Looks like this information is not available yet.This week was the first time the new parliment sat in QLD so hopefully they do something about implementing this policy in the next few weeks.I will keep my ear to the ground and post back here if I hear of anything.

Hi QM,I would personally use the $100k to invest in a different area that has a better chance of getting good capital gains in the short term.The northern beaches may be a great area to live, but it is expensive.  Having two properties in the same region also increases your risk because if prices stagnate or go down in that area then you are…[Read more]

You definately do NOT need to sell your property through your current property manager.  You can use whatever agent you want.I sold my first property south of Brisbane 2 years ago and negotiated a flat 2.5% commission, which is about average I think.You may pay some discharge costs on your mortgage (if you have one) as well.  I had 3 mortgages o…[Read more]

I recently asked my broker about a 97% loan because I had seen them advertised by RAMS and some other lenders.My broker said (like the other replies above) that these are not genuine 97% loans, they are actually 95% loans with a 2% lenders mortgage insurance added to the loan amount.So, you actually need the 5% deposit but you end up with 3%…[Read more]

Hi Richard, thanks for the info, I will use 1% as a rule of thumb for now.I also should have mentioned that I am not a first home buyer.

Your figures look reasonable, and there certainly are opportunities out there to make a profit in properpty development.I think you just have to evaluate the risks and work out whether you're willing to go with them.What happens if bad weather blows out the project by 6 months?What happens if you can't sell the vacant blocks in a reasonable time?I…[Read more]

Hi,You can get some good free data from Home Price Guide (data from Australian Property Monitors).  If you search on a suburb and then click on the demographics tab, you can see lots of info such as age group, birthplace, type of properties in the area etc as well as seeing some recent sales prices and median values.I have also purchased a…[Read more]

Invest where the jobs are, to put it simply.  If you're buying property near where people are earning good incomes, you will always have a supply of tenants and there should also be demand for sales.If interest rates go up sharply then this will hurt affordability and possibly see a longer period of stagnant prices.But current view is for…[Read more]

I'm looking to buy in Brisbane next year, hopefully within about 9 months.If prices stay flat or fall a bit further, that will be great for me.  However, I'm a little nervous they will shoot up in that time.  From what others have been saying, they don't expect that to happen.  But if the anticipated rate cut happens on melbourne cup day, that mi…[Read more]

Catalyst wrote:

lifestylez wrote:
As a first home buyer, I would go for buying your own home and claim the FHOG.See how you go living in it for 6 months and if you decide you want to live somewhere else, then you can rent it out.If you think that is likely, then try and buy somewhere you can live for a while but with a view to making it an…[Read more]

I've heard of the Olympic Dam project, but I don't know the area at all.Are there other industries around to help support the employed population?It's just risky if you are betting it all on the project coming to fruition (which I think will take a few years anyway?).

[email protected] wrote:
Its a long block, and putting one house behind the other. $140 is all included, fixed price. The house wont be an extension as it will be subdivided…such as 5a and 5b… Have you built before? haha your right I haven't built before but im trying to come up with win win scenario's as my partner wants to buy PPOR…[Read more]

Good advice from Meg.  I can't add much to that.I can recommend a really good mortgage broker if you need one.

matthew.f wrote:

lifestylez wrote:
I'm not buying right now because I plan on getting back into a PPOR in Brisbane next year.I basically do not have enough spare cash or equity to buy an IP at the moment.Wish I did though, because there's some good buys out there.

Is that link to Logan City your site… Great post.

Yeah, that's my site I…[Read more]

As a first home buyer, I would go for buying your own home and claim the FHOG.See how you go living in it for 6 months and if you decide you want to live somewhere else, then you can rent it out.If you think that is likely, then try and buy somewhere you can live for a while but with a view to making it an IP.  So you will need to focus more on…[Read more]

dcwwood wrote:
I'm not a fan of Roger Montgomery – if he is so good and follows Buffett's way of investing, why isn't he Australia's riches person! Best thing you can do is (like for property investing) learn for yourself – books, seminars, search the web and asx.com.au, mentors, financial planners etc. Another share tip I can give you is…[Read more]

Hi Johk,Your numbers look mostly correct to me.  Don't forget you can claim depreciation on newer properties which will increase your after-tax cashflow.  For example, if your gross cashflow on the property is -$15,000/year:Tax Saving @ 30% tax rate: $4,500$10,000 Depreciation @ 30% tax rate: $3,000Therefore your after-tax cashflow is actually -…[Read more]

That's an interesting concept.Obviously, buyer's agents are looking to get property below market value for their clients.But since you won't be paying any commissions to the buyer's agent, you can probably afford to come down below market value.However, if you won't the absolute best price for your properties, a sellers agent works to get…

If you've got a renovating forumla that works and makes you profit, just try replicating that in Brisbane.  For example, do you renovate apartments for young professionals?  Do you renovate houses for families?  Do you renovate luxury houses for executives? What type of properties are making you the good returns?Obviously we are in a down ma…[Read more]

Hi Chazz,Some areas that are expected to be good buying (based on some of my own research and hearing other proprerty commentators):- Hunter Valley NSW (Maitland, Muswellbrook, Cessnock)- Northern Adelaide suburbs- Port Lincoln (used by new mines in the SA area)- Gladestone area (although already risen alot, may not be much left in it)- Ipswich,…[Read more]