Looking for property again after a long time out of the market.   Up to 57 now, getting to know every agent in area, keeping a spreadsheet going so that I can remember each one, and just starting to get a feel for the market in a fairly small area. Have made 2 offers, both knocked back – that's fine.   In no hurry and prices seem to be steady or…[Read more]

This is very interesting.   I went to a property today and was shocked to find that it had a massive powertower right in front of the house.     When I looked at the photos, there was no sign of it.   Who is the agent kidding?I wouldn't have wasted the petrol to go see the property if I had known how huge this power tower was.     I didn't…[Read more]

kameruka wrote:
Property Anaylsis   Year Purchase Price 8,000Title Work 700Renovations 5,000MONTHLY COSTS  Property Management 10% 80Property Maintenance 10% 80Insurance1200100Taxation Rates2500208Rental income 800Cash return per month 332cash on cash % 29.05%   ROI 70.07%Singer, I hope this is ok?Please ask and i will do my best to answer any…[Read more]

That's shocking.    There's a big crackdown going on in Brisbane right now about that – lots of people being fined.This is an article from last year, but there was a recent one following up in the last month or so.  http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/brisbane-city-council-crackdown-on-over-crowded-housing/story-e6freon6-1225775177929

What you need to to do is go beyond the work that real estate agents do.   Pile on the facts and figures of the location, the town, the history, anything.    Especially put in a plan of the place – once people hear shopfront and residence, they want to know exactly the size and placement with dimensions.        You must put the address in your l…[Read more]

Wish my family had heard about a bloodline trust years ago.  My parents owned a beautiful dairy farm.   They split it in half and two sons worked each half.     They had some kind of joint trust arrangement with each of the sons.    Guess what.   Both boys divorced.   Guess who got the dairy farm(s).   The women.    It's caused a lot of heartach…[Read more]

businessglobal wrote:
it is still rare for women to make business/ real estate decisions quickly, sign up an offer, pay a deposit and make solid business decisions.

Really?   I'm surprised.   I'll use the "have to ask my husband" thing if I feel like backing out of a situation without further discussion,  but in reality I carry around a copy…[Read more]

No, I never go to auctions any more.    I just can't stand the hype and the antics of the real estate agents.    It's the strutting around like peacocks thing. 

I have yet to see anyone say  something like  " I bought this property for $x  – I spent $x fixing it up –  I pay $x in PM fees, property tax, local govt. taxes, state govt taxes, fed govt taxes –  it is now tenanted without any problems and I am netting $x per month". 

You can get it on the big internet sites with http://www.landlordschoice.com.au/Post more photos – bathroom?  Bedrooms?   More outside shots – street  view with the neighbours' house in too.  Do what RE agents can't be bothered doing.   As a self seller you have to go beyond what they do because you can – it's not costing you any more.    Write mo…[Read more]

Good post Sapphire.      Anyone can buy a cheap house in  the USA.  That's the easy bit.  It's the after wards that is the hazard.   From  snake-agents to PM's to property and govt. taxes to tenant vacancies – that's when the nightmares begin.   And you can't even claim any of this stuffing around off your Australian tax. 

The rental market in some pockets of Brisbane and surrounding areas is in a very odd state.    We have a property next door to ours which has been on the rental market since Xmas time.   We can't see anything wrong with it and the rent (steadily dropping)  seems reasonable. From a renter's point of view (we have owned IP's as well):    Those t…[Read more]

Is this thread a joke?    Is someone actually using this guy?     Any transfer of funds is probably going in one direction only – away. 

It's always been a turn-off for many people that they charge a percentage of the selling price.   Where is the incentive to get a lower price for you?       The higher price you pay the higher their commission.    Weird. 

Why not?  but only if it was an IP suitable for families.    No good having a 1 bedder with singles or oldies as a target opposite a school.  

smoule1 wrote:
Does anyone know of a good financial advisor in the brisbane city region?

Talk to Richard.   Since you've come on a property forum you must be interested in property, but most financial advisors will see you as a sitting duck.     Most will convince you put your money to work in managed funds.   Of course, they will want to man…[Read more]

Todd Parker wrote:
I will let you know how it washes up.

Yes, please do – we have been wondering about this too.   Very useful topic.To graham- thanks for the heads-up.

PQ wrote:
The honest ones will sign an agreement with those clauses

No PM I met in the USA would sign such an agreement. 

Just awful.    Cuts out a whole lot of future buyers in the case of re-sale too.    Many people don't buy houses which are below the level of the road. 

mortgagedetective wrote:
"I wouldn't dream of offering $32,000 below the asking price After all they've gone to the trouble of renovating and used their expertise to get the colours right… I'm not that good with colours"

Hi Michael,I don't think your analogy is in any way comparable. If you get cut price mortgage broking you are getting cut…[Read more]