Chinchilla has growth still left. Once the projects start up out that way there will be plenty of growth.
Dalby still has a bit of a stigma about it after the floods (read Bank valuers are guarding their own backsides) great area out that way, and plenty of potential.

Dalby and Chinchilla are good areas outside of Toowoomba. Some amazing things happening out that way. $14Billion being spent on Infrastructure and Government spending.

Hi Jnb

We have been busy in Mackay. It's a great place with plenty of reasons why it will continue to boom over the next few years to come.
You can get some good value there, just have to know where to look.
Like most of these towns, there are politics that get in the way, but you once you understand the games some like to play up there, you can still get a good deal.

Hi Nooob

I think the issue for you straight up will be deposit. If you only have $20K saved, this will be hard to use until you get a bit more deposit.
The other issue is the sad state of Australia's legislation on investment advice. I have been a qualified Finance Broker as well as Licensed Real Estate Agent (only investment based) for over 16 years and over that time the Finance industry has had massive reforms in that now you can open your mouth about investment advice, where as sadly the Real Estate Industry has not done anything in regards to it's investment legislation. For example, I have to be a Licensed Financial Planner to advise anyone on even $10 worth of Shares, but I can be some 18 year old Real Estate certificate holder and tell you that the $1Mill property I have for sale is 'The best investment for you" .

The whole industry needs a shake up and quite franky I can't wait. It will hurt a lot of the archaic Real Estate offices and many will close their doors as it all gets to hard. This will weed the Men from the Boys.
Anyway, the fact is, you need to look at the numbers as they never lie. They will always tell you which way is best suited for you and then you can work out which way to go.

From the income numbers you have told us, your income tax is a big problem, and one which can big minimized buy buying the right mix of properties that will give you some great tax benefits as well as giving you goods growth and income.

I have dealt with Clients from all over Australia, and although states differ in their Real Estate laws, the facts still remain. You need to go with people who specialize in their field.

Be careful not to over annalize. The months you have spent researching are months you have spent not earning growth on a property, so keep it simple and don't do your head in with too much info.
Just find someone who has a good track record with  a company in the past. Thats the best way to find someone good.

The answer is yes, so just invest first and make your deposit bigger, THEN go and buy your own place.

99, I think you're over thinking the whole process. It's simple, if you want to buy your own home, then understand that financially it's going to cost you in the long run. If you rent now, invest in the right areas, and you can delay your gratification, then you could even look to buy your own home outright.

This is a real cross road for you and this decision will change your life in MANY ways, so make it wisely.

Sorry Wake, would have to say steer away from Emerald. Great on face value, but Suncorp recently announced the will not insure there due to the flooding risk bein too high. This will have repercussions with the banks also as they reassess their risk, so just a bit too ugly up there now.
There are a lot of strong places to look at, but he elephant in the room here is your mortgage. You need to buy in an area where you’ll get stronger growth over the shorter term so you can sell up in a few years and pay a big chunk of your mortgage down. This will make it easier and easier to get your investment portfolio moving along.
There are some strong areas that can achieve this, with great rental returns also, so consider this option too.

A couple of things.
Owning your own castle is overrated! Believe me when I say this as it is based on almost 2 decades of showing people how to get rid of this debt, or financial cancer as I call it.
Once you get a mortgage, and are on 1 income, forget it. Life will stop dead, you won’t be able to borrow any more money for investment as you’ll be mortgaged to the eyeballs and until you double your income or your wife goes back to work this won’t change.
Meanwhile 10 years will fly by and you will still have a mortgage on a home that may be worth a bit more, but the mortgage will be much the same.
Short term pain for long term gain. Renting for the next 3-5 years won’t kill you, but if you invest in the Right places, you could put yourself years ahead in terms of your mortgage size by using the money made from your investments as a bigger deposit.

Secondly, this is for all the alarmists out there. Sure, the world is having some financial problems, but I can assure you, there is PLENTY of money to be made in Australia over the next 3-5 years, if you know where to look.

In summary, do what your parents did and you’ll end up like them. Most of them have nothing now in their retirement because they wanted the great Australian dream, and now they’re up the creek without a paddle.
Do what the numbers are telling you to do, suck it up and continue renting for a while, while investing and you WILL reap the rewards.

Should be able to get it through most any insurer these days. Ring who you currently use for your car/home insurance, they can probably do a good deal combining all the policies.

Welcome to our wonderful country, best place in the world. Well we think it is.
Good forum to ask as many questions as you need with plenty of helpful people.
Happy to chat.

I'm sorry to say, but the ship has well and truly sailed on Moranbah.
I wouldn't touch it with a 10 ft pole now as ALL the signs are saying that it's maxed out and is now on it's way back down to a more realistic position in the market.

Forget Moranbah, start looking at locations that are going to be the NEXT Moranbah. That's where there money to be made.

Emerald has plenty of potential and is still very affordable to get into. Don't make the mistake of looking at the past, look to the future and what it has in stall.