Tugger, The easiest way to explain is that you own and are responsible for the inside and the Body Corporate is responsible for the outside.  So in answer to your question, Yes you do require strata cover for the inside.Jon

While in the face of the information given it would be fair to say that there could be some sympathy for your situation and while Patriotsoldier is correct in the rental side of the equation, the important part of the equation is missing.   How much is the property worth on the market? (A quick search reveals that 4 x 2's in the area are mostly s…[Read more]

Not sure about other States, however in Queensland the answer to this question is found here – much to the dislike of Buyers who continually want us to break the law.‘574D Real estate agent not to indicate reserve price topotential buyer‘(1) This section applies if a person wanting to buy residentialproperty (potential buyer) asks a real est…[Read more]

Hi Chris,West End is the area that I specialise in, although almost entirely in the Unit/Townhouse side of investment and I agree almost entirely with the comments and observations given by Event Horizon.   Although there are still some good buys in this area, I feel that we have perhaps toped out at present and, as mentioned above, areas like W…[Read more]

I was interested in this report.   What do the other analyists on this site have to say about this.   Is he real?http://youtube.com/watch?v=UOpcPfAarjY

Fosty1.   Sorry I have no experience with flats or multiple occupancy.  My comments were a throw away line.

In the 1980's I was selling property when interest rates were over 18% and while oil wasn't $200 a barrel,  most families only had one car.   Perhaps we will learn to adapt and change our lifestyle to suit our circumstance.   I don't see house prices dropping significantly just because some people want them to.   We forget very quickly that house…[Read more]

Yes, I wouldn't mind having a mint xu1 in the garage.   I'm sure it would have proven to be an excellent investment.It's funny how moments in time change and our beliefs change with them.   A friend sent me an email the other day with extracts from the Courier Mail 1957.   Two stood out as interesting to me.   A Victor lawn mower cost 49 pound (…[Read more]

Wezwaz.   Heven forbid that they do, but if they do, It will be time to invest in tent manufacturing.   There is always an opportunity.You could always buy a house with lots of bedrooms and rent out by the room.   As you say the property may not rise in value by much, but think of the return on investment you could get.  Peopel still ned a roof o…[Read more]

Hi ‘D’,   While I appreciate the sentiment that you described in your post (not wanting anyone to go broke or loose money), to say that you are not negative is just a total crock – there is little in your comments that could be construed as positive (apart from your friends decision to purchase what sounds like an exceptional deal). While it is tr…[Read more]

Hotspot Alert: Brisbane has a history of successful urban renewal in locations such as Teneriffe, New Farm and West End. It's pretty clear that postcode 4006 (Bowen Hills and Newstead) will be the next beneficiary. This area is set to shed its daggy image on the back of the redevelopment of the Exhibition Grounds and Queensland Newspapers sites in…[Read more]

Good reply Yarpos………..   Did anyone see the two young men who built a Hodrogen converter and installed it on their old Falcon and saved 20% in running costs.   Water into Fuel.    I wonder how the Govt can place a tax on water for clean energy – guess this one's destined for the scrap heap like so many others.   Imagine how the whole wo…[Read more]

This is the relevant section of the Queensland Property Agents and Motor Dealers Act.The interesting point I would like to share with regard to this section of the Act is that the 'BUYERS" could care less that it is not lawful for us to advise a price for an Auction property but their standard reply is 'You're an Agent, you should know what it's…[Read more]

No offense taken gmh454.  I'm all for healthy debate on relative topics which help people to make informed decisions, but  I'm just a little peeved at the negative attitude that so many on this site have towards Agents, Lawyers, Seminar Hosters, Brokers, Advisers, Property Managers,Tradespeople and in fact anyone who may make a cent out of de…[Read more]

Myth Buster – Your statement would in the face of things actualy make sense if only the population would remain static.   But then we know it doesn't does it.   Which ever way it pans out the demand for rentals will increase.and your statement,This one needs to be dumped in to the "doubles every seven years" (may happen to some property but amo…[Read more]

It's funny that when ever you guys go to sell anything you are never lost for reasons as to why it's worth as much as you think it is even if it isn't – Wish we could legislate against that!!!!If everybody was to believe all of the negative statements on this site we would without doubt create a self fulfilling prophecy and sell up everything we…[Read more]

Hi Karl and Rita,   While most Buyers believe that prices have dropped by 10% or more, I can assure you that Sellers feel that prices have remained the same but they do not believe that they have dropped.   An Agent attempting to tell a Seller a low price will invariably walk away empty handed and with nothing to sell.These comments are as gen…[Read more]

Scamp says.These are interesting times, especially when you think a lot of property investors have 20 (!!) properties or more, all NEGATIVELY geared of barely above 0According to the ABS of the approx 2million Investment properties in Australia, 90% are owned by people who have only one investment property and less than 1% of investors own in…[Read more]

Well Brogs,  I'm not for one minute suggesting that there won't be anyone who is not going to suffer from rate rises, that in itself would be stupid, however to suggest that 80% house price crashes is just ridiculuos.   As with any commercial transaction if you over extend yourself you will pay the consequence.Lets look at some statistics.   Of t…[Read more]

Mick, you are correct, it is safer for Agents to quote a gross rate of return than a net rate of return as the net rate will vary depending upon tax rate and if we started quoting highest marginal rate net returns, I'm sure some nitpicker would pull us up on this issue as well.Most intelligent Investors will calculate their own rate of return.and…[Read more]