If I am not wrong, it will work fair when there is a capital gain from the house; what if the there is decline in the property value that we have actually paid.
(all retirees and wealthy and see the high strata as a nice way to keep investors away)
so at last I am not alone that is facing the problem with the strata for sure. That said; these strata companies are good for nothing. All they are doing is taking money for granted and do nothing back.
There was a electricity fault few days back and two of the floors contents got bursted due to excessive electric load; the reply from building was that building management is not responsible.
I know I am taking this topic into a different direction but I am telling that why should I even bother about buying a UNIT. Why govt. has no control or whatsoever on strata; they are good for nothing; they are easily charging too much , and going out of context of building management for living being; rather it is a place of minting money like banks.
Jac – "You need building, contents, landlord plus tenant protection insurance. Try AAMI."
Even though it is body corporate building, should I go for building insurance?
Jamie – Indeed, you are right. I really started hating these money sucking machine and govt./ council has no control on where the money is going and so forth. Through proxies they are always able to get majority of vote for increasing the cost.
fWord – Where can I hunt for the house when the cost is too high in inner west. If I go anywhere else then the following word comes around in my mind. "fword says – Something that appeals to you may not be so fine for a tenant."
fword – ""I might have read somewhere of an unfortunate instance where one person living in a small block of apartments had a leaking roof but could not get it repaired because""
Yes, that I've seen in chippendale property that I went to inspect… the property cost was 100K less than market price, but strata was 3000 per quart because of leaking roof top.
So in overall you all prefer houses? If yes then any idea where can I go and hunt them My budget cannot go higher than 500K or near by and I am looking for at least 2-3.
Thank you very much for constructive discussion here and also for sharing your valuable experience.
The main reason I'd started this thread was that I am paying around 600$ per month as a strata. for IP UNIT that fetch 800-900$ per week rent . However, the big benefit is that it handles everything, starting from insurance to cleaning, or whatsoever. Indeed it is high as compare to any outcity . but Since it is in Sydney, Townhall, it is worth to mention the return that we get out of it.
Now, when I am hunting for the next one, that is exactly came back into my mind that why Stata is enjoying my 600$ and let me dig into propertyinvesting.com and see what others are thinking.
Main concerns that I've found of not owning a house are:
– You are responsible for everything – You are response to pay for Insurances, cleaning, council and also putting a garbage box out of your house. – You have to put big down payment straight! – roof is leaking, I am responsible, water is not coming I am responsible….
That said, I belongs to Y generation and I doubt that I will be interested in doing such things. I just want to live and enjoy, either I rent or live as a owner, I don't have time for house maintenance and I am happy to give strata , not 600, but 200-300 $ per month.
Now that is my story, but I am very sure that majority of us would want to do the same thing so that means if I will buy the house, how can I ensure that the tenant will be nice with the property, or I must say that only 2 people will walk to view my house during inspection.
I really doubt that freedom factor comes in between; at least for next gen.
We don't like doing bbq at my back yard rather I will go to the beach or park; may be it is a age factor I still have to see… but I really doubt that I can buy house in the inner city, in less than 800K.
It is again back to the circle, either you do or not, it is you who is going to make a decision – both have got drawbacks, and benefits.'
That is what exactly I have been thinking quite a while when I see a line of unit and one in between is the house. That means rest of those who used to be houses are converted into units, so by mean, after approval one can create 6 / 8 block units and then can run the Strata too… so more money!!!
Get a house, and whack another house in the back yard. Call them both units then if it makes you happy.
Here's another thought:
Get a large house, wall it off in the middle somewhere and add another external entry door. One house has become two units. Ta da!!! Add in a cost-efficient kitchen and bathroom to the unit that appears to be all rooms and no facilities, and away you go.
Either way, you are changing the property to increase its cash flow, but you still own the land and all the dwellings on it. You've added value.
Assuming that means is easy to get an approval from council.