I have just done a vendor finance deal for a new build in Melbourne, the rules are probably very different in Brisbane, but this will give you an idea of what to be aware of:
*Stamp duty being much lower on a new build really assists a wrap deal. You don’t need to charge nearly as much additional on the price to make the deal work.
*I was fortunate that at the time I was setting up my deal, the wrap client received an amazing $32k in FHOG, to use as a deposit….. however, in VIC this couldn’t be paid until the construction was completed.
* You are able to claim back the GST on the construction. Register for GST on a CASH basis. Since you aren’t getting paid for the house until the client refinances the house, it is free money.

Here are the figures from my deal (note that I work for a bank so have access to deals that may not be available to others):
Land cost $140k
Build cost $205k
Total cost $345k
Stamp duty $3,700
Legals $1,000
LMI $3,500
10% Deposit $34,500
Interest during construction period $9,000

Total cash required = $48,300 (LMI was added to the mortgage)

Cash returned = $26,000 deposit
GST = $18,000
Total cash back $44,000

Actual cash down after build completed $4,300

Sale price to client = $365,000 + interest holding costs during construction ($9k)

Deal structured as Standard Variable Interest plus 1.5%. I get 0.8% off the Standard Variable Rate so I get a 2.3% margin on interest paid.

Client also pays for water, rates and insurance.

So from my $4,300 held in the investment, I am currently receiving around $12k per year benefit on the interest plus can claim the depreciation on the new building

Would I do it again? No. For the money I am getting I had to spend too much time and effort which could have been used on other projects.

Also be aware that if you have several of these that you need to be registered under the new national Consumer Credit Code as a Credit Provider. This may be costly.

I have seen shows on tv where they have remodelled entire streets with similar themes and colours. They claimed during the show that it significantly increased the value of all the houses in the street (i.e. a renovated house in a renovated street was worth more than just a single renovated house). The theory should also work for a block of units.

It was done in the past few months in NZ. They raised over $1M for a $1m property

I haven’t bought the software, but was at the conference and am an experienced trader. The presentation was all hype and little substance.

Of particular concern was no mention of the risks of trading and an expectation of continual profitability every month, especially in the follow up workshop.

The kind of strategies he was promoting can be obtained for free or for very low cost online.

He proposed that the green and red lines were demand and supply, but in markets like forex where I specialise, there is no demand and supply data recorded as there is no official exchange. They look suspiciously like moving averages.

I have seen people offering a lot more for a lot less money.

Also check with your lender what their minimum apartment size is that they will lend on. Some one beds won’t be lent on depending on the policy and size. It may also affect your LVR requirements.

Prices have just skyrocketed on land in these estates in the past year. I purchased 540 sqm and will have my house completed this month.

I paid $140k for the land and it would now cost $200k, if you could get hold of it.

If you look at the difference in cost between the purchase price from a builder for a complete house package and the cost to buy land in an estate then build, it appears to be about a $40k differential at the moment. (i.e. builder must have secured land at $160k that would now sell for $200k).

I think that on this basis that there could be some money in purchasing a house and land package, then onselling to someone else prior to completion. During the next few months, all the stock secured at a lower price from builders will quickly gain $40k in value.

Many people were ridiculed for predicting the GFC, some of the most notable are Nouriel Roubini, (AKA Dr Doom) and Peter Schiff. If you google Peter Schiff you will see many you tube clips where he is arguing his case strongly against other “so called experts”.

The most competitive forex rates from a trustworthy company will come from Oanda http://www.oanda.com

One of the key reasons to hold gold and silver is in the event of economic collapse or near collapse. I’m not familiar with the site you mention, but having someone owe you real gold or silver is definitely not the same thing as actually holding the physical asset during a financial meltdown.

Actually, very few currencies are pegged to USD, such as HKD and CNY. The vast majority are floating.

If the USD collapses:
1. Gold and Silver skyrocket they are not fiat currency
2. Oil and other necessary high demand commodities also go through the roof
3. Other countries with similar policies (printing currency and significantly increasing debt) will also collapse at the same time by association
4. Shares are unlikely to perform well. During a catastrophic financial event, market uncertainty causes shares prices to drop, especially in USA as all foreign investors rush to get their money out of US stocks and into commodities as a store of value.

Typically, during a crisis of any kind, currencies such as AUD and NZD perform poorly as money moves to less speculative economies. The most likely safer currencies in such a scenario are JPY and EUR as fund managers pile their money back into home currencies for safe keeping.

It is very possible that USD could collapse due to hyperinflation, according to some very respected analysts. I strongly suggest going to http://www.chrismartenson.com for his Crash Course which is excellent and interesting viewing.

Chris Martenson produced this information before the Global Financial Crisis. In the crash course he outlines some fascinating facts on fiat money, the US system for money creation and highlights the key issue of scarce commodities that will start running out soon, particularly focusing on peak oil.

My personal pick of the best performing commodity of the next 30 years however is silver. At the current rate of consumption,all known silver deposits will have been extracted in 30 years time. Silver could easily become worth as much as gold. It has special properties which are required in a number of industries, notably electronic components. There is no adequate substitute and given the tiny quantities in a large range of products, it is very difficult to extract to recycle.

If you want to bet on a USD collapse, buy physical silver in significant quantities and hold for the long term. Holding silver on paper won’t mean anything in a financial collapse.