Power stations in the LV will continue to generate power for  decades to come. ETS is dead and alternative power options are unreliable and/or way too expensive. We are now hooked on cheap power.

Of all the major regional towns in Vic, Traralgon has the highest pop. growth and the highest incomes (source ABS 2006). Many other favourable stats also, so well worth a look. 

This link

http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/prices_by_city.jsp?currency=AUD&itemId=101

is a realistic indicator of what property costs to buy, in per sq m terms, not 8sq apartment vs 35 sq house. 

Look at the per sq m price MEL/SYD vs other big cities of the world. Also, note that this list is probably quite old and MEL/SYD curent price would now actually be a fair bit higher, while the rest of the GFC affected world has since taken a pounding. Therefore, MEL/SYD are now very far from cheap in my view.

From what i've seen in Greece, property is rarely bought/sold. It is mainly passed down/inherited/fought over, so in some cases income is largely irrelevent to house prices. Probably the same in many other countries. 

A contributer to cost is tenant access.

"we don't get home till 7PM", "can you do it on Sunday?", "we don't want anyone in there without us present" etc are typical responses by some tenants, as well as not returning phone calls.

Not simply a matter of driving up and replacing a battery.

 Garry, you sound like a smart bloke, but you seem to be putting an awful lot of energy into defending some marketing company. no doubt aimed at wood ducks. Direct that energy into your own property research/affairs and you will do well.

LL, since you done well through this group, can you please answer some Qs about your purchases, such as….

1/   Where is the IP located/size/style/age.

2/   How much total did you pay for it.

3/    What commissions did you pay, if any.

4/   What is it rented at in general  rental market or is it under a  rental guarantee.

5/  Bodycorp/management charges if applicable.

If you can answer these Qs, then we may get an idea of how good your deal(s) were.

Thanks

It always comes back to supply and demand. You might think that the inner east is over priced simply because it is a lot more expensive than the inner west, but by that logic, someone from say Moe could look at the inner west and say it is way over priced compared to Moe. Will Moe catch up to the prices in the inner west?

I still think that people will only pay up to a certain amount in the west, limiting price growth. Like I said before, too many negatives which could send prices either way.

As for which part of Melbourne will boom next, i'm unsure. But i do know that Melbourne prices have shot to unrealistic levels in the last few years and we are now seeing a major correction. It was always gonna happen, like it or not, and it will continue throughout all of Melbourne, east and west.

Bit harsh scamp, but there is a bit of truth in what you say.

I have a problem with isolated mining towns selling houses for iner city type prices. All it takes is a new land release, the mining co to supply housing, the mine to fail etc, for your investment to be almost worthless.

Sure. its a great yield, but it wouldn't take much for it to crumble. $1300/wk for a house just isn't normal or sustainable in the long term. High risk, high return.

I'd sink any profits directly back onto your loan if i were you.

Way too much for a house in woop woop.

Selling privately when you're in another country?

You must be joking.

Ring a real estate agent.

The killer blow would be the huge BC/maintenence costs, not stated. I doubt it would be anywhere near even CF neutral.

People shouldn't be so critical of others for having a different view on future prices.

This is a forum. Everybody's opinion helps.

I am a very experienced investor and i believe things are going to fall further and I don't bank on seeing price growth for some years now.

The time is coming to buy again. Ignore what salesmen tell you.