Thanks for the feedback Terry.

Hi,
I know this does not answer exactly what you asked, but is classified as risk management.

I would suggest a .25 or even a 1% rate rise is only one risk you need to plan for. Other items I think are important to minimise you risks are:
1. Insurance – to protect you from accidental or deliberate damage
2. Pests and rot
3. Lack of maintenance…[Read more]

Hello,
This sounds like fun!

Ideas, and sorry some of these Im not sure are considered retail or commercial….
1. Money exchange
2. Phone card (kind of entertainment)
3. News agent?
4. Video rental shop (one of those juke box DVD rental things)
5. Take away coffee shop would fit
6. Display case for advertising

What type of people traffic will…[Read more]

Hello,
If if was me I would put it all on the PPOR. Then use the PPOR as security for any future investments. That minimises my non deductable expenses and still allows me to leverage into shares or other property.

eg: Reduce loan to $50,000. This is non deductable.
Draw another loan of $60,000 secured by your PPOR and purchase your fund. This…[Read more]

Hi,
Some tips, call YMCA Student Accom in Melb or go to http://www.collegesquare.ymca.org.au/. Ask them what works and what does not.

A 12 month lease from Jan/Feb is best and it will minimise your vacancy. However you need to plan for it as once a semester starts you may have trouble filling a vacant room.

Be sure you manage it to the letter…[Read more]

I remember before I owned any investments other than shares I would spend 3 days figuring out everything and filling in the ATO’s pack. With my bean counter it takes only 1 day on my part and hours for him.

Since then I dont have the time to understand all the rules about how to depreciate each different property expense and all the other qwerks…[Read more]

West is not bad at all… Look at Harrington Park or Glennmore park.

Worst places are those right on the boundary of housing commission.

I cannot give 10, and this is subjective, but I think bad areas are:
1. The fibro house areas of Penrith
2. St Marys

Mat

Hi,
I have not invested myself but know of someone who has. They say its a great investment. As part of their terms, the place gets a repaint and new carpeting and everything fixed to as new before the lessee hands back the property.

Mat

okays, not too personal for me…

Got 7 at the mo. Cash flow neutral. First one was a 2 Br unit brand new in Qld in 1997 paid $175k.

Now worth 290k and is a nice investment.

I was able to afford the 20% deposit and had 10k reserve incase I could not rent it (Im quite conservative). Was probably on 45-55k pa (cant remember).

Tips for first…[Read more]

This is for NSW.

Yes you will loose your .25% if you fail to re-negotiate.

In a slow market or a potentially risky purchase you could do the reports first. This means someone else could buy before you decide.

So for me the .25% is insurance (ie no one can take the property) and I have usually factored a repair budget. And so long as the reports…[Read more]

I think everyone may do it a little differently. But for me:
1. Inspect
2. Go off and determine your start price (ie look at sales history, residex, etc)
3. Make the offer to the agent (up to agent how he/she wants it – I have never needed to put it in writing)
4. Once final offer negotiated, sign a sales contract (add your terms). From here you…[Read more]

Does this mean you should align your successes with having sex and align your failures with abstinence?

I cannot see any other way to harness that power!

Hi Mark,
Did anyone PM you and offer to help?

I hope so… It would be great if the highly experienced and successful investors would be willing to spend 2-3 hours a month with a keen and willing mentee!

I wish I could, but as yet I would still classify myself as average consdering Im still working full time.

Good luck and I hope someone offers…[Read more]

According to the papers Gatto is a good guy for dispute resolution!

It is frustrating to read what you are going through and it would seem what ever you do will take time and cause a lot of stress.

Really makes you want to do something that may be bending the law a little!

But going to the police could be a good idea. Theres a financial fraud…[Read more]

Any investment vehicle can be used to make or lose money

Any investment vehicle can be geared to accelerate the making or losing of money

Everyone can chose the vehicle that works best for them and can easily criticise those that do not

Im only average at shares and derivatives, I dont trust super as I cannot access my money yet the govt can…[Read more]

Im happy with a damp cloth!

Current RBA rate is 5.75%?

1% increase on 5.75% = 17% increase.

Thats an additional 17% of interest you need to pay. 1% does not sound much on its own, but relative to the current IR its quite a lot!

Hi Lobs,
There is no one answer. However generally you are in property to make money. This would have to come either from income or capital appreciation. Everyone on this forum has their own strategy they use to either increase the income or capital appreciation. It could even be as simple as buy and hold (set and forget for as long as…[Read more]

Hello,
Yes my experience with franchise agents is terrible and I steer clear of them. Interview a number of the small time operators. They are in business to survive and need to fight for every cent.

They are gerenally more presonalble and provide a better quality serivce.

Good luck. Sorry dont have IPs in that area!

Mat

Im thinking campaign with the entire street. Maybe they are intimidated 1-1 but if you can get them all together you may have a good community push.

It would hopefully intimidate the owner or possibly have more clout with council.

Imagine a whole street boycotting paying rates until council did their job?