Don't underestimate the value of a car space, garage, even better.

Moron. Anyway, good cheap entry level rental properties in a decent sized town can be had down there, with reasonable rental AND growth prospects into the future. Not the rip off PM and maintenence issues like you'd find in a lot of one plumber outback towns with cheap IPs

The neigbour over the back fence has a new evap cooler on his roof. It makes a hell of a racket, much, much louder than the split aircons. Hate to think what it'd be like if it were only a few meters away.

You've stated your management costs, but what about total expenses incl. bodycorp, water, council, insurance, sinking fund etc.Surely these factors would alter the equation sigificantly?

Hi Chat2Howie,I dont know where exactly you bought, but if you bought in the height of the WA boom, the you are basically gonna lose money whether you sell or keep it.Dont worry though, you're not alone. Everyone who bought in other places (melb, bris etc) during the height of their respective booms are in the same boat.Very interesting times are…[Read more]

The GW money making juggernaught continues to roll along. Further fuelled by governments worldwide, keen to embrace anything green.

Hi Kenton.I would suggest that you take a trip down that way and have a look if you're interested. It's only about 1.5hrs drive along the freeway from melb.Morwell is i think no longer in decline as it was in the 80s and 90s. Traralgon, about 14km further along, is booming and there are extremely bright future prospects, in my view, due to the…[Read more]

The headline says THE WORST HOUSE IN THE BEST STREET IN VIC and further down Kate2006 says "the houses are very big and grand in this street". To me,  that indicates a prestige/high $$$ type property, even if the subject house is a dump. Anyhow, whatever type it is, people should understand that property can boom and crash. Nothing is guaran…[Read more]

Scamp's comments should not be totally ignored. In a falling market, a prestige type property could well kill you financially.

APerry wrote:
Wages will continue to grow, they can outstrip inflation if we improve productivity. I suspect this will be the case.

Wall to wall, and now federal labour  govts.Do you honestly believe that in this union friendly environment and with scrapping of workplace reform etc, that productivity will improve????????Say good bye to the low…[Read more]

If you decide to keep it and rent it out, do it for the long term, because capital gains tax becomes a factor then.

Prices won't drop and people won't be forced to sell???Anyone remember the early 1990's?

Easy to say in hindsight, woulda shoulda bought or sold this or that, but the point is about the situation we are in RIGHT NOW. Is property going to go up, down or sideways? You make your choices and wear the consequences, good or bad. That's investing. With so much at stake you must think carefully before diving in.We can't wind the clock b…[Read more]

We have a direct riverfront 2BR unit in surfers paradise which is in an older building. The cost difference to the non water views units 2BR in the same building would be about  $80K.Difference in rental for the equivalent unit would be about $30-$40/ week.

Are Scamp's comments re a potential housing crash any more damaging than those who say property will keep on rising?I would think not. Everyone is entitled to their view.It crosses the line though, when someone with a sales pitch or service to promote, gives their view to generate business.

Read forums, drive around and look at properties, look in RE windows, walk the area  etc.There are lots of ways that you can determine a good value investment for free.Invest for YOUR own benefit, not for some developer or sales co. It's your money, you wear the risks/rewards.Personally i wouldn't go anywhere near those type of seminar/sales th…[Read more]

will that area turn into a ghost town should something happen to the local mining industry?

Sounds like your'e headed for big trouble. I would suggest you get rid of one or all before the market slumps. You can always buy back cheaper in a few years if we hit another recession.

Dont forget possibly the strongest factor in determining house prices.The strength of the economy.The low prices of the early 90s coincided with high unemployment, recession etc.1996, change of Govt to one of strong reforms/not afraid to do the hard decisions and the economy continues till recently a very strong steady run.Now a new govt who seems…[Read more]

Hi, we have a fully furnised older type river front  2 bedder in surfers paradise which we permenantly let during the year and holiday let during Dec/Jan and use it ourselves 2nd half of Jan.It works out OK for us but we bought very well 6 yrs ago. Don't be so fixed on using it yourself because if you do, they make you use it  off peak anyway. Thi…[Read more]