The article states that approximately 800,000 properties are vacant any one time. This sounds ridiculous. Doing a very rough calculation of an Australian population of 20mil and average household size of 2.4 people this equates to an approximate percentage of 9.5%. Are they seriously trying to tell us that circa 9.5% of properties are vacant n…[Read more]

Hi Scott, I can't be specific on the location since I'm still with my former employer and it is a very small industry. The business is an even mix of leasing (not property management, just finding the tenant) and sales. I have no doubt the business will be successful since i've been through the hell of 07-08 when almost every commercial agency…[Read more]

Hi Wynyard, You mentioned you're only earning $25k per annum. I'm not surprised you're struggling to service a mortgage. I wouldn't be afraid of renting for the near future while continuing to invest spare capital in other avenues until your income increases to a level where you can service a home loan. You shouldn't be earning $25k forever. I…[Read more]

Hi TV, Population growth is detailed on the ABS website. Rental yeilds are at the back of the Australian Property Investor magazine. Good luck mate!

I'm an experienced commercial selling/leasing agent, and I wouldn't encourage you to screw the agents down too hard. They're working for you and the fee they charge is their incentive to achieve a result. If anything I would try and get the marketing costs covered within the commission, thereby giving them more incentive to sell it. If they go s…[Read more]

I've already got one unapproved granny flat and am looking at buying a relocatable cabin to put on another IP in Western Sydney. I've investigated with council and spoken to a few agent and it looks like you can get it through under complying development, however it needs to tick alot of boxes. If there is an existing granny flat then it needs to…[Read more]

No problems. If you've got a tenant in place my advice would be: – Maintain communication regularly and make sure the air-conditioning is working properly. You'd be surprised, but this is the biggest complaint we get from sitting tenants. A tenant isn't going to move just because the air-con doesn't work well. But it will make their day to day…[Read more]

Hi Guys, I'm a commercial property sales and leasing agent in Sydney. I've been doing it for around 8 years and I'd like to share some insights for those that are interested: – Investors with property valued between $300k and $3mil rarely do well with industrial or commecial (office) investments in my markets. – Property can easily stay vacant for…[Read more]

Thanks for all the advice. So if I'm making an annual reportable income from the profit from these projects will the bank take this income into account when assessing me for a loan?I'm thinking of doing a few project while still employed to prove to the financiers that I am capable of providing a regular income through this. Has anyone done this…

Thanks for the response Richard. Is your income through rent received, or from renovating and selling?If it is from the rent being recieved, how long did it take you to to build up a portfolio of properites generating enough positively geared income to service the dept on your investments?