WIhappy to say after 7 1/2 yrs in the USA market the pain is finally over as just this month we have closed on our last property.we quit because;when you are 1/2 way around the world it is hard to find people with integrity,it is hard enough managing IP's let alone be a FOREX dealer too, andthere are easier ways to make money in my own bac…[Read more]

People who charge more are not imune to mistakes (take your pick; Arthur Anderson, Moodys, S & P spring to mind and the consequences far far greater….)if you really want to know what others charge then  suggest it could be slightly better (only just) to get a larger samplehttp://robknights.com.au/cgi-bin/user.pl?download_file=1&file=220Tony

firstly , what is fair?secondly, what is typical?for your penultimate sentence – <moderator: delete language> wot do you reckon? you can't make this stuff up LoL !seriously, ITR's are a commoditised product. meaning accountants in this type of target market place are history recorders, nothing more.  Jorrod has done the ethical thing and pri…[Read more]

ongoing management is a challenge.  it is difficult to find integrity.6 years on now and nothing would surprise me anymore…..TY

try http://www.cashflowwithequity.com/ orhttp://www.wny4rent.com dealt with Toddpersonally turned a few around with these both theguys a couple of years back.  chalk that loss making exercise up to experience….TY

I agree with you sapphire101 the admin here has failed in a big way.    The punters will just have to chalk it up to experience.tony

Hi Martythis is the same for all professional service providers as the first thing the client asks is how much is this going to cost!!!  and what you really are asking (wether you know it or not ) is why should i do business with you…The fact you think it is steep is because the architect has failed to explain the value to you.You havent said…[Read more]

Hi MelissaGive the accountants a call.  Let the reception know you are looking for a new accountant and you were referred to them by so and so.  This ought to get you past the gate keeper (accountants and other professional service providers get a lot of timewaster calls during the day.)   If not then leave a message (as they could be on the ph…[Read more]

Singer wrote:

tonyy21692 wrote:
  If you are inexperienced you will be financially bled as quickly as possible. 

You hit the nail on the head.    From someone who lived there for many years, I hope your post is widely read.

Somehow I don't think it has been Singer but hey, what can you do? I guess I can spell it out;Don't bother takin…[Read more]

Hi MichaelBeing on the ground for  2 years is a big commitment and will put you miles in front.  You ought to be able to build a network of people who you can trust in that time then manage them remotely.  Listen to the locals and take care in some neighbourhoods.good luck.tony 

Read this tread with a great deal of interest.  And while reading  it I have had a sense of seeing this all unfolding exactly the same 5 to 6 years ago on this and another property forum.Some of the old long time posters, who have been and done it in the US (they know who they are) have made some highly valuable comments in this thread but th…[Read more]

Pretty much it but there is a a few wrinkles to the cals that effectively reduce the amount – gets even more complex if you end up selling with in the 5 yr rule. Your accountant ought to have raised this,  unless you are self preparing you own BAS's……..good lucktony

Rules for some and rules for others…TonyBTW I made the comment I joined over 5 and a half years ago purely as I really don't remember the rule that McKnight referred and please don't infer anything other than that.

Trouble with that quote is the usd has since strengthened against almost all currencies as part of the flight to safety – hence making it (in our case with the AUD ) now 50% more expensive to get into the US market than it was only 6 months ago.  The fall in US housing is due to the bubble – meaning the place that sold for $660,000 was never wor…[Read more]

I joined 5 1/2 years ago and don't remember the rules but hey I'll take it on what you say.I guess some get away with it in a thinly guised veil and others don't – but the message is the same.Tony  

This old chestnut of which is better never seems to go away in Australia – the society and the institute have voted on merging a number of times (CPA's have the large #'s of members and therefore the huge cashflow from subs whereas the CA's have no money but the perception of prestige). I think the last time it was the young ones in the int…[Read more]

Try the city (council) web sites.  you can download the foreclosure auctions list for non payment of city taxes ect.Also, try fannymae site which list all the bank held properties.Buying is the easy part.  Getting them fixed up with out being ripped, a decent PM and even getting insurance whilst looking for a tenant is not without its ch…[Read more]

bespokethe ATo do have a ruling on acceptable markups on billing trusts and service entities.  as long as it isn't inflated or artifical (ie a scheme) then ought to be OK (if you are looking for concrete answers get a privae binding ruling).  yes it is a mirror image, a deduction for one means income for the other and has to be in the same finan…[Read more]

[Edited because advertising is not permitted in the forum thanks.]dsuovann,Anyone can buy in the USA (as long as your last name isn't Bin Laden)……Tony 

[Adversiting is a no no.]