Thanks for the links Duckster

Over 1000.
  I think having PPOR paid off and only debt (other than for IPs) is the current 4K on the card we clear each month (prior to interest charges).

That clause would make me worry.  Obviously they don't want to get one.
I'd at least want a clause in it in regards to purchase being subject to you obtaining a building certificate.

G'day Rose,
I grew up in Devonport and still live close by.  The city once was roughly divided into west and east  (either side of the Mersey River) with the west being the better part.  Now there are pockets of good / not so good dotted around both areas.  Lotsa parts os East that were once viewed as "no go" zones are now fetching good prices, with some of the more affluent locals grabbing some prime seaside locations that were once looked down on.
  We have looked seriously at a few properties in East but in the end our two properties in Devonport are on the west side.
I know quite a few people who live in East, and a number who quite enjoy living in the "bronx"style areas which aren't as bad as they once were.  In these areas, once you get a decent tenant they tend to stick around too.  If you aren't going to inspect yourself, I'd definately get someone You knew to check out the general area  (or at least view it on google street view).

v8ghia  –  if the Burnie suburb was shorewell its worth noting that there was a nice new subdivision with designer homes that went in that area and was lumped in with it  (much to the disgust of the owners of these houses) which added to the rise in the house prices of the suburb.  I know I'd be picking East Devonport over the old part of Shorwell.

And on another note: Don't ever tell someone from Ambleside they are from East Devonport  –  they are likely to just about rip you apart for sujesting it…

Have spoken to a few miners and they all reckoned they, and their mates, were looking to get out of Queenstown as they thought it was… (well lets just say) less than impressive.  These were guys around 24 to 28 who were drive in workers.  As for Roseberry, I think it could be quite decent BUT there is still lingering issues with claims of heavy metal poisoning in the soils of some areas  ( I don't know any more, but there is a group down there claiming to be suffering from poisoning and blaming the area for it  –  i think they call themselves the Toxic Action Network or somthing like that).

I'm also interested to hear opinions on this.  We are looking at building vs buying as the homes in the area we are looking at are a large amount above what we could get one completed for, even taking into consideration 6months of interest while house built.

Thanks Mike for a most revealing report.  This will be a big help in our negotiations. I will deffinately be letting others know about this.