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    Hi Peter,

      Welcome aboard !!  smiley  In the past, Home Price Guide provided this data – it used to be free, but now costs a bit (I think).

      The API magazines (Australian Property Investor) also provide a lot of this data.   I have some back issues that I would be willing to move on at a really good price if it helps (I bought them regularly between 1999 and ~2005). 

      Their data would alternate between rental incomes and median values from one issue to the next.  These figures would usually include a comparative "12 months prior" set of figures.  Data was typically by suburb, so the back issues paint a city-wide perspective if it helps.

      I haven't bought them now for some time, so can't comment on what they provide today.

    Benny

     

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    Hi KSJA,

       All good questions mate – the main thing missing is knowledge of the stages required.  In simple terms, the first stage is to build your portfolio, the second is to pay down debt (after some time), and the third is to live off the portfolio.    There are many questions just to do with the first stage. 

       But let me give you a "more likely scenario" to ruminate on :-

    In these early days, it is all about BUILDING your portfolio.  That takes many forms, and will involve building a team of advisers around you, purchasing the right property to suit your end goals, and growing your equity and income as you grow the portfolio.  The "Living off rent" bit comes later (think longer-term – like 10 years or so).  So, let's build a scenario around those two IP's of yours – you purchased them, got tenants in place, grew a team around you, and are looking to GROW your portfolio – HOW does that happen?

      Well, the good thing is that you seem to have some excess cash ($2k a month) that can help you with this.  All rent goes into Offset accounts, as does your wage (if you wish, you can even live on credit card for a month, then pull out enough to pay off your card once a month – your whole salary then helps to offset the monthly Interest paid, thus needing even less payment to the bank each month).   So rather than $400 a month extra helping you to pay less interest, you could be finding $8k a month doing the same job.  Howzat???  smiley

      Then, your Tax Returns allow you to claim any costs on a yearly basis, leading to a substantial refund cheque each year.  So the Taxman will help you to grow your portfolio too.   Those yearly refund cheques could also add a boost to your Offset account(s).

      And then, there is Equity growth – some manufactured by you, and some is created by the RE cycle.  Many say houses double in price every 7 – 10 years.   Let's say it does take ten years, then let's take a look at your situation after 10 years re those first two properties. 

      Even if you bought NO MORE IP's in that time, their values would have doubled, but your amount owing remains the same.  So, you are holding 2 x $700k properties (assuming they were worth $350k when you bought them).  But you only owe $300k on each.  If you simply sold them for $1.4m, after CGT, selling costs, paying the bank its $600k, etc you could likely walk away with around $400k – your "savings" over that 10 years if you like.  But wait, you have an Offset account with a chunk of change in it – close to half a mill (see below), so you have nearer $900k to do something with.   So that is $90k a year you have gained over those ten years – better than most wages.

      But then, WHAT IF YOU KEPT THEM??   After 10 years of "saving" in your Offset, let's take a look at a likely situation – let's see now:-

    1.  10 years of "an extra $400 a month in rent" x2 = $96k (that's assuming the rents NEVER went UP !!!)

    2.  10 years of "an extra $2k a month you can afford" = $240k

    3.  10 years of "Tax refund cheques" – let's say = $100k (not unrealistic, especially on your high rate of pay – it could be unrealistically LOW, depending on the properties).

    At this point, your savings in Offset have reached $436k – almost enough to pay off one-and-a-half loans completely.    You would at this point only be paying the Interest on $164k for two properties ($82k each).  

    OK, it was long-winded, and NOT complete.   Just the fact that the Interest paid goes down monthly means your Offset amount increases more each month to save even more Interest.     So, even if Rents didn't increase, the amount going out to the Bank would DECREASE each month.   It could be that you would have enough in Offset to pay them both off.  Thus, you have $1.4m in Equity in 10 years – or a gain of $140k per year !!!  Howzat???  

    Of course, rents WOULD usually be growing, and hopefully your wage too – so these are "worst case" figures. 

    Now work out just how much of that $140k came from you. 

    What if you did use equity gains to buy 3, 4, or 5 properties?   Yes, it would appear to slow your initial growth, but the final outcome would be even more impressive.

    I'll leave it at that (the audience sighs with relief….  cheeky) – consider just what can be achieved in a relatively short period of time by buckling down now.

    I'm glad the early answers led to more questions – that's how we learn…. and it shows you are eager for answers too.

    Benny

     

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    Hey Mods,

      Folioinvestau happened to spam a thread that was 2 years old.   Now we have help from macraig for a poster who was last active in Apr 2012…..

      Might be worth culling these last few posts to let it settle back down again….  

      Your call,

    Benny

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    I wonder if Harry Dent might take the challenge to walk backward up Mt Kosciusko if the bubble hasn't burst by 1 Jan 2017 ????   cheeky

    Benny

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    Hi Matt,

       All good questions – once you have your head around it, things will all start to make sense.  For now, let me say it "my way", and see if you can relate to my words.  Sometimes we need to hear the information in different words before we "get it"…..  Here I go :-

    Quote:
    If I was just paying off interest only loan and putting my money into offset is that kind of like having a savings??

      Yes, it can be seen to be like that.  With an Offset though, you have significant benefits :-

         A Savings account might give you 1% Interest pa (if you are lucky). THEN you must pay Tax on that Interest paid to you.  With an Offset, your Interest Rate is whatever your Home Loan is – so more like 5%, with NO Tax to be paid on your "earnings", as no Interest is paid back to you from the Bank (you have reduced the Interest owing, rather than you paying FULL Interest and the Bank "paying you back" as if it were a Savings account).  

        You have already paid Tax on the $$ that are being used in the Offset account, so they are your $$ to re-use at any time, as you see fit.  And yes, they CAN even be used to pay off the Mortgage if you so choose.   By not paying it off though, you get the benefit of paying less Mortgage Interest while ever you have funds in Offset.  e.g. If your loan is $240k, and your Offset account holds $100k, then you only pay Interest on $140k.

    Quote:
    Because if I have a principle and interest on a $240000 loan and putting my remaining savings into a offset would that be even better and paying less interest???

        No – and here's why !!   Let's say the Interest on $240k (Interest Only) is $12k pa.   And the Principal component is an extra (say) $5k pa.   You are able to put away $25k pa in your Offset to cover Interest, and save some more $$ too.   Near enough?   So here's the result from each way :-

       Pay off P&I and use Offset for the excess savings :-

         You will finish year 2 with Principal owing of less than $230k.  You have now given the Bank back over $10k, so it is no longer available for you to call on "at will" – but your Offset still has nearly $16k in it, and is further reducing the Interest paid, meaning your P&I payments are reducing your Principal even more…     

      

       Pay IO and put all savings into Offset as before :-

        End of year 2 – you still owe $240k, but your "extra savings" in Offset (after Interest paid) of $26k have you paying Interest on $214k only.  The BIG difference is that you have more than covered a P&I payment, yet have not "locked up" your $$ by officially giving them back to the Bank.   At any time, you can choose to "pay it off" (by paying down the Principal) but why would you?  With this system, your funds remain "flexible", and able to be used IMMEDIATELY for whatever you choose.

      As you can see, your choice is between a way that is fixed (i.e. with P&I you MUST be putting away $17k pa to cover P&I commitments, and would not easily be able to withdraw those payments again if required).   If your plan is to (later) make this place into an IP, there are benefits in retaining the mortgage as high as possible.  

      The other choice is to remain flexible, while "paying lower Interest" by holding your spare cash in the Offset (as though it is paying down the mortgage – it is certainly reducing the Interest payments as though it were "paid down", yes?)    If hard times were to hit, your commitment is to make payments of just $12k pa and not $17k.   In fact, with the Offset in use, the actual Interest won't be that high – more like $11.2k after 2 years of Offset savings.   

      So, no nett gains in "paying P&I to reduce Interest", as the Offset does that anyway, while keeping your $$ flexible.   You may withdraw ALL of your Offset savings at any time, for any reason (which could include allowing you to buy "the deal of the century, but you must put $$ down TODAY!!"  smiley)    You miss it if you had to apply for a Redraw via your Bank….

      Hope that helps some,

    Benny

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    Hi hrv,

       Hey, I like the thinking, and yes, the view looks way better being 2.5 metres higher.   But hey, $1000/m2 to build a deck?????   Sounds pretty exxy to me…..

       And then there are your estate agent's words (I think you left out one word – I'll add it) :-

    Quote:
    ….  why do you need one of those?  You already have city views from your deck "you might NOT get your money back"

       A compromise might be to add a smaller "widow's walk" (from "House of sand and fog") – i.e. a small viewing deck, just for a handful of people.  By limiting the size, thus number of people who can occupy it, you limit the need for expensive beams, etc to carry the weight.   It could be almost a little tower off to the side, thus not obscuring the views from the main deck.    Have it just big enough for 3 or 4 people max. 

       Most would say, for every $1 spent, plan to add $2+ in value.  Would the full-sized deck do that?   And/or, would the "widow's walk" do that?  One to ponder.

       Let's hear what others think…..

    Benny

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    Hi Mandy,

      Congratulations !!  And yes, I am serious.  It sounds as though a very welcome light has switched on for you, and that is awesome.   Of course, this book will have shed light on your whole situation, thus leading to your questions :-

    Quote:
    I kept saying to my poor hardworking hubby how does everyone else do it??

      There are many ways – in short, by buying below value and creating equity, by buying only +ve cashflow IP's, by developing to create new equity, by utilising a "cordial mixture" (where the +ve properties of a portfolio help to carry the -ve growth properties you hold), by renovating, by adding rental value, etc……

      Your other question (consisting of 3 or 4 combined) was really "OK, so where do we go from here??"

      I suggest you take a bit of time to :-

       1.  Keep reading

       2.  Keep questioning

       3.  Talk with advisers re your whole situation

       4.  Meet with others who are already doing this IP thing

       5.  "do the numbers" re each individual IP, your collective portfolio, and your income/expenses from the day-to-day.

       6.  Set goals then go for them…..

      It is an exciting time, and I feel good for you Mandy.   Keep this snowball rolling while you are fired up, and you will look back in a year from now with a huge smile on your face.   Go for it,

    Benny

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    Hi Daniel,

     

    Quote:
    the reno i paid cash also burrowed money but that just went stright on to my exsisting mortgage at the time  so i have calcuated that in in full as money in the deal  !! but i arn't sure to include the reno cost's aswell in to the calcuations as that really changes the CoCR

    I think the "cash on cash" deals only with your cash in the game, and NOT borrowed money (the latter is considered in ROI).  I would think (from your words above) that your cash in the deal might only be $10k.   The rest has been borrowed, yes?

    Also, it seems your figures "might" include two IP's there.   So is $215k the total value of both?   Having $95k in Equity is goodness though – travelling well there.  smiley

    Benny

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    Hi Hamish,

      Welcome aboard !!   Of course, family friends only want the best for you – but their answers might be coloured according to their own life experiences.  Not that their experiences should be dismissed, but it might help to delve deeper into "Why they think the way they do" and use the results to weigh up against information from here. 

      Let me point you toward a thread that might help answer some of your questions :-

    https://www.propertyinvesting.com/forums/general-property/4349450

      See post #3 for the answer to your first question.  Other points covered in the linked thread cover questions you might not even know you have yet, but well worth a read to get up to speed a bit quicker.  smiley

    Quote:
    I've always seen rent money as dead money but am hoping i can get some help?

      But then, any interest paid to a Bank could be seen to be equally "dead".   There are times when paying rent can actually increase your wealth. 

      In the end, the right answer is the one you select AFTER seeing things from both sides.   Hopefully, the words pointed to in the link will help you understand the financial side of things.  But then comes the emotional, lifestyle, family side of things. 

      Hope it helps,

    Benny

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    Hi Daniel,

      Wow, lots of work there !!   This introduction of yours leads me to ask you a bit more (I was confused…)

    Quote:
    i bought it 5 years ago for 76,000 i have refinanced and done a whole reno etc now i have tenets in there and the purchurse price i have worked out but geting my new valuation and deducting the current debt and the money used to buy my 2nd ip that was in a LOC line of credit   so that left me with a total of 120,000 

      What I am confused about is that it seems you might be including costs from your second IP in the calcs for your 1st.   Or, I am misunderstanding the workings in the quote above.  For clarification, why not lay out just what each value is :-

      Purchase Price = $xxxxxxx

      Reno cost = $yyyyyy

      Deposit for IP2 = $zzzzzzz

      And the total of $120k – what is that made up of?  Is that the "total cost of purchase, reno, and….. (anything else) "?

      You seem to have garnered a whole bunch of stats – some I have never heard of (must have been a great book !!  cheeky)    

      I note the CoCR seems way LOW – but then, you appear to have included a whopping $95k as total cash invested – if that is true, what costs made up that total?  The point I am driving at is this – if you are borrowing, then your actual cash might be just 25% of the total purchase price (80% loan, 25% deposit and costs).  Of course, you MIGHT have paid all cash….. Yes?  Probably not !!

      Add a bit more, so we might be able to help a bit more,

    Benny

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    Hi Lea,

      

    Quote:
    However, why start again with new properties when we already have multiple between us that were purchased a couple decades ago?

       Don't lose sight of the fact that buying and selling any property costs you extra $$.   So, like many of the others, I'd say "take it easy" with selling them off right now – with the IP's being cashflow +ve there really is no rush.  

       And, if you aren't already aware, do check out Offset accounts which can be useful in helping you to pay off a PPOR, and/or allow further investment when the time is right.

    Benny

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    Hi Pep,

      I hear where you are coming from.  I'm glad you decided to ask first (might've saved yourself some serious coin).   I can't help you with Perth as I have no knowledge of it…..

      …but your comments about paying down your PPOR had me thinking "Wait a minute…. !!"    Here's why:-

      To reduce your payments would mean re-applying for a new loan now (to get the benefit of lower repayments) AND another loan application down the track when wanting to re-borrow the money.   What you need t know about is an Offset account – the best thing since sliced bread.  smiley

      Check out post #9 in the following link to get a direction to what an Offset can do for you (it is worth the effort!!)

    https://www.propertyinvesting.com/forums/general-property/4349450

    Bennyy

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    Hi Catalyst,

       Wow, wow, and wow !!   NICE job !!   It looks like a new pin – thanks for sharing,

    Benny

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    Hi Catalyst/Connolly,

      Thanks – and yes, it does make sense as venetians do look ugly once bent. 

      Re the verticals, do you prefer the wooden slat style, or the "bendy cloth" style?  I'd think the wooden ones would look ace, but maybe more expensive (and heavier…)  We typically just throw up curtains (easy to install, and often get good ones cheap on Sale, or at op shops).

      And Catalyst, I tried to look at your youtube link re the burnt reno – but it came back "Channel does not exist…."   Problem my end?  Or is the link crook?

      Dheers,

    Benny

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    Hi AT,

      I would think any easement would be showing on the Registered Plan for the property.  Note that I don't know this absolutely, but I do expect these should be showing.

      If you can find the Lot # (from a Rates Notice of the property you are buying), or get a Rates Notice from your parents.  Get their Lot #, then use Google to search the "Parish" etc and gather the Lot # of the target property from the Google map.  Check that the Google map shows your parents' Lot# correctly first as a check. 

      Once you have that, the Land Titles Office will likely sell you a RP over the net for around $20 – today !!.   That should then accurately identify the dimensions of the easement. 

      After that, the Local Council would likely have their own bylaws re what can be built on top.   e.g.  Since they may need to access the drain at some unknown timeframe into the future, they won't allow a structure to be built across it, but a concrete driveway "might" be OK, given they can dig it up if necessary.

    Benny

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    Hi Connolly/Catalyst,

      You both mentioned "verticals".   Are you talking walls here, or are you fitting vertical blinds to windows?    If the latter, what is the idea with using vertical blinds – is it a cost saving or is there something else (e.g. a better look)?

      Just curious – I hadn't heard the term used before as an item of cost.

    Benny

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    Hi NHG,

      Might be good to mention a location (otherwise you might be shelling out for airfares….  cheeky)

    Benny

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    Hi Bella,

      Sounds like a great idea to me.  Perhaps run a makeshift "passbook" which you update every 3 months with "Interest" as well as recording each addition of cash from them. Use separate passbooks – one for your Mum and Dad with their contributions, and another for your in-laws showing theirs.  Make it an "occasion" when visiting to have calculated the latest "interest" and update their passbook while there.

      That way, each couple knows how their grandson's fund is growing, with a really nice interest rate added quarterly.  Doing it this way, they are also helping to secure their grandson's future too.  A classic win/win/win situation.

    Benny

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    Hi Kate,

       Below is what I "think" is right…  but I am not an adviser of any kind.  I can't help with question 1, so let's see what others say……

    Quote:
    Question Time:

    2. Is there any deductions available for the buggered Air Conditioning unit that has now been removed?

      If you were already writing it down via an earlier Depreciation Schedule, the remaining WDV (Written Down Value) can be claimed in this FY as a lump sum.

    Benny

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    Hi Niccy,

      It is quite likely that some of them will be dropping by this thread of yours later on….  

      Check out their signatures telling you their professions.   They will likely also be providing you with a direction in their replies.   Keep watch….  smiley 

    Benny

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