Do you  really need a trust?  I know some wealthy people with over 20 properties who don't think that trusts are necessary. 

My worst mistake ever is that I have been too cautious (or maybe I have just been too lazy!!!).  I've had so many opportunities to invest over the years but have never got around to doing it because of my negative mindset. I could be hundreds of thousands dollars wealthier today if I took more risks when I was younger.  There were properties tha…[Read more]

There is no way that I would sell.  There are heaps of lo doc loans that you can get from another bank which will allow you to continue investing.  You need a good mortgage broker to help you out.  Good mortgage brokers are hard to find!!!There are differences in opinion as to whether you should invest in your own name or under a trust.  Some ver…[Read more]

hw wrote:
Thanks for your response, I am aiming to stimulate some discussion, I have no preconceived notion that I may be correct.  Certainly Auction Clearance rates and Sales prices suggest 10-12, but prices are rising rapidly suggesting around 12, yeilds are falling suggesting about 1 and interest rates are raising quite fast with plenty of…[Read more]

If we are at 12 to 3 then it means that we have hit the boom and on the way down.  Herron Todd White in their last report stated that Brisbane and Adelaide are in a rising market which is 9 to 12 while Melbourne is in boom conditions so it is at 12 oclock.  Most of your information is very gloom and doom.  A falling sharemarket is usually good fo…[Read more]

I've used Elders for 9 years.  Reasonable premium, good service and benefits are very competitive. I've found the bank products to be confusing. 

Scott No Mates wrote:
Personally ZJ, I will be looking at areas which have suffered the greatest median price reductions over the past 2-3 years ie western suburbs. These areas will have the greatest rate of recovery (rebalancing/price relativity) compared to the more affluent areas which have been experiencing prices growth over the last few…[Read more]

New Money, congratulations.  In the long term, you will do well.  My son-in-law bought in the area and was pleasantly surprised to find out that it had gone up in value by over 40% in 6 months.  It was a run down house which cost $205,000.  Similar houses are now selling for over $300,000.Amzdesigns thinks that there may be too many houses goi…[Read more]

simple wrote:
OK, corrected info:1. Jan-February rise of 0.25% with another 0.25% promised to follow ASAP2. Property pricing growing at 6.04% (brisbane)3. What is the current CC debt, anyone?4. Unemployment is about 4.4 and holding5. US housing market, still melting downAny input anyone ?

I'm not too sure what you are trying to get at with the…[Read more]

simple wrote:
Hello hleung2. This is based on my search for new PPOR. I noted that in the last 8-12 weeks many properties worth about $700K have not been sold, instead price where reduced on some. Areas I looked in: Manly / Wynnum, Stafford / Alderley4. Based on report : http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,23636,22918048-462,00.htmlaccording…[Read more]

simple wrote:
Welcome to 2008!So for a start of the year we have:1. Jan-February  rise of 0.25%  with  another 0.25% promised to follow ASAP2. Property market started to level out ( as per my observations in Brisbane)3. What is the current CC debt, anyone?4. Unemployment started to rise5. US housing market, still melting downComments an…[Read more]

There is no way that I would sell New Farm.  The costs involved are not worth it.I'm a buy and hold investor who uses increased equity to buy more property.   You may be able to use your equity to keep New Farm as well as buy the unit even though I'm not a fan of most units. You need to contact a good mortgage broker.

MichaelYardney wrote:
SpudBoth Melbourne and Brisbane commenced the upturn phase of this new property cycle in mid 2006 – so there is still some way for them to go yet. Sure both cities have had tremendous capital growth in the last year, in fact too much for my liking at this early stage in the proeprty cycle, but there is still lots of u…[Read more]

Sydney appears to be the capital city which has the greatest potential in the next few years.  Brisbane, Sunshine Coast,  Melbourne and Adelaide are too hot at the moment.  I've got no idea how to pick good regional areas.  Developers have done their research well before we find out what's going on in these areas.  By the time we find out what…[Read more]

I lot of different opinions regarding this.  Some  very successful investors buy only in their own name while others buy through trusts.  Margaret Lomas, who has over 35 properties, only buys in her own name as she doubts whether she will ever get sued.  Even accountants have different opinions.  You have to balance up the cost of setting up a tr…[Read more]

I'd be careful about going to the Philipines, Thailand or one of the other mentioned Asian countries to get your teeth done.  I know that there are some good outcomes but I've heard some horror stories too.  Some people have had to pay a fortune to fix up medical work which has been done in Asia.  If you get it done in Australia, you've got an id…[Read more]

To add to the books to read, I'd recommend "How to achieve Wealth for Life through Property Investing" by Melvin and Chan.  I was given it as a Christmas present.  It's a cracker of a book, easy to read and fairly cheap I was told.

It cost us $24,000 to do the whole lot.  We didn't do anything.  As ours was a PPOR we got very good quality materials, vanities, toilet bowl etc.  It cost us close to $5,000 just to get the old bathroom removed.If it was for an investment property, I wouldn't spend any more than $10,000 as this would get me quite a good renovation.

MichaelYardney wrote:
I don't know why your friend's apartment didn't go up – it was either in a poor location or he paid too much.I bought a whole block of 14 of them – settled in Feb 2007 – they are in the inner eastern Melbourne suburb of Glen Iris and have gone up 15% in value since I bought them (less than a year ago.)But as I renovated the…[Read more]

SteveMcKnight wrote:
Hey team,Thanks for the comments about the book. There's no doubt that property prices have moved higher since the 0 to 130 was released.  I accept that some will view it as outdated, however I continue to use the same theories to make good profits today.It is fair to say that residential +ve cashflow properties are now…[Read more]