Depending upon your travel plans – try to avoid staying in the city. Consider North Sydney, North Ryde (new train line opens late Feb), Chatswood, Artarmon, closer to town – around Central Station (YHA), Strathfield, Parramatta. You'll need to remember that the further out of the CBD that you stay, the more likely it is that you'll need a…[Read more]

Your best bet might be with Meriton – World Square or Sunland development etc.

It s part of your risk management strategy. Diversification – decide what you are buying (portfolio analysis – how to balance your portfolio: shares, cash, direct property, indirect property, int'l shares, etc), Macro analysis for property – decide where you are buying (country, state, town)Review the extent of your investment – how much & where,…[Read more]

It might be hard to believe now but you can still find the odd house which has only an instantaneous gas hot water unit in the bathroom & kitchen. It might cost a few $ to install a HWS but it makes finding a tenant a lot easier.Do a few hours work in the garden (add a few plants, mulch & fertiliser) – makes presentation that much better (for some…[Read more]

Generally acceptable walking distance to a station is 800 m (200m to a bus stop).As for building distances – vibration and noise have been significantly reduced over the last 10 years with new track technologies ie no joins. Damage to houses is negligible.For some, it is desireable to live near transport (and will put up with any noise), for…[Read more]

Try some of the community notice boards eg in supermarket, plaza etc

Why do you want to change the zoning? – mixed use is much less restrictive than residential usage. A spot rezoning will take 6-12 months minimum, longer if the council has no intention of changing the zoning or is currently reviewing the LEPs (many of Sydney's councils are doing this at present as a requirement of the State Govt). You may be…[Read more]

Your best bet price-wise for a house is with a project home builder using a standard design – this will be the most cost effective, efficient and  quickest means of getting the house built. By using your own desiger/architect you can quite easily add 50% over the cost of a project home.Why? Economies of scale – project homes are built to a…[Read more]

Which bank allows you to have 3 offset accounts against one property (or have I missed something, like having 3 different loans)?

There can only be one contract exchanged Lizzie – ie regardless of the number of purchaser signed contracts that may be given to the vendor (via the agent) they are only obliged to accept one and exchange that one contract. If they exchange more than one contract then you would need to prove which contract was exchanged first to exert your claim.…[Read more]

Also be wary that it is often the date of the contract which is important, not the settlement date. That is, if you have sold at a profit, the contract was entered into today but doesn't settle/transfer for 3 years, you may still be liable for tax on profits for this financial year.

As the agency agreement has finished and assuming that the agent is no longer involved in the sale ie the agency agreement has been terminated (in writing) and the agent is no longer seeking prospective purchasers on your behalft, then you are free to deal with any parties you so desire. Do you currently have a signboard/advert showing the house…[Read more]

This is often an 'added extra' when buying however while you are still in the negotiation phase, reject any requiest to pay the vendor's land tax liability. In NSW it is shown on the contract, likewise whether gst is applicable. Reject this at all approaches. Paying someone else's land tax is not to your advantage, it only adds to your costs (even…[Read more]

Historical growth figures are quite vague. Unless you have some indepth familiarity with an area, the growth figures will be meaningless eg: did they build a new hospital (or can major infrastructure), was there major subdivision/building works undertaken etc? These all have an effect on the average and median prices ie as soon as the influence of…[Read more]

Personally I find that a ridiculous response from the agent. As the money sits in a trust account, it is your money and the agent is required to seek your advice as to how they should persue a defaulting tenant, not withold money just in case. Are they aware of an issue already?

As Raptis entered into the sale prior to administration, you may have to consult your solicitor with regard to Raptis (or the administrator) being able to terminate the contract.Generally, the vendor will be obliged to complete the transaction (and the administrator would be seeking the cashflow).As for your deposit, you will need to enquire…[Read more]

Firstly, which part of Sydney? Is it for short term or long term accommodation? Small properties do have a greater turnover of tenant.The fairtrading website lists a number of Oak companies – the one you mention is not listed. You may need to check their licence. http://www.propertyservicesregister.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/olc/psr/Search.doOAKS…[Read more]

It shouldn't cause any issues whatsoever. If they can't prove what is there, then you may be able to get away with a little more.

That is not an unusual situation. I remember that Bankstown council lost all of its records about 15 years ago in a fire when the council chambers were destroyed.Get your buildiing inspection done, carry out the usual searches with the water board (or dial before you dig). If there seem to be no anomalies, go for it.

Before deciding on a system you should consider the ultimate use: ie is the area affected going to suffer a lot of bumps and knocks (hence need constant patching)? Then you may consider render.The main disadvantage in render is that it is a wet trade, it will take at least a week for the wall to be sufficiently dry before you can paint and it…[Read more]