We recently went to one in Perth and found it a waste of time. Lots there peddling their own developments, some mortgage brokers, some share investment companies, some presenters giving talks that could be interesting if you had never been to one before. Highlight was speaking to Adam & Fiona who seem to be a really nice genuine couple who are fully appreciative of the financial opportunities now open to them after their Block win. Perth is small so maybe an Eastern side exhibition would be better.

I know of a young man that received $14,000 FHOG for a property that he never intended to live in. He has received rent for the last 18 months and has never been questioned even though he doesn’t live anywhere near the property. Bet if either of my kids, who have been brought up to be honest, tried anything like that they’d be the first caught. My oldest son received the $14,000 and paid cash for an $18,000 block of land in a town an hour out of Perth, borrowed for the building, the town went through a mini boom and he is now sitting in a $170,000 house with a $74,000 mortgage. His girlfriend has just bought a house at age 21 after saving $45,000 by working at Chicken Treat part time while at school and full time for the past two years. Hope your kids are able to take advantage of the FHOG while it is available but let them do it legal and be proud of what they have achieved.

We are self employed and would find a budget difficult. We use credit cards for all private and small business purchases, all are accounted for through the business as well as power, phone, rates, car expenses etc. and as we are probably four nights a week either in the office until late or seeing clients etc.and I’m not getting any younger we tend to eat out a couple of times a week which would blow any budget because I am just too darn tired to be bothered cooking a meal. I do clean the house and wash clothes myself but the dog wash service and the car cleaning man are my best friends []

Valuer General doesn’t have a web site as far as I am aware. Some info can be found through http://www.dola.wa.gov.au and http://www.reiwa.com.au

Valuer General (fax 0894298460) in WA will fax back last purchase date/price on a particular property and sales values of 70 others for $14 or 110 properties by e.mail for $22. The “other” properties can be split over two areas ie 35 around two different properties. My search yesterday was answered within 1/2 hour.