jayhinrichs wrote:
No checking accounts cash their pay checks at pay day places.  deal in cash only

Yep. I can't quite see the local dealer standing on a street corner with his wireless CC terminal. You also having tipping which I suppose necessitates the need to always have cash. 

kylermrice wrote:
Our corrupt banking system is the real problem. 

ROFL..

Our guys aren't that far behind your guys. Don't worry Oz has a long way to go yet. Trying to do anything across State borders can do your head in. That's hard on a Kiwi guy whose been brought up in one synchronous system. Coming to Oz was traumatic to my sense of…[Read more]

The check thing cracks me up. You guys are so last century.

I couldn't tell you the last time I saw a check. Be over 15 years now.

You couldn't rent a place in Oz if you didn't direct credit your payments regardless of who you are. Even welfare recipients here can't function without a bank account. 

Derek wrote:

Having Freckle onboard helps keep the whole PI ship steady.  

That's a lot of responsibility for one guy.

If I'm steadying the whole ship I want more pay!  

1200 – 1500 should be your target range for a 2bdr unit. Simple split cycle systems are pretty cheap these days and replacement installs are straightforward. 

FMG allow 2 hrs for a swap out in their mining camps. That gives you an idea of how much work's involved.

These guys are flogging 6.5kw reverse cycle units for $900. Your neck of woods…[Read more]

2600 seems pretty high. Is it a centralised ducted system or do you have separate units for different rooms/areas

wendyw wrote:
Freckle, my husband I have invested in the fund after much research and consideration. My husband is a true skeptic.

Then you probably understand the pros and cons better than most.

Quote:
I think Steve and his team have been too lax in allowing you so much space on the forums.

There's a fairly tight set of terms and…[Read more]

Yes. We all experience it especially when it's something we desire. Your point Gazza?

bardon wrote:
As the Guvnor has pointed out, this property bubble has been around for a very unbbublesque duration of time.

Agreed. The following graph illustrates that point. Previous bubbles were much shorter in duration and had relatively mild corrections. This one we're in is by contrast a humdinger. Invariably there will be a correction.…[Read more]

Go with the ultrasound guy first. If he can't detect running water disconnect your hot feed from tank to taps and push compressed air through the line. It should girgle or his. Sound detection should pick that up fairly easily. You can use one of those 12v tyre pumps to supply compressed air. $140

You can't make any decisions until you nail…[Read more]

Ran into this graph the other day and thought it was an accurate depiction of where the US RE market is heading. The so called recovery is heading into the mania section as institutional buyers hit the market with gathering momentum. When that momentum runs out…….

Most would consider commercial RE as land and buildings that enable someone else to run a business activity from. Once you get involved in a running a business from a property you blur the lines between property investor vs business owner. 

When I watched Steve's Fund presentation and good ol' Uncle Zally whatever showcased his trailer park buys I started scratching my head as to what's this got to do with commercial RE.

Trailer parks aren't property buys they're business buys. His examples were about how to turn a business around the Chinese way; IE have half the family…[Read more]

Unfortunately in real life the hooker says "drinks on the house boys" and poof the money's gone. 

Peachy you can buy an infrared thermometer for $30 off ebay You wont have to calibrating it if your just looking for a heat source as opposed to actually measuring temp

Turn off your hot water system (water supply) and check your meter again. This should indicate/confirm its a hot water side leak. 

I think you need to assess if any of these were…[Read more]

zmagan wrote:
Japan has a few more rounds (and years) in its economic arsenal and room to maneuver, and nothing like the basic barrel of gunpowder that was the Greek administration pre crisis.

You're deluding yourself if you believe that. If Japan had more rounds and room to move then why is it waiting this long to fix the problem. 20+…[Read more]

Japan. The next Greece. Wonder how long they'll be able to spin that along before the land of the rising sun becomes another 3rd world country.

You'll have competition for cheap property I'm sure Jay. Good thing about Japan is there won't be any war zones like the US and they'll be ever so helpful and polite. Getting ripped off will be unusual…[Read more]

Arrium (ex One Steel) is probably the Saviour for Whyalla. Reopening the old Iron Baron mine plus it's proposed growth strategy should see the town at least tick over at a reasonable pace for a few years yet.

Given the current resource sector downturn I wouldn't plan on anything too extravagant happening to Whyalla for a decade or two. If  the…[Read more]

Read this

http://www.yourmortgage.com.au/article/buying-with-other-people-79400.aspx

MyRoom wrote:
I expect the Aust., dollar to fall in the medium term.

I wouldn't bet on it. The FED is on a mission to keep the dollar low to at least give their economy some chance of competitiveness. 

Quote:
Once the Australian dollar returns to more historical norm levels, (at least back to USD.0.80) if I had borrowed CNY then I've lost…[Read more]