You'd want double-glazed windows to cut out the noise of the ambulance sirens…

http://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/search.asp?pt=COMMERCIAL&st=nsw&ri=&r1=&sval=&otc=SALE&c=17&psf=&pst=&bsf=&bst=&lsf=&lst=&arf=&art=&ot=SALE

No don't pay off the principal.  Get yourself an offset account instead and put all your spare cash in there instead.  It will have the same effect.  The difference is that one day when you decide you want to access that cash, you can withdraw it whenever you want and use it (eg for a deposit on another property).  If you pay it towards the principal however, there is always a FEE to get the bank to give you the money back to you again.

It's worth going along for sure.  There's always something to be learned.  Keep in mind the following things: 

– The seminar rooms he books are very cold.  Rug up.

– He runs two very full days back to back with not a great deal of time to chill out, mingle and take it all in during breaks.  It's tiring, so be sure to be well rested before going along.

– He runs these things really often and they are always free.  There is nothing wrong with going along, seeing which courses get demonstrated, then go away for a few months, absorb your knew knowledge, read some books, decide which of the investing angles are best for you and if need be, go along to another of his courses when the same speakers will be present in order to get yourself a discount onto their course.

Do your homework on the presenters before you go and have an understanding of their normal course offerings so you can figure out whether the deal they are offering on the day of Stuart's course is indeed a good deal, or whether you could get the same price any other day of the week.

May I just say: massive credit to you for asking people to criticise your plan.  Welcoming lots of ideas, and then working out which advice is rubbish and which is relevant, is the way forward.  The more experienced people that submit opinions on your plan, the more likely it is you'll decide on the plan that is most suitable for you.

Seeing as you're in Melbourne, I'll point you to two options within driving distance of where you reside.  Look at properties in Ballarat and Geelong.  Even better if they are within a 2 min drive of the hospital.  Acquire something sturdy that just looks a little bit ugly, pretty it up a bit with some paint, changing cupboard doorhandles or whatever the case may be, and hike the rent up.

Case in point.  Land is king!!!!

You're going to need a tent.  Perhaps from KMart.  That's the way forward.  Everyone can live permanently in tents hehe.

Oh look seriously engelo, the world itself is not coming to an end, but a strange phenomenon is going to occur and suddenly everyone will want to live on the street.  even in winter.  yes, it's true.  so your investment properties will be all for naught i'm afraid.  hahah! 

I know all this and I also know the number that are going to come up in the Tatts this Saturday.

Property is a goer, always has been.  You almost cannot go wrong so long as you are not greedy.

People always need somewhere to live.  End of.  There will be peaks and troughs in the market just like any other.  But the variations just tend to be less dramatic than those of the stock market.  Of course, if you buy with a bad LVR and something happens and you are forced to sell, it might not end well.  But buy in at 80% LVR, it is unlikely you'll have your back to the wall.

Bricks and mortar, people.  They've long been the "safe investment" for a reason.