ABS is definitely a good starting point for finding out the demographics and rental/owner occupier ratio of a suburb.

As for investment purposes and the ideal ratio of rentals/owner occupier, well, that might depend on what your goals are.

If you are aiming for maximum CG, then a good place for an IP is an area that has around 70% owner…[Read more]

What on earth is Bird-Dogging?

Martine makes a very good point. I was once considering a kit home (my brother built his beautiful home with some of his mates) and what I have learnt is that you need to look into the inclusions very carefully. Do NOT assume that this or that will be included. Get it in writing from the company. At least you won’t get unpleasant surprises.

I…[Read more]

I am in total agreemen with Westan. My first priority would be to remove that personal loan first. You don’t really need this hanging over your head especially if you are going to buy a property. The repayments on that will be enough to keep you working away like a weasle. Think of a scenario of you losing your $50K pa job, while having a mortgage…[Read more]

Where’s the rub? Just curious about your comment, “if things don’t change”. What needs to change?

SG

I just checked mine and it is just 2MB. Maybe you won the email box size lottery? [party]

SG

Correction, Joseph. Not every property for sale necessarily automatically goes to realestate.com.au.

I sold one recently and while speaking with several agents, some said they don’t automatically post the property on realestate.com.au and if they do it will be an extra charge and only at my request. While other agents do it as a matter of…[Read more]

Hi Helen,

Not all agents, believe it or not, list with the online services like realestate.com.au. I also found in my last venture to purchase (about 2.5 years ago) that not all agents will update their online listings, whether it be their own website or that of another.

My conclusion at the time was that it is still the best to do the…[Read more]

I used to be a student at Monash in the 1990’s and know that there was plenty of demand for flats to rent by students, especially if these flats were walking distance to the university.

Check with the Monash Uni Student Accommodation Service to find out the demand and what sort of flats are preferred by students.

Also be open to the idea, if you…[Read more]

From vague memory, yes CGT does apply in this case.

However, to get the facts, I would recommend you familiarize yourself with the ATO’s website and find the relevant information there. The ATO website is quite easy to use and you’ll find it pretty quickly.

Don’t make decisions on hear-say, ALWAYS get the facts

SG.

Personally, I prefer houses to units at any time. CG tend to be higher, and there is none of the hassle with body corporates. On top of that, if the land is big enough and/or in the right location, there is always potential for development and even higher CG later on.

Go for houses[wink2]

SG.

These ads have the same phone number, but usually different, or apparently different, properties with different prices and different descriptions.

The ads are repeated over years, and , as I said, same phone numbers. This is definitely not people giving up on the ‘idyllic’ country comforts that didn’t work out.

These must be investors who buy…[Read more]

Not sure if there is any CG to be made for property that sells at around $40K. I see that there aplenty of houses for sale around $40K and even less in Qld’s backwaters. But I would guess that they would have a flat CG curve. After all, they are that cheap because nobody is buying there.

The idea is to find such a cheapie in an area that is as…[Read more]