Couldn’t agree more about the batts. The thicker the better, most batts are already partly cut in case you want to divide them in two. Make sure you dont open the packs until you’re in the ceiling…they are compressed and expand significantly. they are easy to install and seem to have passed the test of time.

As an ex ADF member I am aware of DHA Housing. The attractiveness is that rent is paid for the agreed term irrespective of any vacancies during that period. ie the cash flow is guaranteed. If the property is leased to DHA for 9 years, the property is repainted and recarpeted at DHA expense before it is returned to the owner. But…I’ve always…[Read more]

Caveat Emptor (sic). If it looks too good to be true, then it probably is. The only thing you get for nothing is nothing. Exercise care especially at this time of the property market cycle..

I too like the semi frameless rather than the 100% frameless. I also prefer a shower with a solid base. The base goes down and is rebated slightly into the wall studs. The one piece wall panel is then glued onto the two walls (no corner join) and then the glass walls are positioned onto the inside rim of the base. I have installed a number of…[Read more]

I think the answer to your question depends on whether you are buying to reno and then sell, or to hang on for the long term. I am a buy and holder of property and use them like building blocks to buy the next one. Have about a dozen at last count. I dont know if I would be doing a major reno at the top of the market when demand is high if I am…[Read more]

Little fish are sweet.. or to put it a different way 50% of something is better than 100% of nothing. Without providing specific advice and I think that the Interest only option is a good one,,I would look at the big picture. Just having those properties in WA at the moment is a great appreciating asset…but.. is the capital gain over the nex…[Read more]

RobAde has it in a nutshell. Good Advice. You are underfunded to make a property purchase at this time. Put some dough in an ING account and while BHP is down under $28, you could possibly put the other bit in the share market. If you do buy some shares with the other bit, try to get a share with a fully franked dividend. Mind out though when…[Read more]

Sharif
The figures have to stack up for themselves. But if I had to pick one of the three, it would be the Elizabeth area. Margaret Lomax (author and multiple property owner) covers this in her book. I dont know much about the Morwell area or if it is a growth area. Mildura is a fruit growing area with a lot of transient workers and if you had…[Read more]

Mum
You didn’t mention what the existing house was made from. Double brick, brick veneer, timber etc. if its double brick, the the white ant damage is less important structurally that if it was brick veneer and again of course if the whole house is timber. Its got to do with the supporting of the roof section. I missed out on buying a house…[Read more]

Thanks for your help guys. Thats what I thought, but the reference will confirm it !

I can’t give advice whether to bulldoze or major reno. Thants a financial decision and up to you whether you want an older home with its features or doze the current building for a new place or put multiple dwellings on it. The treatment for white ants is much more fungicidal than chemical these days -chemical can still work but the fungicidal…[Read more]

Yasmina, I have never heard of Powerloan so I can’t comment on the company. From the sound of your circumstances I would suggest that your husband exercise extreme caution. Not enough people look at the “downside” or what they can lose, preferring to see what they can gain. Look at what you can lose if your husband leaves his job and takes up the…[Read more]

Snowflake, Terrw has hit it on the head. Whether it is done while the place is occupied or vacant is up to you and your tennants and doesn’t affect the rules relating to deductability v’s depreciation. Those that tell porkies and state that the renewal was actually a repair and try to claim the lot in that financial year may get away with…[Read more]

Of course you can…of course you can but as the song says.. Take the road less travelled, take the long way round…..New investors sometimes think of the flattening in months rather than years and tend to be a little impatient. Do you know the story of the young bull who said to the old one “lets race down there and jump a cow ! Replied the old…[Read more]

Half a percent in 2 steps of .25% will knock whatevers left on the head and as f said, the old RBA will have both overreacted and done so too late. Things will bite along with NSW land taxes which for the first time will affect the “common man/woman” The RBA will say “OOps” and lower the rate down at least .25% fairly sharply saying to the…[Read more]

You’ve got a good savings
habit but I don’t think quite enough for property yet, without being undercapitalised. My advice to you (with the property market still fairly high with both real property and property trusts) is to ensure the security and return of your savings. I suggest an ING a/c paying 5.25% interest calculated daily and payable…[Read more]

Correctamundo ! The money in your offset is yours to do with what you wish and can be withdrawn in part or in full at any time. This is why the institution still requires you to pay the minimum per month as if you had notheing in the offset a/c. So if your minimum payment per month is 1K$ with no offset a/c, even with an offset a/c, the minimum…[Read more]

sq gave good advice. 10 units gives a good average spread of return. ie you can have 2 units vacant and still have 80% occupancy. Allan Bond owned xxxx and the Hyundai dealership, but couldn’t afford to hang onto them. With a positively geared investment you can. Just make sure the units are not going to be time or repair expensive and that your…[Read more]

You say you are building houses, you don’t say whether you are keeping them or, onselling them to make a profit and if so how much of the work if any you are doing yourselves. broadly speaking industrial property is less trouble than commercial property than residential property. A piece of advice….dont fall in love with property or with any…[Read more]

Coomera on the top of the Gold Coast. Still reasonably valued 195K for 3BR 4 yr old unit with en suite – rapidly growing area nr all the theme parks and marinas. Rail stn to Brisbane and 40 mins drive to BNE. Developing to the point where they are forecasting it to be the size of Southport..Good yield approx $225 per week…
C how you go !…[Read more]