Yes a great thread , good one Benjamin, the genie is out of the bottle or is it worms everywhere, but this thread gives some very interesting people the chance to let their idealogy off the chain and share it.
Good one ten_burner – " hope is not a strategy " , i can use that with my kids, thank you.
Marc – thanks for ratifying daydreaming, it's an amazing tool that has helped me for years.

Someone once said "I've tried poor, I prefer rich. " and that's really me, gotta agree with that one.
 Occasionally Hollywood produces some off screen gems like this one  "anyone who says money won't buy everything just doesn't know where to shop"  ooooh yeah, try that without money.

If money destroyed spirituality, how come so many high profile gurus have helicopters ?

Money like any other powerful tool, can be a force for good. Mine is aimed at providing retirement comfort and security,
better health care for my family, better training and ongoing educational opportunities for my kids, reliable transport, better food, and certainly better entertainment. Our money also helps a few deserving people along the way when we can identify an opportunity where it won't be wasted, like leg up not handout.

Churches – I can understand why they used to need permanently owned buildings, so they couldn't be manoevered out of town by the opposition probably. Not sure I can justify the opulence of the Vatican with the poverty we have in the world. Wouldn't hurt to sell a few paintings. JC threw out the money changers who were profiting from the devout.

Balance of the 6 things is surely the key as Ben says, keeping the balance is a challenge.

Hope you all find balance   

cheers
thecrest 

The man's having a dyslexic effect on me, I can't even spell brain when I write about him, how ironic.! 

This looks like a promotion to me

If you want to assist someone to fade away into obscurity, it's better to ignore them for a start.
Publicity is expensive, let them do their own.
cheers
thecrest

Hi Mark
Looks like you're on your way and asking the right questions.
If you're seeking finance, I suggest you look for the Finance Brokers on this Forum who have heaps of postings – they have obviously been here a while and contributed heaps and helped lots of people, and they're still here.

My experience with Banks is they have not been pro-active and don't tend to suggest their best options for you, rather your best options for them, unless you ask all the right questions, like "show me 5 ways of financing this".  But still better off with a broker.

There is no substitute for doing your homework until you know an area and values very well, and know exactly what you're looking for. That way you can specialise, and become more proficient in that niche much faster, like 2 brm units, or villas or 3 brm houses in one or 2 suburbs.

Mining has risks, so property investment dependant on mining shares that risk. If China goes slow, and or the mines cut back, property demand & prices go soft, vacancy rate increases, no buyers on the way down as they say. Or, you might have a 10 year mining window, who knows. I like more solid investments coz I know them better, and there are less risks.
 
cheers
thecrest

Struth – 3 years for a thread – you guys need to speed up the typing a bit. This must be historic !!!
S'pose this thread should've celebrated a few birthdays too for W4L  as the original thread starter –  and still going strong, amazing.

World economics is not my forte that's for sure, but I hope it's true that Australia is well positioned with oil and mineral assets to weather a financial storm. Our mortgages bind our people to their properties and provide a kind of stability not enjoyed by USA.
It's a shame about our high household debt, suckers for advertising we are, and want all the cars boats n gadgets, and wow man nothing to pay for 600 days , cooool. Or put it on your home loan, ouch.

Wouldn't mind if we had better leadership results too.

Still the best country in the world.

cheers
thecrest

Yeah Rachel's on the ball.
Suggest you ask the agent for :
A complete rent record printout of the properties.
Agent to write to each tenant advising the takeover date and the contact details of the new PM (you).
Bond receipts & signed transfer forms to request change of landlord on lodged bonds into your name as landlord.
Copies of all and any correspondence with the tenant.
Copies of all inspections.
Leases
Condition reports
Water meter readings if not on condition report.
Tenant application forms, copies of ID etc, and notes or results of diligence checks performed such as TICA.
All keys and photocopies of key profiles.

In your letter to the agent asking for all those things and whatever else you may ask them for relative to how things are done in Tassie, also request confirmation that there are no outstanding issues with any of the tenants, promises made or tenant requests.

Re insurance claim, you can contact the insurance company and do that yourself, might not get much help from a " dumped " agent.
Make sure you attend to maintenance issues immediately, if you're slow, then the rent will be too.
Ensure you know who to ring immediately for urgent repairs like stove, hot water service, air con, heater, plumbing, electrical.
If you get a plumber or handyman out there anytime for something, replace every tap washer in the house at the same time to avoid a callout later for just a washer.

You'll need all your ducks in a row when you do it yourself.

Hope it runs smoothly for you.
Cheers
thecrest 

It's a steep learning curve coming up but worth it usually.
Which state are you in,
which state are the properties in,
how far are you from your properties
do you have stable good paying tenants
are the properties labour intensive with maintenance issues
cheers
thecrest

Hi Greg
Good to hear you're a satisfied client.
Do you have any other connection with Metropole ?
Was that glowing testimonial unsolicited ? 
So you paid $9000 for them to act as a buyers agent and locate a property for you, you bought it, then they scored the management of the property as well and arranged cleaning and painting, and installed a tenant.
How long did it take to find the property ?
How did they find the property ?
Did they already have the property listed for sale ?
Was the property listed with another agent or private ?
Did they negotiate the purchase price and terms for you ?
Are they the property managers now ?  
Cheers
thecrest