Are you worried about risk? Why have you just saved 160K and not got it working for you? I'd be buying my own home (unless you live rent free with family or something). I would look for a comfortable cheap home, so not to borrow too much more on my ppor. Then I'd borrow more to buy investments. That's an easy one!

I would think about strategy. If you buy an investment and hang onto it for the long term, then it doesn't matter if the market melts down. Pick a house in an area with some guarenteed rentability, good location, transport, schools, shops etc, then ride the waves. Also if your first investment is positively geared, then you have some cushioning should your second investment find hardtimes.

Sounds to me like you are smart enough to do your own research and not worry about what 'others' tell you. If you are ready to invest again, buy well and hang onto it, it doesn't really matter if the market has a down turn cause you have buffered yourself from the storm.

Yes I'd think it was very bad debt, as it may be some time before you can get a deposit/loan, I'd be addressing the issue of how I managed to spend such a large amount of money on credit/personal loans especially if it was on material consumption (disregard of course if it was a matter of urgency/critical situation). I would think about putting in place a good budget and savings plan and also in the meantime researching and studying the market and different approaches to property investing. Before you know it you will be in a better position finacially and ready to invest

So can someone explain to me about street rating? Does it mean that if it's 0 rated, then it's the cheapest house in the street? Are the values representative of the actual price of other houses in the street?

Also in regards to sales history, is the upgraded sale price, the price the owner paid when it was last purchased?

I disagree!

Ipswich is a great place to invest depending on strategy. The area is rapidly growing, major investment in the way of infrastructure and employment opportunities. Amberley will be become a mega base and citiswitch will bring huge employment opportunities as well as the Ebenezer Business park. It will become to Brisbane what Parramatta is to Sydney. The council is doing great things!

While Ipswich has seem some fantastic growth in the past 10 years, rents still have not caught up. So at the moment it is hard to find good cash flow properties. However I think the next few years will see good rent rises and while it may not boom, good steady growth will result.

Last week Lomas spoke on the radio and highlighted Ipswich and Gatton as good investing. Gatton is having a prison built which will boost that town. Ipswich East is still undervalued. Sure there was mining underground but there are mines under many Australian towns. Collingwood Park which is a fair way out of Ipswich city had subsidence issues last year. Just be mindful of the areas which have subsidence or black soils. Collingwood park has had subsidence issues for years, so if investors bought there with it's history perhaps they didn't do enough research.

I always have my eye on Ipswich.

Shivers Yeah, you have been ready for a while with 77% ownership. Just make sure you find an IP which has good rent and rentability. Do your maths and what Miike said factor in some interest rate rises but I'd be going for it.

Yes I would think that for your price range, Logan would be the best bet. Easy access to Bris and Gold Coast, freeways, train links and facilities galore.