G’day CornelBasson,

You might find that there are other implications as well :

Such as rules regarding the FHOG… I think that you may need use your original unit as your principal place of residence for at least a year before moving out. See your friendlt Tax Accountant for further info.

As mentioned also, CGT may or may not be the downer on…[Read more]

G’day all,

My tip is to replace all of the power points / electric wall sockets and light switches. This, combined with a coat of paint throughout, can make a very big difference in the instant appeal of a room/house, and thus makes an increase in either value or rental income.

Thanks,

BDM

G’day Maiya,

From a potential capital gains point of view, Berwick and Cranbourne could be quite tasty – especially Berwick.

If you bought in Cranbourne 10 years ago you would be absolutely laughing now, as you would be if you bought in Berwick 4 or 5 years ago…

From a yield point of view, both are not so good.
We are talking negative gearing…[Read more]

G’day Fullout,

Standard rates for “unknown” authors are approx 7%-10% of retail price, depending on several things.

Bryce Courtney / J K Rowlings (spelling?), etc probably get a fair bit more….

I am also guessing that McKnight Enterprises Pty Ltd might be in a position to negotiate another percentage point or two when “From 131 – 700…[Read more]

G’day Arty2003,

Please accept this helping hand in standing you back up again, after I viciously bumped you to the ground….

I must confess – I just wanted my question back up near the top of the list. I actually used the word “bump” as a rough translation of “I can’t think of anything intelligent to say at the moment, and Arty2003 and Benson…[Read more]

bump []

G’day Luckyone,

My wife did this a few years after we got married….she is still having an identity crisis !!

Anyway, the point is, Benson is right : small fee, fill in a very boring form, too easy. By small fee, here in Victoria, it was only approx $5 ( five dollars ) from memory.

Stamp duty is not required.

The Titles Office can help you -…[Read more]

G’day Apollonia,

Suggested reading for facts / figures / how to / etc :
Anything by Jan Somers – but particularly “More Wealth from Residential Property”

Anita Bell – “Your Investment Property”

Dolf DeRoos – “Real Estate Riches”, part of the Rich Dad advisor series.

Steve McKnight – “0 to 130 properties in 3.5 years”

Suggested reading for…[Read more]

G’day everyone,

Thanks for the replies – I am touched that you have all responded, and/or read my post Thank you.

As far as due diligence is concerned, I think that I was lucky…. I’m still not even sure what causes pregnancy. As for the actual birth, I was there but I had my eyes closed.

I have photos – heaps of them – but I am unaware of…[Read more]

G’day Judith,

I would strongly recommend buying the book first…. The title is something along the lines of “The 7 steps to Automatic Wealth” – I can’t remember exactly.

I have my own copy, and have read it several times. At approx $25, it is substantially cheaper than the 3 day seminar. And it is easy to go back and read the bits you want to…[Read more]

G’day David,

Use the equity !!

It would seem that you have quite a bit of equity, so why get rid of $425 per week, which would go a long way to helping fund the interest on any future loans / refinancing ?

Use the equity every time !!

Have a good one,

BDM

G’day Ausclaud,

And therein lies the wisdom of “due dilligence”…. making sure that as much as possible is saying to go ahead or not with any individual purchase.

The only guarantee that you will always have a tennant is to lower the rent. As long as the property in question is suitable for human habitation, the simple act of lowering the rent…[Read more]

G’day Ms Elvis,

HWD007 and RodC are both right, but have possibly missed – or at least not mentioned – the most important part….

CGT ( Capital Gains Tax ) is only payable WHEN YOU SELL.

Therefore, if your strategy is “buy and hold” ie never sell, then you will NEVER pay CGT.

Please note that there are some other instances that may trigger a…[Read more]

G’day Gordon,

So far, my wife and I have exactly the same setup you mention : 1 loan secured by 2 IPs. It is a Line of Credit account, and as such we can withdraw up to certain limit, thus having the next deposit in theory available through a “hole in the wall” ATM.

Pros – easy availability of funding the next deposit / repair / renovation /…[Read more]

G’day Michael and Steve,

For what it’s worth, I also use hotmail…

Unlike Michael, I did receive March, April and Mays emails, but so far I have not received Junes or Julys.

I have certainly received more than my fair share of offers to enlarge various parts of my anatomy – but I must say that I prefer Steves emails helping me enlarge my bank…[Read more]

G’day QueenBee,

From what I understand, you personally cannot access the equity built up in the property owned by your company….

But your company can, or at least the directors of the company ( probably you ) can on behalf of the company.

This is all done in much the same way that you would if you owned it personally – simply go to the bank…[Read more]

G’day Steve,

It seems to me that you have quite possibly answered your own question in regards to “buying new” or “buying old”……

It all comes down to the amount of risk that you are comfortable with. You have summerized it quite well in your “thoughts” 1 and 2.

Personally, my wife and I have 2 IPs so far (plus our PPOR)as part of our buy…[Read more]

G’day Ms Elvis,

A suggestion would be to take any blue suede shoes you may have access to for a walk, and do a search in this forum under “Links” and “Sooshie”.

Sooshie maintains an ever increasing post here that has links to anywhere and everywhere about property investing – including SA.

Also – you could take your hound dog and have a sniff…[Read more]

G’day everyone,

I followed Tamara’s link and found the article she was talking about….

http://homeandgarden.nzoom.com/homeandgarden_detail/0,2628,171934-200-370,00.html

Thanks for the tip, Tamara

Basically, the article can be summerized by one of the last sentences in its second last paragraph :

“Become familiar with Auckland housing cycle…[Read more]

G’day Fullout,

Once settlement occurs, the property is yours. In 99% of cases, any “problems” discovered after settlement are simply bad luck and too late.

Therefore, it is a good idea to do some simple checks perhaps a day or two before settlement – you could go and give the place a final once-over and make sure that it looks like it did when…[Read more]