Remember it's not only about beating the return from your existing fund.  It's also about having full control of the fund and using that to your advantage.  And don't forget the benefits of tax deferral on contributions.

Have you taken into account purchase costs such as stamp duty, legals etc.?

Have you taken into account body corp/strata fees, rates etc.?

I wonder what sort of training you would have received had you gone ahead with it.

My last move was into a storage shed, I now have no fixed address…haha.
I spend 6 months a year living on a tug boat in Gladstone Harbour which I enjoy and pays handsomely, the other 6 months roaming and visiting friends and family.
Am renting out my PPOR and intend to keep it CGT exempt.

From the areas you've mentioned I'm guessing you intend to buy a H & L package? If so, why?

Mount Low and Burdell are one in the same in my books, Oonoonba is close to the city and neighbours Idalia which now has million dollar mansions springing up.  

May I ask why these areas interest you?

Exactly, if you secure the property for 95k then that is seen to be the market value, because that's what the market is willing to pay.

Generally speaking, and if serviceability was strong, how many properties could you finance at 95% lvr before lenders would want bigger deposits and lower lvr's? 

This probably works well on buyers who have an emotional attachment to the property. Remember you're an investor, work out what you can pay for the numbers to work and if they want more walk away. I always make this clear to agents early on in the piece.

Is that a US based site Nigel? Doesn't seem to work for me.

You can subscribe to RPdata (at a cost) to find out this information.

Are you talking about this being a home for yourself or an investment property?

If the answer is investment property I believe you could do better with that sort of money.  Why are you considering a house and land package? Do you have an investment strategy?

How do you determine an "unapproved duplex" from an "approved duplex" ? 

Fran Anderson
Fran Anderson Realty in Oonoonba.
Great old school manager, personalised service, never advertises or waits for tenants as she has them lining up.
Also cheaper than any I've found. I pay 8.5% plus $6.60 a month postage and petty. One weeks rent upon new tenancy.

Yeah just a cheap online one, as I don't have a large balance to justify the expenses of a more flexible option ( I'm 26). 

Totally understand JacM, there is something about investing money that I can't spend for 30+ years that really intrigues me.

I'm a big fan of salary sacrificing into super, especially while you're young. The compounding effects can be amazing. I would keep it going, you obviously don't miss the money, and if you did have the money there is the chance it could just get frizzled away.

Totally agree Nigel, Cairns is really struggling at the moment, and it all seems to be kept on the down low.  The local economy is very tourism reliant so the high Aussie dollar would be having a significant impact on tourism dollars.

In Townsville the rates notices state a unimproved land value, but no improved value.  I find the unimproved land value to be quite accurate. 
For a 3 bed house you're looking at about $2900 per year, this includes a water allocation of x amount KL.  you won't be charged any more for water unless you exceed the allocation.

Have they increased significantly since last year or just a gradual increase?
I would imagine this is having a large impact on your bottom line.

Just be aware that a lot of houses which are enclosed underneath and self contained living quarters are not of legal height, and therefore these living quarters can't legally be rented out as such.  Still possible with a private agreement i guess and I wouldn't imagine students would have a problem with it.