this is She Who Supervises Some of the Renos Hubby does28.  Balancing on two laders, with a flimsy bit of timber across them, then a couple of bricks, then an empty milk crate to reach up to that last bit of the wall that needed painting… and causing aforementioned She who Supervises to actually hold her breath quietly when she walked in on…[Read more]

financial situation would be one possible flaw in the idea. If one person can't afford to buy their backyard, then you could all be in trouble.  You may also have to look at strata fees, if this was common ground then the body corporate would have paid for maintenance on it, if it becomes private, then what would you do?  Also our strata levies a…[Read more]

if your concerned about maintenance, get a pool man to come regularly and service it, then you know if you repair it your money has been well spent, and of course, it adds to your maintenance deductions, as will the new plant to your depreciation schedule!  With summer coming up it could be the decider between someone taking your place or not,…[Read more]

Duckster, the holiday house will be totally owned, yes its a luxury but not something i'd ever sell its only got a relatively small morgage on it, and its waterfront, so its value is only going up.  We don't rent it out, but our family and friends all use it, and they contribute in lots of ways to its upkeep.  I'm in newcastle nsw, so i'll keep an…[Read more]

1 ppor owned 380,0001ip value 360,000 owe 210,0001ip value 340,000 owe 180,0001ip value 340,000 owe 250,0001ip value 330,000 owe 180,000all in northern nsw (newcastle, port macquarie areas)always looking for the next one

With a reverse morgage you can still will the property to whoever you want, just the bank gets its cut out of the sale. I know St George does one, enquire how they work actually, it might help your situation, however they still won’t qualify for the pension if they keep the asset.

As a 20 year RAAF member and having owned a DHA leaseback house way in the late 80’s, and been a Housing Officer ,I wouldn’t touch these investments with someone else’s money. As mentioned – huge management fees, expensive purchase prices which are out of touch with current prices and they are a bugger to onsell. The leases are ironclad – you…[Read more]

I own my ppor and have loc for the 4 investment properties alreay. So you think to park would be the best at the moment. HG

thanks for the info guys – any idea what cost savings you made compared to getting someone else in to do it? HG

thanks Patrick, will check if we can “hire” help from the manufacturer to assist us – just in case. HG

thanks for the advice guys, have just spoken to the solicitors and it seems we will be able to do a 30 day settlement so will wait until the keys are ours. HG

try your local native nursery, they usually supply tubestock which is quicker to establish, I got agapanthas for $1/ea and they multiply easily, also bottlebrushes and grevillias for under $2 – they usually supply according to how many plants you buy, so the more you buy the cheaper you get, throw in one of those dripper systems if the water…[Read more]

own our ppor and have 3 others – all in nsw – [crying] hg

I agree with Steve’s comments, there is no way they would have dared to make this decision if there was an election on the way, will we remember in a few years time the sneaky way he did this to cover his governments poor financial state. Investors have long memories Mr Carr, and most importantly WE PAY THE DAMM TAXES. HG

I know one think – the rent I expect from my ip’s just went up, I always try to keep it on the “a little low and reasonable” side of the coin, maybe the time has come to look at it a bit harder. HG

Not Happy Jan, the Govt is just taking more and more money from our pockets. They should abolish stamp duty for a first home buyer completely and lower the rates for every one else, I guess they have to fill their black hole somehow and we the investor who is trying to do something for their retirement is suckered again. I know how I will vote…[Read more]

I used to buy it, then used to miss out on it because all the copies were gone in a flash. Now I subscribe and everyone I know borrows it from me, it does the rounds at work and a few friends. HG

yes – you still seem to be able to find em over there Mini. [cap] What will happen to this forum when they are all gone? That report had almost 80 areas to find +ve properties in Jun 2003 – now its halved by Mar 2004. By the way the figures are stacking up the report will be non existant by next year and +ve properties will be a thing of the past. HG

OK – we bought a holiday house and yes its -ve geared. However we bought it for a couple of reasons, firstly we want to retire to the area (Port Macquarie NSW North Coast) and secondly we had been holidaying there (and paying for it) for over 10 years. Now we didn’t spend 800,000, we bought modestly but the 145,000 purchase has gone to 300,000…[Read more]

oops – where’s the amend button gone []- I meant its a Uni town – as in the University of New England is there so there’s always a low vacancy rate. HG