[Andrew_AParticipant@andrew_aJoin Date: 2003Post Count: 392]

December 21, 2012 - 12:56 am

A good reason to buy the next API, looking forward to reading

With reno's I would say if very important to check your end values very carefully, once you have a high degree of confidence in a realistic sale/value price at the end you can work backwards with the numbers and arrive at the beginning!

[Andrew_AParticipant@andrew_aJoin Date: 2003Post Count: 392]

November 29, 2012 - 8:27 pm

Perhaps sorting out the settlement mess first of all and then taking a break before choosing on the next direction could be an option, making a decision from a calm state of mind is important. Just a thought. Your situation is unfortunately quite common these days Simon, I'm regularly talking with people who are looking to build again after a separation. Also mixing the lifestyle (northern beaches) with the investment (possibly not northern beaches!) decisions is another area to watch out for, have a different hat for each consideration!

[Andrew_AParticipant@andrew_aJoin Date: 2003Post Count: 392]

November 26, 2012 - 8:49 pm

I would say there is no easy path from here, it will take time and effort to move anywhere worthwhile.

As you are starting out and looking for direction I believe the best method is to try and build a relatively broad introductory foundation of knowledge, this way you will be able to ask questions that are targeted and gain an insight into possible directions you would like to head, there are many ways you can do this however the best news is that at this stage I think none of these methods require spending large amounts of money.

A few ideas, no need for any of them to cost more than a small amount of money, the main investment would be your time.

> Join an investors group, the type that is about networking and education rather than selling you property.

> Fill your investing library up with books from your local library and plow through them

> Start meeting and networking with investors and people you think you might like to copy

Good luck and enjoy the journey

[Andrew_AParticipant@andrew_aJoin Date: 2003Post Count: 392]

November 25, 2012 - 1:24 am

Our office is in Geebung, this area has a lot of industry and light industrial, also a train line slicing through. Mostly older style housing, some busy arterial roads, all will depend on the specifics of the deal and location but generally a strategic location for Brisbane.

[Andrew_AParticipant@andrew_aJoin Date: 2003Post Count: 392]

November 25, 2012 - 1:13 am

I'm inspired by people who have generated success from humble beginnings, people who have also created a lifestyle that they have targeted, so often not the most money but the most 'freedom' and 'happiness', lifestyle by design.

[Andrew_AParticipant@andrew_aJoin Date: 2003Post Count: 392]

November 25, 2012 - 1:04 am

As has been pointed out this is a small size for a 2 bedder, not impossibly small but a challenge! A property has to make sense for a person to want to live in, so a well designed 1 bed will be superior than a 2 bed just for the sake of it in most cases for future growth.

A few areas to watch for compromise regarding smaller flats.

> Laundry, often not internal and squeezed into a communal area in blocks 

> Lock up garages (with or without laundry)

> Car space

> Size of the bathroom, needs to be functional

> If 2 beds on 50m2 is the bathroom actually an ensuite or available to both rooms?

[Andrew_AParticipant@andrew_aJoin Date: 2003Post Count: 392]

October 20, 2012 - 12:45 am

Got some good deals on established DHA houses where the original owner paid far too much, as other posters have mentioned the deal needs to make sense on it's own, forget the new carpet and lick of paint at the end of time. 

Also.. vacancies are one of the horrible imaginary threats that newer investors see with property, with insurance and a property in good condition and location it's hardly ever a concern with residential.

[Andrew_AParticipant@andrew_aJoin Date: 2003Post Count: 392]

October 20, 2012 - 12:34 am

I like blocks of 1 bed flats on 1 title

Do some number crunching to compare the net return of the house/apartment, with the apartment check out the floor metre size, strata fees, number in the block, condition of the block, scarcity factor to start with.

[Andrew_AParticipant@andrew_aJoin Date: 2003Post Count: 392]

October 2, 2012 - 8:08 pm

The buyer enquiry has been strong the last two weeks, interesting to see how it all translates into market movements over the next 12-18 months with the variable rates dropping and rents on the improve.

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October 2, 2012 - 7:56 pm

Often I find that the expensive strata fees are mostly from high admin costs, and not sinking fund contributions, nobody takes an interest in who is managing and they pay whatever is put in front of them, so taking an interest is the first step in managing your fees. Would expect the costs should be reasonable for a block of three with no pool.

[Andrew_AParticipant@andrew_aJoin Date: 2003Post Count: 392]

September 29, 2012 - 12:49 am

Would be an interesting place to visit, have had clients work there though I'm yet to see the place myself.

Best to put the wages to work and not assume they will last forever!

[Andrew_AParticipant@andrew_aJoin Date: 2003Post Count: 392]

September 29, 2012 - 12:28 am

Someone who can justify $149/month on a research site in this particular case.

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September 29, 2012 - 12:27 am

Difficult getting those child seats into a 2 seater

Niisan Tiida here, nice and dependable. Recently met an agent driving a Porsche Cayanne, more inline with the image thing.

[Andrew_AParticipant@andrew_aJoin Date: 2003Post Count: 392]

September 26, 2012 - 5:42 am

Unfortunately it looks like Residex have decided to start charging for the city wide monthly data series which makes a lot of these graphs difficult to continue.

http://www.rpdata.com/research/monthly_indices.html 

Would appear to be the best alternative for the moment.

[Andrew_AParticipant@andrew_aJoin Date: 2003Post Count: 392]

September 26, 2012 - 5:26 am

I would try and wait till I could do a decent job with everything at once, paint + carpets + light fittings/door handles etc, if the carpet is serviceable might just need a good clean to last the next rental period.

Once you replace something like flooring with a new product then you realize how shabby everything else looks Would just want to paint/freshen up the doors and handles rather than put mirrors there.

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September 26, 2012 - 5:15 am

It's one of the sites I use for searching, agree about being expensive and suitable for active investors only, otherwise there will be better choices. Price Finder as Matt points out is excellent and hard to beat for value for your dollar. 

[Andrew_AParticipant@andrew_aJoin Date: 2003Post Count: 392]

September 21, 2012 - 10:36 pm

'More wealth from Residential Real Estate' Jan Somers

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September 21, 2012 - 10:35 pm

If you have the view that this is a dip in a longer term uptrend or just can find something that makes sense on a cashflow only scenario then some of the coastal areas including Cairns offer particularly good hunting grounds at the moment. The multis such as blocks of flats that can be renovated and bought well look interesting.

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September 21, 2012 - 10:32 pm

Similar, I think that's 'Everyday Millionaires' by Jim McKnight which is also an excellent read!

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September 14, 2012 - 9:48 pm

I love offering on property when you have 100% in cash You can really squeeze and perhaps more important act quickly. Nice to have 1M+ cash as the jaw dropping deals tend to be in that price range with resi I have found, however I know buyers who shop at the lower end of the scale <300k and sometimes much less, with patience and network building you can pick up a stunner with this approach, only need 1 every year or so to  make it worthwhile as well.