Hi Terry,Sorry to hear that this happens all the time..The property settled months ago.  The tenants have remained as their rental contract is in place until this weekend, and they have  been paying rent to me.  The problem is that the agents knew that the tenants needed to be out, but they didn't notify them in time.Ive since been informed th…[Read more]

Thanks for your response Richard and Carlin,Im tracking the rates and doing more research, but I expect to hold out a bit longer to see what happens.Thanks

Ive got a few investment properties that I am considering fixing the rate on for 5 years.It gives me some stability and the ability to forecast incoming/outgoings.Ive had a quick look and found 5 yr fixed rates being offered as low as 5.95%.Richard, I'm interested in you view.Apart from less flexibility, what harm is there in my fixing the…[Read more]

C&N are very good sales people.I don't have much respect for people who use FEAR to sell their "copyrighted" SOLUTION.There is nothing unique about their products, except the fee.

You guys must be going to some good seminars if you are learning heaps and getting great advice.I guess I started this topic as more of a warning to greenhorns……The mantra is, go to these seminars but be sceptical about what is the pesenter's motivation?And don't fork out for a course, a partnership or any other hard sell.  Books are…[Read more]

Ive just found that you dont learn anything new…. Years ago I may have got a bit of motivation out of them, but nowadays all I see is a con.A while ago, while younger and sillier – I spent a considerable amount (well, it was at the time) on a "mentoring course" provided by one of these "gurus" @ his seminar.  After the seminar, the speaker di…[Read more]

Hey, is this Tuk from BGS?   Just wondering…..

Scamp wrote:
Australia's housing crash is going to be worse than America's crash. If you have a mortgage, chances are big you will go bankrupt. Your capital gains over the last 3 years are officially gone already, and the crash hasn't even happened.

Scampy boy, your at it again eh……??  I see your name all over the web, scrawling the same d…[Read more]

Hi BliXy,Ive been back in Aus for about 3 years, but was in London for 4-5 years before that.  What we did was temporarily lower our living standards drastically….  The results have been very worthwile.We bought our first 2 properties while in the UK, both sight unseen.  Our first purchase was in Vanuatu – I got a personal loan from HSBC and pai…[Read more]

In regards to the first question: I wouldn't get a bank evaluation, they have a tendency to grossly undervalue. I would get an independent valuation from a company that is on your banks list or approved valuers.Years ago I had a bank valuation that was 25% LESS than the independant valuation.

Inala, Darra and Logan are the 3 areas of brisbane with a bad reputation.Persoanally I dont mind Darra – its got good rail connections (city 10 min exp), neighbours some middle class suburban areas, large blocks and you can pick up some timbre queenslanders/post wars with alot of potential for refurb.  Although Darra does also neighbour areas l…[Read more]

Cheers guys….I dont expect Landlords Insurance to cover the broken window, and Im not suggesting otherwise.  I was just thinking that given the is obviously potential for future breakages etc.  They broke the window, so they need to fix it…  simple….Generally they are really good tenants.  Nice people who look after the place, never defau…[Read more]

JONCHU wrote:
Hi TQman, I recommend you “device” a plan based on what do you want to achieve and then your plan will tell you if the CBD investment is better than the house on the suburbs, etc. Property investing is just a vehicle to get you where you want to go.Apartments are “cheaper” to hold, however offer little or no possibilities of addi…[Read more]

City fringe areas have had good growth of late.Paddington has had a massive boom in the last 6 months.Places like Russel Island have no road connection to the mainland, hence you can pick up land for next to nothing. They may have had growth, but I woulnt be rushing to buy land there unless there are plans to connect this island to the mainland.

I dont usually get investment advice from News Limited, but this was a top story….It advised home owners to fix…Thoughts…..?http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,23636,22553801-462,00.html

Thanks LA and Qlds,Both good points….  Richard, you offered the obvious answer – I just couldnt see it.My loans are actually set up as 100% Offset, Ive just fallen into the trap of not utilising this properly.For some reason, I was thinking that the offset only affects the interest and that I couldnt refinance for lower repayments. Obviously by…[Read more]

Dont forget that you can negotiate the PM fees.I pay 6% at a reputable PM who charges 8% usually.So long as you dont bargain too hard and get the PM off side or dissinterested in doing the best job for you!

I could be off the mark here, but I am assuming that it means there is a customary owner and that a buyer may purchase the lease to this land over x amount of years.I own a block of land in Vanuatu on a 75 year land lease.  Instead of paying rates, I pay a small amount each year that goes to a traditional owner of the land. After 75years, I can…[Read more]

I can confirm that many appartments in Brisbanes City fringe areas are selling for (or above) asking price.  I have seen places under contract, where the open day still gos ahead.  I guess this is as back up incase finance falls through.But, this has been happening for a few months now in certain areas.  ie Toowong, St Lucia, Paddington, Ta…[Read more]

Ive done alittle research (at the time of posting I hadnt done any), and it seems that I am better off not to fix.The banks seem to factor in interest increases into their fixed rates, meaning that unless there is a huge jump in a short period of time, then its hardly worth it. The clincher for me was flexibility, which I didnt realise was a…[Read more]