[alfrescodiningParticipant@alfrescodiningJoin Date: 2012Post Count: 160]

March 23, 2013 - 1:26 am

Be careful trying to build a duplex WITH a granny flat. Its very unlikely to be permitted. Under the state legislation it is not allowed. Its unlikely the Council would allow it either.

[alfrescodiningParticipant@alfrescodiningJoin Date: 2012Post Count: 160]

March 23, 2013 - 1:23 am

Another question, for anyone who has done this before, what is the best treatment? I keep hearing Termidor is the best. Would anyone agree or disagree?

[alfrescodiningParticipant@alfrescodiningJoin Date: 2012Post Count: 160]

March 23, 2013 - 12:54 am

Can I be sure that the termite barrier installed with the original house is no longer effective?

[alfrescodiningParticipant@alfrescodiningJoin Date: 2012Post Count: 160]

March 19, 2013 - 3:13 am

I'll say something even more tasteless.

The only good drug dealer is a dead one.

Selling drugs should attract the death penalty. It ruins people's lives. The self-adminstered death penalty of a drug dealer is not a bad outcome for society. It's even cost-effective.

[alfrescodiningParticipant@alfrescodiningJoin Date: 2012Post Count: 160]

March 17, 2013 - 7:50 am

draftsman

[alfrescodiningParticipant@alfrescodiningJoin Date: 2012Post Count: 160]

March 16, 2013 - 11:25 pm

The minimum floor to ceiling height is 2.4 metres for 2/3 of the space.

[alfrescodiningParticipant@alfrescodiningJoin Date: 2012Post Count: 160]

March 15, 2013 - 11:33 pm

One of the things is it must have a window.

[alfrescodiningParticipant@alfrescodiningJoin Date: 2012Post Count: 160]

March 13, 2013 - 9:34 am

Hi OC

The picture didn't load for me…

Not sure about whether it worked for other people?

[alfrescodiningParticipant@alfrescodiningJoin Date: 2012Post Count: 160]

March 13, 2013 - 3:10 am

Hi OC

I'd be interested to see how the 5 units were fit on to a 980sqm site!

Do you have the plans online anywhere?

[alfrescodiningParticipant@alfrescodiningJoin Date: 2012Post Count: 160]

March 8, 2013 - 8:52 am

I'm not sure what areas you're looking at Freckle but in Sydney where I am the property market is doing quite well, particularly the lower end of the market. Darwin is doing well, Perth is doing well, Melbourne is ok.

I take your point that the property market has risen through times of high interest rates, but the 2004-2007 era saw unprecedented wealth which supported the property market.

However, how many times have we seen interest rates this low and the market NOT boom?  None. How many times have we seen interest rates this low and the market DID boom? One. I know the same outcome this time is not guaranteed, but I think it's more likely than not.

[alfrescodiningParticipant@alfrescodiningJoin Date: 2012Post Count: 160]

March 7, 2013 - 9:37 pm

You should overlay the graph of the real home price index with the interest rate graph.  Look from 1990 onwards.

Interest rates plummeted and stabilised from 18% to between 3% and 8%. Property prices soared. Unless interest rates skyrocket, people will keep borrowing, and prices will not fall.

[alfrescodiningParticipant@alfrescodiningJoin Date: 2012Post Count: 160]

March 7, 2013 - 9:27 pm

aaaah that's right. you're one of these goldbug types! I remeber that from the Japan thread.

say no more! I hear you loud and clear.

This will be a good year for Sydney's outer suburbs.

[alfrescodiningParticipant@alfrescodiningJoin Date: 2012Post Count: 160]

March 7, 2013 - 8:49 am

These doomsday people tend to scurry away when they realise they're wrong.

[alfrescodiningParticipant@alfrescodiningJoin Date: 2012Post Count: 160]

March 7, 2013 - 12:30 am

Quote:

You're getting closer but the population meme is a red herring. The answer is in the second part… banks lending money.

.

Exactly. And they didn't do it on a widespread basis before the 1950s. Hence the parabolic increase in house prices after that era, which scaremongers like you call a "bubble".

Quote:

Pricing, credit and the cost of credit are the primary drivers of property markets. Second to that is credit capacity. 

.

That's obvious. People have access to money and credit – much more than they need. Nothing will change that in the immediate foreseeable future. The massive boom from the late 1980s to now coincides with A TRIPLING in people's borrowing capacities, due to structurally lower interest rates, caused by the adoption of sound monetary policy including inflation targets and the RBA charter, as well as deregulation of the economy. The massive price increases are justified.

Quote:

At this point in time we have relatively easy credit criteria and low cost of credit so why isn't the market booming given Australia has a relatively stabile and high population growth? New construction is crashing. 

.

Were you asleep in 2009? Or when rates were cut after 9/11? What happened last time interest rates were this low? The market boomed. And its happening again. Are you asleep now?  Wake up pal. While you're sitting on the sidelines afraid, rational people are making money.

[alfrescodiningParticipant@alfrescodiningJoin Date: 2012Post Count: 160]

March 6, 2013 - 9:43 am

I've never read such bollocks in all my life.

People have been saying this for years.

The fact is, whether by accident or intention, people breed in this country. Household creation drives the property market.

We have a healthy birth rate (compared to other OECD countries) and people are literally dying to get here from other countries.

Demand is greater than supply currently.

Sounds like that article was written by some inner city hipster annoyed that he is having to rent a studio apartment for 2/3 of his salary.

The post-1950's property boom coincides with both massive annual increases in population, and the normalisation of banks lending money for people to buy houses, whereas previously this was not the case.

[alfrescodiningParticipant@alfrescodiningJoin Date: 2012Post Count: 160]

February 20, 2013 - 6:28 am

Well I'm going to budget $20,000 for the retaining walls, because I have no idea how much they might cost if they're masonry. 

[alfrescodiningParticipant@alfrescodiningJoin Date: 2012Post Count: 160]

February 19, 2013 - 9:43 am

Hi Freckle I'm building two houses in the backyard – the land is huge. The DA is with Council now.

Just not sure which material I should go with for the retaining wall and how much each option would cost.

[alfrescodiningParticipant@alfrescodiningJoin Date: 2012Post Count: 160]

February 19, 2013 - 8:37 am

Here is a picture of the area where the retaining wall will need to go (Along the back fence). It will be 450mm off the rear boundary (Council requirement).

[alfrescodiningParticipant@alfrescodiningJoin Date: 2012Post Count: 160]

February 19, 2013 - 7:45 am

It falls 1 metre over the space of about 1 metre.  Its currently battered within my land, but in some parts the batter has failed.

[alfrescodiningParticipant@alfrescodiningJoin Date: 2012Post Count: 160]

February 18, 2013 - 12:22 pm

Freckle wrote:

What are we talking about here? 1m…2m…3m high? Does it border the front/public property or is it a garden rear type wall. Need specs to understand what you're talking about

Hi Freckle.

It will be one metre high. It will be in total about 35 metres long, wrapping around 3 sides of the property. There is a 1 metre change in grade between my property and the reserve at the rear. Its in the back yard of the property.