Vacancy rates are much higher in certain parts of the citycompared to others.  When the tenant looses their job they still make promises to pay rent for about a month (or 2), then the eviction process takes a month (or 2), finding a tenant a month (or 2) and then the agent takes one month's rent for finding a tenant.
Rental is about $250/bedroom so 3 bedder $750 (section 8 $700)
Don't expect capital growth to start any time soon with over supply of properies and no finance available.
Rents have not moved in the last 5 years and are not about to start now, but this is still avery good return.
If the property has not had a full rehab maintanace costs will be constant

Try Xilo, they are affiliated with Westpac, but call and speak to them first toget your info because they are a pain to set up.

my forum post came up followed by a million lines of gibberish and I can't find the edit button anywhere…
Please help
Vicky

Wow, Michael and Bronwyn, I have been reading this forum and your blog with huge interest but  you have just shot your credibility right out of the water!  And I am not sure what your association with Vincent 888 is.

I have been also doing a lot of research and going over to US on the 28th of March to buy some properties.  Here some facts
"According to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau estimate (for July 1, 2008), the population of Atlanta is 537,958 which would make it the 33rd largest city in the United States. The estimate for Metro Atlanta (the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta MSA) for the same date is 5,376,285. The estimate for the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Gainesville Combined Area is 5,729,304. This takes in 30 counties comprising most of Northwestern Georgia."

The states with highest rates of foreclosure (more than one house in 150)
 1. Nevada
2. Arizona
3. Florida
4. Idaho
5. California
These are states that had the highest drop in real estate prices and will take the longest time to recover as they have huge oversupply. (Georgia is #9 on that list) Sure there are pockets that this does not apply to, but care needs to be taken. Miami certainly has dropped considerably in value.

Prices have fallen 30-50% in good neighborhoods, that's where there are a lot of owner occupiers, white collar workers, job security etc. A neighborhood where the house has gone from $320,000 to $40,000 I would be worried about – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. It sounds more like Detroit rather than Atlanta, where the whole neighbourhoods just picked and left.

Saphire said that he take his hat off to you – because you are doing exactly what needs to be done to buy property overseas. At no point had he slammed or slandered you. He does point out however that a month in Atlanta does not buyers agent make. That's not slander that's a fact.

Kind regards

Vicky

Hey Glenn,
I subscribe to Australian Property Investor and it’s fantastic, also, as well as Steve’s course, I have done Peter Spann’s course (good course) and he did a large chunk on renos; and Stuart O’Neil from Guerrilla Real Estate has a renovation kit.
Make sure you get a building and pest inspection -these guys are good for contacts for tradesmen.
Good luck
Cookie

Hi everyone,
We replaced the kitchen bench and all the knobs on cupboard doors and the agent, who saw the property prior to renovation, asked if we installed a new kitchen. We attached mirrors to the outside of the bedroom robes with double sided tape – it made them look new and detracted from how uneven they were and made the room look bigger.Timber venitians are great to give room warmth and class.
Happy renovating!
Cookie

Hi Pleong,
I think you’re confusing positive cashflow and positive gearing. Margaret Lomas is into positive gearing. You can find a couple of posts on this forum on this topic.
Both of your properties will be cashflow negative.
Steve’s 11 sec solution is property price divided by 1000 and multiplied by 2 should give you you’re desired rental.
Good luck

Hi JohnBoy,
Were there any dates for the Victorian shortage and the Tasmanian oversupply?
Thanks
Cookie[]

Hi ken le,
You need to do your research from home, via internet, property section of Brisbane papers, suburb reports and talking to people. Your budget will dictate how far from CBD you can buy. Once you decide on a couple of suburbs, you will need to set up some appointments with agents[}] and go up. From then on it’s internet and you go up if you think you’ve found something or, like me, you appont a buyers agent[8D], who will do the legwork for you.
Good luck
Cookie

Hi,
I organised my insurance through broker and they recommended CGU – I have landlords insurance but I insure for replacement value if the place burns to the ground how much will it cost to rebuild $10,000/sqr say 17 sqrs. However Ihave since found out that brokers do not recommend certain companies eg AAMI which provided me with considerably cheaper car ins compared to the broker.
Cheers
Cookie