Hi Again Kerrie.Everything Ryan mentions is good advice.  However, I believe you can borrow to leverage into shares. While they may pay some dividends but won't have the stability of the rental return.  Also, you hear a lot about margin calls!  As with property, it would pay to do some research into shares, rather than following the crowd.Regards,G

Hi thecrest and sonya.Yes I have all Margaret Lomas's stuff, and think its great.Unfortunately I didn't read that book until AFTER the property manager problem!Re Sonya's ideal landlord/property manager scenario, I think the agent had both in this situation, but still managed to be inefficient. There are just people out there who are not all that…[Read more]

Hi Gords.Is there any possibility she may be able/willing to buy you out?  G

Oh, forgot to say,The reason we like that area is that the housing trust stock is around the same price as in Port Lincoln, Wallaroo and Mount Gambier and at the moment the housing trust are selling some of them off at reasonable prices.  As D.Park and Elizabeth are in/near Adelaide with a greater pool of tenants, I think these areas are good…[Read more]

Hi everyone,It seems we've all had the same painful experiences!!  A few years ago I inspected a house being quoted at X, and KNEW by then, from lots of disappointing experiences, it would go for Y.  (At one previous auction an agent watching even told me almost exactly what the house in question would fetch, which was an eye opener at the t…[Read more]

Hi a1159890,Everything said before is sound advice.  I am looking at that area myself.  I assume you'd get some first home owner grant?  I don't think its totally removed, just reduced to $7,000, but you probably know more about that than me.  If so, it might cover purchasing costs, and is your first purchase stamp duty exempt?  (this assumes you…[Read more]

Hello gmnicho,How ab out a clause in the long term lease saying you reserve the right to adjust rent in line with the market,  each half year?  You don't have to do it each time, but I think they would see that as reasonable.G

Hi Kerri.We are just behind you in the age situation but the way I look at it you could easily have two real estate 'cycles' before you retire, over the next twenty years, bringing you to the new retirement age!  (older than now).Teenagers are expensive, as I can sympathize having 4 also, but at the same time the ones at Uni can pay their own HEX…[Read more]

Hi.I am also a new member, and have experienced a similar situation.  As we had a lot of equity in the property and didn't plan to sell we did let the rent fall behind somewhat, but at the same time the tenant is great and lets us do things when and if we can, etc.  and at the moment we are too busy elsewhere to put a lot of time and effort into t…[Read more]

Hi Richard.That's interesting re. borrowing.  Both banker and mortgage broker told us this.  I guess its only their preference.Regards,G

Hi Ryan.We've done it in SA a couple of times, and I have been told that the process is quicker if a house is going on the land.  I think the land titles office put those applications to the front of the list.From purchase to fully built houses on subdivided block has taken just over 12 months (of holding costs) but obviously the building costs…[Read more]

Hi suburbia.I've been looking into this too.  Basically, banks don't like to loan on things that are under 50 squ. of floorspace, I assume as they feel it is more like a model room and more likely to be purpose specific, hence not easy to sell and limiting re. growth.Also, if the property is 'managed' e.g. by the Breakaway group or another…[Read more]

Oh sorry, forgot to say:I believe what happens with Centrelink is that they view the rental from an investment as income, but at tax time whenyou are able to show expenses/losses etc. they refund you.  So you get a huge payment later in the year usually.  G

Hi again.PPOR is principle place of residence. (Your own home)G

Hi Ben.I have a son who has been in a very similar situation and considered the same options as you.  His solution was to rent a room in his townhouse to various friends (1 at a time!) for a few years.  Obviously there were a few hiccups, but overall he enjoyed the company and never had trouble with anyone paying. You could put this  money into yo…[Read more]

Hi oo3c.I have been in the position of single parent, so can relate.  I built my own home at 22 and it was a wonderful empowering experience that created a firm foundation for me and my son, not to mention the poor farmer I later married!!I live in Adelaide myself, and as it was one option you considered, I can tell you there are nice coastal,…[Read more]

Thanks for all the comments on this topic!  I love this forum as its so fascinating to hear others experiences.Reading them fired me up to contact one agency, bypassing the 'new' property manager and going to the director, to say we were expecting better service from them, as the previous p.manager had not returned our calls or the tenants,…[Read more]

Hi all.I would like to say that despite the new legislation governing auctions (registering bidders and eliminating dummy bidders, etc) I see agents using them in the hope of creating bidding wars, rather than as a means of selling something to meet the market.  It took me lots of wasted days and disappointments to wake up to this. It can be very…[Read more]

Hi kjegates.I thought I'd add this though it isn't directly related to advertising a private sale.  It deals with the difficulty of being truly dispassionate and objective when selling your own property, and the tendency for potential buyers to be a bit nervous whendealing directly with the owner.I think selling successfully yourself may hinge on…[Read more]

Hi Wallyp,I have seen relatives in a similar situation, and basically  all parties are at the mercy of one another if someone wants tosell, with no control over the timing.  I think trying to sell their shares would be problematic, as it would be difficult to getagreement on their value.  I think selling and being independent from now on is be…[Read more]