Hi.

While I can’t say that I’ve hit rock bottom I did have, at one point, ‘bad’ (read as Credit Card) debts totaling about 1/3 of my yearly income. With planning, solid professional advice, lots of self education and a little good luck (leveraged, I have no doubt by my positive attitude and education) I got out of the hole and now have a modest…[Read more]

Hi.

Where and when is this seminar?

Art

‘Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.’ – Albert Einstein

Hi.

Anyone else remember when ‘Current Affairs’ wasn’t a euphemism for ‘Tabloid S#!t’?

Still, that’s a dodgy law.

Oh, and if you want a Today Tonight giggle check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewhleenoxr0
(WARNING: Some off colour language from Naomi Robson…but watch to the end for the real truth.)

Cheers,
Art.

‘Great spirits…[Read more]

Hola.

Personally I found that when starting out it was good to read a couple books with broad coverage of the property investment field. From there I identified my target niche (development) and started picking up some more specific texts.

In the beginner’s department I found Dolf De Roos’ ‘Real Estate Riches’ (part of Robert Kiyosaki…[Read more]

Hi AO.

I would also drop the coin on the inspections – it’s good regret insurance if nothing else.

More importantly I would closely examine the minutes from Body Corporate meetings (if applicable). If there is a known problem with the structure and/or public areas it should be noted there. If you feel there is a potential problem then look…[Read more]

Howdy.

I ran across a situation similar to this in a small NSW city last year. Someone was selling a place (a 6 bedder, I think) near the university there and was advertising it as having the potential for +ve cashflow returns. I took a look at the place out of interest and I have to say that alarm bells were ringing from the minute I walked…[Read more]

Hi there Smiley.

I think the asbestos question is getting some good coverage from other posters here but are you sure this is the reason for the low price/good deal you’re looking at? Loads of older places have asbestos thrown into the deal and it doesn’t generally affect price.

If you have already done the rest of your homework on the place…[Read more]

Hi DLPP,

We’re with NRMA in NSW. We haven’t registered a claim so I can”t comment on the efficiency or quality of their ‘after sales service’.

When we were looking for a new insurer I just set up an Excel document (though a good ol’ piece of paper and pen would have done just fine) and set out all the insurers we were looking at and all the…[Read more]

Hi.

I’m familiar with Dolf’s book and know how much he loves his carports. I would suggest, though I’m no expert, that more people would be interestd in keeping their car dry than in making their house look like Fort Knox. While security is certainly an issue (and I imagine you might score value points with, say, the elderly) I’m not sure how…[Read more]

Hi Nathan.

If you want a cooling off period in WA the best clauses to insert in your O&A are, as AUSPROP says, a 21-day Due Diligence clause (meaning that your numbers and reports have to stack up for you to be satisfied with the deal) and a 28-day Subject to Finance clause (but be sure this is worded such hat the finance has to be on your terms…[Read more]

Hello Grant.

I’m a former WA native now residing in NSW and while I’m nowhere near being an expert in the Bunbury area I did investigate the Peel scene recently.

Firstly, I concur with both Simon and Derek’s points entirely and encourage you to take them under serious consideration. If you aren’t au fait with any aspects then read up, research…[Read more]

Hola.

Friends of mine cut a little slice out of a laundry for a second bathroom once. They were concerned because the laundry was where the dog slept and where things got hung out to dry in the winter months so they needed a fair amount of room in there. In the end the second bathroom was pretty small (just a dunny and one of those little half…[Read more]

Dito, Foundation.

Please start a new post on the topic.

Art

‘Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.’ – Albert Einstein

Hey Marco.

Best of luck, mate.

The only piece of advice I would pitch in is the old chestnut: All that glitters is not gold. Due Diligence is the greatest weapon you have against real estate sharks and dud properties. Better to take longer than 8 weeks to achieve your goal with the numbers and reports to back you up than to end up with a pocket…[Read more]

;-}

‘Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.’ – Albert Einstein

Hello again.

One of the great things about this forum is the fact that you get all kinds of varying (and often contradictory) information. The best thing to do is to research, research, research and make up your own mind. By all means, ask questions…but make sure you do your own sums and investigation before acting on any of the answers given…[Read more]

Hello.

Back up inMelbourne now?!

Future growth potential of established sbrurbs can be pretty accurately determined by examining the average annual growth over the previous decade. Barring any major public works (such as a sporting arena, shopping centre, highway, sewage works etc) the value of these areas should keep level pegging with the…[Read more]

Hello again.

We live in a modest apartment in Sydney’s east. The rent is cheaper than the mortgages we’re paying on our IPs so we stick around. Plus, it’s a great place and the landlord is great (when things break they get fixed straight away, things are kept clean, gardens tidy etc.). Last year the rent went up $20/wk (around 8%) but the place…[Read more]

Hi Sarah.

Aside from tourism, what has Tassie got to fuel growth? I’m not being rude to Tassie here (it’s one of the most beautiful places in the world) but for my investment dollar your options for future growth might well be improved by looking elsewhere elsewhere.

Have a look at Adelaide. Cheap real estate compared to the rest of the country…[Read more]

Hello.

Can you use Excel or any other spreadsheet program? I’ve often found it’s easier to build your own simple calculators than to hunt around or pay for them.

Art

‘Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.’ – Albert Einstein