Hi Chris,

If this is in Victoria you almost certainly need a planning permit.

Regards
Alistair

Hi Skeeter,

Have a look at http://www.dse.vic.gov.au The site has maps showing all zones and overlays, throughout Victoria. You will also find the associated planning schemes etc. Basicaly everything you need to know.

Regards
Alistair

You should speak to one of the many private personal training studios about paying to use their facilities. I think they would be far more opren to the idea than a large gym. They’re a better environment for your clients also.

Hi Gill,

Thanks again for organising the meeting. As I mentioned, none of my freinds are interested in property, so it was fun to speak with a group who share that interest.

I look forward to the next one.

Regards
Alistair

Hi Cam,

It depends on the area, if you give the postcode to a mortgage broker, they should be able to give you the info you are after.

Regards
Alistair

IMHO there is more of a problem with the application of town planning regulations than the regulations themselves. Development is a hot political issue with local Government, particularly in areas where Save Oour Ssuburbs is active. This leads to a lot of very poor decisions by council, hence the high rate being overturned in VCAT.

I could o on…[Read more]

My company has had some dealings with WPB. They come accross as very knowledgable and smart operators.

You can also usually claim depreciation. You need to speak to a quantity surveyor about this.

Commercial property is very different to residential. Your 4 weeks vacant per year asumption is applicable to residential but not commercial property. If you get a good tennant they can be very long term, but it is also possible to have long term vacancies.

Good luck, but make sure you know what you are doing before entering this market.

Hi Boris & Elizabeth,

Before you get your property valued, you should decide which lender you plan on going with, as you will need to get a valuer who is on their panel. Also, not all lenders will except the valuation as they like to do their own.

You should speak with a broker about this.

Regards
Alistair

Hi Meegan,

There should be no penalties for not taking up a loan offerred by a broker, as you do not have to pay them yourself.

There are plenty of brokers on this site that seem to know what they are on about, why don’t you try one of them. They won’t keep giving us all free info if they don’t get any business out of us.

Regards
Alistair

Colonial do this also.

Hi Jacqui,

Most lenders don’t like vendor finance, so your brother would have to find one that is OK with this kind of deal.

There have been a few posts on this subject before. I know Mortgageman, who posts here, has a lender that can do this type of loan.

Regards
Alistair

Hi Shane,

You should start by having a look at how your loans are structured and which lender you want to use. You would need both an accountant and a broker to do this. Then get your properties revalued by a valuer that is approved by the lender aqnd then apply to the lender to have the increased (hopefully) value taken into account when they…[Read more]

Hi Collie,

Would you need council approval to change the use of the hall. I know of quite a few churches that have been transformed into houses, if you have approval to do something similar I would think you would need just a basic resedential construction loan.

Regards
Alistair

Hi aumeow,

Baycorp Advantage is the company that would hold your credit record. Have a look at their web site and you will be able to work out how to access your credit record.

If you have an impaired credit history you can still get a loan, but the rates are higher. I’m not sure but I think you need a larger than normal deposit also.

Regards
Alistair

Car loans are a great way to keep yourself poor. I have never taken one out and never will. If you have to have a new car because of your job or whatever, you should pay it off ASAP.

If you have equity in your house you can leverage off it, you just need to make sure that the cash flow you get is sufficient (whether negatively or positively…[Read more]

Mr Vip,

If finding a deposit is a problem, as long as you are servicable you should be able to get a much better rate than 8.2% on a 100% mortgage.

Regards
Alistair

Calvin,

I have a similer problem, except my wife is happy for me to spend money on our house but gives me greif if it is investing. I get around it by promising to go over everything with our accountant before I spend money.

Regards
Alistair

Hi Jaco,

What is it you want to know? You will need to be a bit more specific.

Regards
Alistair