I was in the same boat 18months ago that you are in now. Everything seems so easy for all the other states – find a person, get them to find a property, we negotiate etc etc. <grin>
Here in SA it’s a little more involved. When you do find somebody to do a contract for you make sure it’s bullet proof, rembering that you need it if things turn sour to fall back on.
I have spent a lot of time money and effort to get my whole system set up to a point at which I am comfortable with it from a legal point of view.
So, just a word of encouragement – get your contracts set up, and take your time doing it. There are plenty of houses out there and once you have a tenant it’s a long term relationship ahead of you!
in response to your second point (although not directly in relaion to it <grin>), may I recommend a book?
The Pig and the Python: How to Prosper from the Aging Baby Boom by David Cork, Susan Lightstone
ISBN: 0761512756
Available from Amazon. I read it a couple of years ago and it gives the reader an insight regarding the babyboomers.
You may also like to look at the Lutheran Laypeoples League of Australia. It works just like a Credit Union account, albeit no fees at all. They even do cheques for you (FREE)and have a great interest rate. http://www.lll.org.au.
All transactions can be done over the www. If you have cash it can be deposited at any of the big 4 banks all over Oz.
Just as an addendum to this message, before you go with 3 (www.three.com.au)make sure you understand the way their billing works. For instance you pay for voicemail and it’s not included in your call cap. Just got myself a vodaphone prepaid which has free voicemail but don’t use it make calls. Subsequently I only give people my vodaphone number… a bit of a juggle at times but it works for me
although not strictly speaking on the forum topic, I have just purchased a ‘3’ phone. I base my mobile phone purchases purely on the value of the plan, never the phone. Subsequently I don’t utilise its multimedia capabilities which are very costly.
If you are *very* disciplined then this phone plan will work for you as they have a $99.00/month bill cap – you could almost do away with your home phone!
I think Dan the Man has hit the nail on the head. Think about it – the Commonwealth bank doesn’t fix the hot water system for you when it stuffs up, do they? So why should you fix your buyers properties??
interesting situation you have there. Interesting to the point that a lot of people are where you are at. I’d say that the people on this forum that are actually investing have also got their spending in check!
Certainly persue the refiance options, however you may also like to look at your spending as previously advised. If you need help in this area check out what a company by the name of “The Geyer Group” can do for you. Financial coaching, loans, budgets etc. Their phone number is 1300-882-848.
Remember, this is should be the last option, not the first port of call.
Here is my take on the situation. Investing is the end product of having developed the golden goose that lays the golden egg. What I mean by that is that it’s probably wise to develop a cash producing business first, then use the proceeds to fund your 20% deposits. I know that this doesn’t give you an exact answer to your question, but hopefully the understanding on how I have tackled the issue.
As far as the low end property is concerned? It’s there…. dig a little deeper []
Steve advocates that the tenant is the investment, not the property (so much). To this extent he finds the tenant first, who then finds the property, tells you the investor about it who then negotiates a prices.
Doing it this way you won’t have a vacant house unless they leave.