good question what is L/O and what is SMCB?

Agents are interested in selling you a property, so as long as you portray yourself as being able to do so they will take you seriously.

Cheers Jeff
http://www.property.focusdevelopments.com.au

we build & sell our houses mostly in the Logan City area which is about a 20 minutes drive from Brisbane City center & 40 minutes to the gold coast. another growth area is Ipswich as the qld government has nominated it as an area for future development.

being brand new ours are around the 300k mark, but if you want second hand you will buy cheaper (but have less tax depreciation benefits). you will also buy cheaper if you dont want 4 beds 2 bathrooms & double garage, but obviously you will get get less rent.

we dont rent ours out (just sell them on) but from memory the last rental appraisal I got was between $265 to $285 a week.

if you want any info on specific suburbs let me know & i will see what I can tell you about them.

Cheers Jeff
http://www.property.focusdevelopments.com.au

if the house is pre-war you had better what modifications you are allowed to make to it. Some councils can be very restrictive on old houses.

Cheers Jeff
http://www.property.focusdevelopments.com.au

of course you need a driveway, would you want to rent a house without one ? (I was going to say or buy, but obviously you did )

Cheers Jeff
http://www.property.focusdevelopments.com.au

you can talk to your solicitor about sunrise clauses.

why not negotiate the deposit down ?
we sell our houses on very little deposit and have not had a problem yet.

The last block of land that I purchased I put down $100.00 and said like it or lump it. They wanted to sell the land so they took my $100.00 and were happy with it.

as you say, by paying such a large deposit you are helping the developer/builder to offset his interest costs which are already factored into the final selling price, which equals more profit for them & more costs for you.

Cheers Jeff
http://www.property.focusdevelopments.com.au

you need to check the town plan. you might find that you can already build a duplex on your site without planning permission, or you might find that your block doesnt meet the frontage or other requirements for a duplex

talk to your council

http://www.property.focusdevelopments.com.au

forget the $40k profit.
bank loan costs & interest
solicitors fees (buying & selling)
stamp duty
real estate agents costs & marketing/advertsing
rates & other minor costs
be lucky to get $10k back after tax IF you get the asking price

Or am i seeing it wrong ?