Hi,
I started reading and learning about 8 months ago as well but i actually bought my first ip 12 months ago because thats what everyone else was doing heh. I had no knowledge then except my common sense and was spitting chips because i had pre approved finance 12 months earliar and didnt act on it so basically paid 60000 more for the same house 12 months later. Luckily it has turned out to be a good cap gainer , Last month i brought my 2nd and 3rd ip and currently arranging finance to purchase another.

Crackles ive been looking at NZ myself and have been in contact with the national bank in NZ who have no problem giving finance to aust investers. Although there criterias are a bit higher for eg the lvr is 80% max and DSR is 75% of rental income and 35% of wages income instead of the normal 70 @ 30.
Also here is afew links that i found handy for information and stats.
rgds Shaun

http://www.stats.govt.nz/ http://www.propertytalk.co.nz/index.php http://www.trademe.co.nz/Real-estate/index.htm

Mel Bear i know what most of the terms are when talking realestate investing but i just cant work out the LOC one , its probably so simple and in my face but i just cant seem to think of it.[]
Could you please enlighten me [:0)]

40 year loans , boy wouldnt that make it a lot easier for people to be able to afford there morgage payments, personally i think that would be a great option for banks to offer with maybe a half percent above the average interest rate , the only problem is i wouldnt be able to apply for it as i would amagine you would have to be around 25 and under to apply . It would sure help first homeowners on low income into there first home, which might start another realestate boom []

Hi redwing, i too work on the boats but not pearling , i work in the offshore oil and gas indust on a dive support vessle ,basically work with deep sea divers puting in pipelines etc. Thats how i came upon the investing books as well heh ,nothing much else to do when i knock off so thought i might as well learn something else []Turned into a real information junkie on realestate investing and havent looked back:P

If not to late , i would like a copy please [8D]

Rigscaf at bigpond.net.au

Many thx ,
Shaun

HI Blowie, although on paper it looks good , ive decided not to as i dont want to be stuck with a house that i cant sell. I actually lived in the town for 2 years and i could have brought the same house for nearly the same amount 20 years ago , so id be relying on the tennants to much = to much risk for me []

HI PeterP , not sure if its previously youve been ringing but im talking only of the last 8 weeks that
geraldton has been moving, just check the realestate.com and see 80% of houses under 130000 are under offer, Not sure of the system the large investers are using, but fairly sure its not wrapping. Probably buy and hold my guess, will be interesting to see how the market goes in the next 6 months. Im hoping to get 120-130 pw in rangeway and about the same in spalding.Giving me app 10 % return , not to high but getting hard to find positive investments with a chance of cap gain.