Personally I would buy an investment property and keep it separate to your current situation. 

One of the benefits of investing this way is you are not just restricted to investing in Western Australia which means that you can invest where you deem will provide you with the best capital growth. That's the great thing about being an investor you are not going to live in it so what does it matter if its a different state.  Remember the main reason to invest in Australia is for solid capital growth, buying a house to share with your mates may not be the best use of your money.

I accept that the cost of living here is high but then again so are wages compared to the UK or the United States

The other issue which is important and that is the property market in Australia is worth around 700 Billion a year and the vast majority of that comes from owner occupiers. In other words lets say a house that you own is worth 1 million dollars and the house you want to buy is 1.2 million. The cap is $200,000 in other words mosts sales occur with people buying a selling within either the same or similar markets.

Although I do not expect that property markets will boom in 2013 I do believe that in Victoria and NSW we will  to see markets recover and improve with increased demand.

I also think that inner city Brisbane will see in the results in the last 3 years

Remember slow markets create opportunities and this is where you can make real money and start to build your portfolio.

Try Mory Kalkorp from Guest accounting on 03 95097033 they specialize in property infact Mory is an independent director on our development projects. They know there stuff and would be worth talking to. 

Hi Antonio

Firstly the population of the United States is around 315 Million not a billion and secondly most of the $40,000 properties will have little or no capital growth.

Investing in the United States is a specialized area and requires a lot of research and careful planning and more importantly whether you are successful or not will often be determined by the quality of the partners you have on the ground. I find that most so called experts have never been to America and have not met the people they are referring business to

I agree with Jacqui

Studio apartments are a bad investment if they are in Cairns then they are a bad investment in a bad area. Whoever is recommending them I am sure is making a big commission. I think you would be throwing your money away. The market is at the bottom it will take time but there is no need to rush. 

It certainly shows that the resources boom has a long way to go and will also help Australia with oil for our economy for years to come.

I believe that as the US comes out of the GFC it will create great opportunities. However it is still important as to what you buy. A $40,000 property in a slum will remain a $40,000 in a slum. Many Australians will have lost millions in the US real Estate market the problem is that most of them just don't know it yet.

Personally I am looking at multi family and some blue chip commercial and possibly some development opportunities. However it is a matter of doing your due diligence carefully, if it seems to good to be true then in probably is.

In terms of the debt as the economy recover there position will become stronger. I am sure that the Americans are responsible for pushing their currency down, because it make imports more expensive and its better for their exports. I think anyone who writes America off is making a big mistake. Rupert Murdoch in a recent email said that he would to a large degree be pulling out of Europe and reducing his operations to focus more in the United States where he felt that growth would be much strong.

Maybe a little wounded but still the land of opportunity

I believe that Brisbane will just to move solidly in 2013 and although secondary markets will follow I would recommend that you consider selling the property and buying something in a more solid capital growth area. Stick to 10 but preferably 5km from the Brisbane CBD

Clearly first you should consult with agents as to how much our current property is worth

I spend a lot of time in the United States and I do not think the country is still falling. In fact just yesterday I was offered finance for either 80 or 90% for commercial properties one million plus. There are better and better finance options being offered. In fact if you look at the economy the biggest problem is that finance has not been available.

If finance had been widely available the US economy would be doing well. Small business would be able to employ more people and half the problem would be solved. Experience should tell us never write off the United States. 

I think again it is easy to generalize. There are some state still falling some remaining flat and others that are going up. 

I will put up a post comparing two states Florida and Texas