Hi Kay,

Actually I enjoy reading about the market. I must admit though that the prospect of using that knowledge is part of what excites me so there was a little disappointment for me realising how much extra effort would be required to get something that works in the declining market. Of course I could just go short some REITs [biggrin].

Bye…[Read more]

Hi Quiggles,

I really do believe newspapers affect the market and is one of the reasons that the less knowledgable (mom & pop investors) have left the market. Of course you can find bargains in any market and to anaylse individual bargains there is all kind of software and more targeted research readily available. (I have been reading this site…[Read more]

Between stamp duty, land tax and where the housing market is heading I am starting to question my decision to buy a number of properties over the last couple of years.

Well I am still thinking about what to do next….hmmm… usana direct marketing [biggrin]?

Hi Beck,

I have been pretty happy with berwick ray white:

[email protected] ph 9796 2666

I live in the US and do all correspondence through email which is promptly attended too. If a repair is needed they send me 3 quotes and I am told their are no kickbacks [wink1]

Bye the way – when I last visited Berwick was booming. Is this still true?

My line of credit here in the US is %3.75 []
What is tricky to play around with is the change in dollar if I use that money to purchase down under.

With the rising dollar its easy as my rent just increases but my cost is fixed. If the dollar starts falling I let it approach the level I bought the house at and then refinance it down under.

A…[Read more]

I must say that it was interesting to see that 22 people read this thread in under an hour. It looks like not everyone is Christmas shopping unless people are buying a house for their spouse []

PeterM does make a good point that my biggest risk is change of currency which offsets my good fortune of having low interest rates. it would be…[Read more]

Thanks Kay []

Hi PeterM,
I am an aussie living in the US and the interest rates are a little lower here. I got mine through http://www.etrade.com as a home equity load (with .25% discount since I have an account with them).

Its fun buying remotely as everything looks so cheap in comaparison to San Francisco. Of course I can’t find anything with the…[Read more]

I must say I was impressed that I got 3 replies to my post! Quite a nice welcome – you look like a great set of people.

mcollins / melbear: Australia vs US
I mainly bought in Australia as the quality of house I bought was much better, when you take into account the dollar difference, than what I would get in California. Not a very good reason but…[Read more]