The first article just sounds like marketing hype for his new business.

ambosh wrote:
No.  Over the long term, the additional cost of fixed rate has proven to be not worth it.

Not always. You just need to do the sums and see what works out best for you in your situation. There are many variables to consider.CheersPaul

It's generally better to pay off non-deductible debt  like a PPoR loan,  which stops interest long term – it's a guaranteed return of whatever % interest rate you are paying on the loan. Money in high interest account general has poor after-tax, inflation-adjusted returns. E.g, mortgage inerest is 7%p.a. versus deposit rate of 5%p.a. (which is a…[Read more]

Qlds007 wrote:
Sure we expect everyone to rise but CBA announced it 4 minutes after the RBA.

So should all the Big 4, I reckon….surely they have people crunching the numbers on various scenarios, so that if the RBA decision was to cut, hold, raise by 0.25%, raise by 0.5% they would be absolutely clear about what this meant for their…[Read more]

Dan42 wrote:

PaulTextor wrote:

Talismans wrote:
Can the interest payment be deducted from the capital gain as well if I sell the share less than a year at a profit?

 No. Interest can only be deducted from your income. Only capital losses can offset capital gains.CheersPaul

This is not correct. Revenue losses can offset capital g…[Read more]

Hi Kerrie CMy advice would be to talk to an appropriately quaified financial planner, with a good reputation. He or she will be able to discuss your financial and other goals and recommend strategies that are suitable for you, in the context of the current economy and 'cycles' for property and shares. I am guessing that if you are in your late…[Read more]

ryan mclean wrote:
I check my populations by using wikipedia because it gathers information from the previous census (which was 2006).

Wikipedia… Probably better to use other sources like ABS. Not sure about NSW but for Qld, also see Office of Economic and Statistical Research.Also – if you are looking at the drought 'breaking' as part of an…[Read more]

You might be able to find someone on here who is able to access RP Data who could get you the info for free or offer to on-sell it to you for a fee less than joining RP data yourself. Just a thought.CheersPaul

Veronique wrote:
I approached my bank with whom my mortgage is with to do exactly this. My mortgage was paid-up so the balance was $0.00. My banker took the $400 000 mortgage and split it in two (at no cost to me) as follows:$100 000 for share investing$300 000 for any other investing I may requireThis makes it a lot easier when doing your tax…[Read more]

For serious investors, I don't think fixtures, taps, etc add much value to the property, but help to be able to increase rent…?Always good to be able to find cheap reno materials tho – very useful site. Thanx CheersPaul

Would be good to thoroughly research the B&B market – demand, pricing, demographcs of customers, etc….Bris southside isn't the first place that comes to mind when I think of B&B's. But difficult to know without more info on the place….just some food for thought.CheersPaul

number 8 wrote:
Further, you should never pay this debt down.

Hmmm….I wouldn't go so far as to say 'never' as it depends on individual circumstances. But generally, loan with offset account is a sound structure that allows you flexibility and doesn't cause any probs in relation deductibility.CheersPaul. 

We fixed for 6.49% for 3 yrs in Aug 2009 but not sure any lenders would be offering that rate now. Some of the mortgage brokers on the forum would be better informed than me tho.CheersPaul.

Boogz wrote:
& if your insurance doesn't extend far enough, I can potentially take both your IP AND your Family home.

Most insurance policies provide more than adequate cover for these types of accidents. cheersPaul

Yes, the definition of 'a good deal' is very subjective. Look at all the examples in glossy mags like Australian Property Investor and the like. Always showing articles on 'successful' people by reporting purchase and current valuation as a way to demonstrate 'success' or 'a good deal'. E.g. 'I bought a place for $250K and now it's valued at $380…[Read more]

Excel is free too, if you know the right people

All the info you need to make investment decisions is free….just do your research and put the info into your own Excel spreadsheet…

ryan mcleanWhat do you get my CG's on? 10x$100,000 properties earning 4% capital wrote:
4% p.a. capital gain is extremely ambitious in towns where you can buy for $100K. It's much better for your long term wealth if you buy the best quality asset you can afford.CheersPaul

In my experience with private investors, you would need to offer around $350-400K (or approx 20%) if you were going to ask for $1.8M. We've been trying to get PI funds for a project (not property – something entirely different) for about 5 years now and the closest we have come, despite everyone saying, "yeah, this is a great concept and we're…[Read more]

You can probably find a property (or share for that matter) that is affordable no matter what your level of income. But you also need to make sure you are buying a quality asset to give you the best chance of getting long term returns. Just holding assets doesn't necessarily mean you are increasing your wealth.CheersPaul