HI Matt,Usually – very small complexes may have minimal strata costs. This occurs when there is negligible common property. Rule of thumb the more common property and shared facilities there are the higher the strata costs. Big ones to look for are lifts, swimming pools and gyms. Original poster – all but two of my properties are units/townhouses…[Read more]

Great news John. Tis not all doom and gloom out there.Be interested to hear how you 'turned business around' if you don't mind. Might help motivate some others on the forum.

Hi Sam,Sounds like you have thought it through. Make sure you don't get overly excited about negative gearing – the more negatively geared your portfolio the fewer tax deductions (in percentage terms) you get.  This will limit your journey to varying degrees – even if you have a high income the brakes will be applied sooner or later.Now I must…[Read more]

If you do take 'mum' on as a tenant make sure you have a formal lease agreement in place. This will give you some protection should the wheels start to fall off. Ensure you have a say in the length of any lease agreement – do not let the son sign up mum for the rest of her natural life. This is your investment so set it up the way you want – if…[Read more]

A follow-up article in today's SPI Online quotes some 'investment groups' as having stopped recommended Moranbah since middle of 2011. The article is here

Not that I am aware of – might have been in the past. While a lot of my comments may seem to be anti-FIFO the concept has obviously worked for many mining companies and also for many of the FIFO workers. My understanding is the FIFO concept originally came into being after the introduction of the fringe benefits tax regime. Once all of the numbers…[Read more]

Hi Todd,'Taking from the community' really relates to the lack of return the community gets from FIFOs. I understand fully the FIFO nature of rosters etc does have a huge impact on a persons ability to give back to local sporting, social and community groups through involvement in such organisations. On top of this there is ample evidence to show…[Read more]

Hi Lillystar,Know what you are thinking – while investors may be in a position to 'buy low' sometimes the stigma lasts for a lot longer which, in turn, continues to effect suburb/area performance for a long time after things have returned to 'normal'

Find out who the PM is and speak with them directly.They will squeal privacy act and will not release owners name but explain what you want to do, have some quotes/figures to present to the property manager for forwarding onto the owner. Property Manager will need to be sold on the 'improvement' idea so they can explain it to the owners for their…[Read more]

Hi Jamie,Quite possible – read an article quite a few months ago and a place in Sydney reportedly had BC fees of $100K+/annum.Must have been some property:)

This article from SPI Online came across my desk today."Moranbah rents collapse as mining giants freeze leasesTuesday, 3 April 2012By: James MitchellMoranbah is in the grip of a rental standoff led by a number of mining companies unwilling to pay up to $3000 a week to accomodate workers, Smart Property Investment can today reveal.The Moranbah p…[Read more]

The grant did make new properties more attractive – moreso than normal market conditions would have suggested. While the grant may have added a few extra 'new' properties to the market it did serve to detract from similarly price3d s/hand properties.

SamAus74 wrote:
Inititally I thought and being naive that you just buy and hold waiting for CG and then buy again but I think Australia isnt like it used to be 5 – 7 years ago and hoping for CG is really just wishing at the moment. I dont want to be in a situtation that I buy my 2nd and 3rd then I cannot do anymore… because I didnt have the…[Read more]

What's that phrase about buying umbrellas in winter?

anandd wrote:
see properties for rent in Point Cook – which was a hot area for investors several years ago

Because it was being heavily (& 'successfully') marketed by organisations to investors.  

Sorry to hear about the fallover of this project in Tambrey. Someone mentioned the phrase 'too hard' – this may well be on the money. Developing and building in the north west does require an extra level of expertise and due diligence by the developer and builder. We have some development projects in Karratha using experienced NW builders. Before…[Read more]

RBA recently released a discussion paper on this topic. Try the RBA website for full speech/report. Property Observer wrote a summary of the research available here

Old original post I know but I have been impressed by the professionalism of Andrew Allen's cooments on this board.While I cannot comment on his work at the very least it would be worth picking up the phone and talking to Andrew. Do a search on him.

Hi Ryan,Maybe make enquiry of a friendly local agent. Explain the situation and they may be able to give you the answer.Derek

Hi Ryan,Check this link out http://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/consumerprotection/content/Property_renting/Renting_and_tenancy/Landlords/Landlords_pack.html