strong, #2, although it wouldn’t necessarily take longer to sell. If demand is weaker, #1, or it takes longer. So the risk is, if the market moves against you, your duplex may be harder to sell for the price you want within the timeframe you want because the target market is smaller. In the…[Read more]

That depends on the area. If demand overall is relatively strong, #2, although it wouldn’t necessarily take longer to sell. If demand is weaker, #1, or it takes longer. So the risk is, if the market moves against you, your duplex may be harder to sell for the price you want within the timeframe you want because the target market is smaller. In the…[Read more]

Hi Steven.

I wouldn’t necessarily agree with that view, as the majority of the value of any property is in the land, not the dwelling. So in part, it comes down to the demand for land in the particular area. That said, your dwelling does narrow your target market for resale, so with a duplex, you’re aiming to sell to…

1. an investor
2. an…[Read more]

They are all looking for ways to shore up capital to meet new APRA requirements that are just around the corner.

The Civil Division of VCAT handles disputes relating to domestic building works. I would have her start there. They may refer her to the Victorian Building Authority, which helps resolve disputes relating to domestic building contracts.

Hi Pat. It sure seems like there’s never been a better time to sell, but that’s not to say next year won’t be even better. With interest rates so low, it’s really hard to say. It would be tough to let it go though with potential subdivision gains to be had. But I can also see why you’d be keen to move on.

Happy to catch up for a chat if you want…[Read more]

Thanks for the heads up. Another thing to watch out for is insurers’ deliberate attempts to minimise payouts. I was recently working with an investor who was told the damage by his tenant was not “malicious” even though it was clearly beyond normal wear and tear. Finally, after pushing and pushing and talking to three or four different people, he…[Read more]

Thanks for the heads up. Another thing to watch out for is insurers’ deliberate attempts to minimise payouts. I was recently working with an investor who was told the damage by his tenant was not “malicious” even though it was clearly beyond normal wear and tear. Finally, after pushing and pushing and talking to three or four different people, he…[Read more]

I expect the Fed to cut rates back to zero, which would put pressure on the RBA to continue cutting rates. But that could continue to fuel home price rises, so APRA will need to help out by preventing an excessive amount of new credit from flowing into housing. This would come in the form of capital controls of sorts on banks.

Having personally coached hundreds of investors, I’ve seen firsthand the importance of educating yourself before buying an investment property. Find someone who has done it themselves and who is not trying to steer you toward a deal through the learning. Investing a few thousand dollars in your education on the front end can save you tens of…[Read more]

I’ll go on record to predict 1.0 percent by the end of this financial year :)

But not without some help from APRA…

I’ll go on record to predict 1.0 percent by the end of the financial year :)

Great input here all around. I would only add that it’s best to first decide whether you are primarily an income investor or a growth investor. Commercial is great for income, but not so great as a growth asset. That said, I can understand why you’re looking elsewhere than Aussie residential property for generic growth.

“Success comes from doing things differently.”
– Steve McKnight

“Pay yourself first.”
– Robert Kiyosaki

“Small fish taste sweet.” (In reference to smaller profits on quick-turn deals)
– my friend who’s a builder/developer