7%+ yields in Adelaide are easy, you'll just be buying up old housing trust stock. Playford council will fit your needs.

Alternatively for a slightly lower yield in the 6's you can get in around Hackham, which some may argue is slightly less 'feral'.

I've been purchasing Adelaide properties at 8-9% yields personally.

If it's for your own property to live in, tiles for wet and high traffic areas with carpet in living and bedrooms are a good combination.

Floating floors can be OK, but they can potentially have longer term issues.

I still believe the best flooring around is solid timber floors, but outside of older builds they are far and few between. 

Generally the main concerns with commercial IP's are that:

• They can sit vacant indefinitely
• Capital growth is not generally consistant, some properties wind back whilst others are sluggish. Quite different from the residential market.
• Higher deposit requirements and different lending with regards to rates, products, loan terms etc

In saying that, I've seen some great deals purchased, so long as the fundamentals are strong, long leases in place with favourable terms for the landlord, it's well worth the consideration.

I do know of a few brokerages which charge a fee for service like you've mentioned.

Other fee's a broker may charge can include a fee for service if the loan amount is below a certain amount (ie, $100k), or clawback provisions (if the loan is discharged in less than two years, the brokers commission may be charged to the client).

The most important thing to do is to find a broker you can trust and engage with – as well as one which helps you achieve your goals than drag behind.

Interest only and Offset sounds like it will help you out a lot in this situation. Put any extra funds into offset to maintain the maximum deductibility should you make it an investment property.

I've had quite a number of separation deals in the last 12 months, overall the majority of deals results in one partner buying out the other. The selling and buying costs eat up a substantial part of the equity left, so it generally makes sense.

Outside of the financial sense, it sounds like you're taking this from a practical perspective, giving yourself time to look at your options as life progresses. Keep up the good work.

Whyalla and Port Lincoln have been stomping grounds for investors for a reasonable while. Prices fluctuate quite rapidly, particularly when mining announcements have been made. I've known investors to double their property values in 4 years, and others lose 20%. It has it's risks, which outweigh the benefits for me TBH.

Hey Mikal, did the Dip through NFI, pretty straight forward.

IMHO the study is not that useful and or relevant to the industry and providing a good service.

If you want to have a chat about joining the industry and what it's like, feel free to let me know. I'm based in the CBD.

Not all lenders will do 95% for construction IP but there are a decent number of lenders which do, not much of an issue if you fit credit scoring models.

Where in Western Vic are you looking to build?

Sounds like you're in a great position early on.

Looking at your situation:

• Access to significant amount of equity
• Don't have current mortgage/rent repayments
• Qualifications related to renovating

Accessing the equity on the property for deposit funds (and possibly renovation funds) means you do have the potential for your brother and yourself to purchase several properties (seperately or together) and have funds to renovate if you want to go down this pathway. This is subject to serviceability (income, liabilities etc), however if you're currently living in an unencumbered property that is helpful with this respect.

You have all the groundwork in place to start a substantial portfolio, I would suggest increasing your knowledge in property investment, read, go to property investor meet ups if you can. The knowledge out there is immense. Also build yourself a strong team of professionals (accountant, solicitor/conveyancer, broker, Property managers etc) who can help you achieve your goals and provide greater options.

What State do you live in BTW?

BTW Wilkie, earning over 80k/pa isn't 48% tax rate, it's 37%+medicare… Not as bad as you think.

If I was to look interstate right now, I'd be looking into Brisbane.