[CanberraClaireParticipant@canberraclaireJoin Date: 2005Post Count: 47]

September 2, 2015 - 3:55 pm

Hi Jerry

Buyers agents all work differently, but yes they charge the buyer for their services in assisting with the purchasing side. Some have a commission fee basis, some a fixed fee basis. Some charge whether you buy or not, others only if successful. You’d be best asking Metropole directly, and yes it’s on top of the commission the other agent selling the property receives.

Hope this helps,
Claire

CanberraClaire | Capital Buyers Agency
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[CanberraClaireParticipant@canberraclaireJoin Date: 2005Post Count: 47]

November 10, 2014 - 2:23 pm

Tues 18th Nov, Civic Library at 7pm

This month is the last of our meetings for the year. Which means it’s your last chance to come along and meet like-minded others! Please come along for a presentation on putting smart offers together to increase your chances of securing your next property. Our presenter is, well, me.

In my role as a Canberra Buyer’s Agent, it’s my job to ensure my clients have the best odds of having their offers accepted when they decide they’ve found the right place. I’ll be sharing a few tips and pointers I’ve learned along the years in the hope that it will assist you to present a strong offer when you’re next buying property.

More about me here: http://www.capitalbuyersagency.com.au

And you can find me on Facebook and other social media too.

As it is our last meeting for the year, we’ll be having some networking time accompanied by snacks and drinks. Our venue has given the a-ok for some wine and beers to be consumed on premises, so please bring whatever you’d like to drink and a small plate to share. Don’t worry if you forget, I’m sure there will be plenty to go around!

Hope to see you on the 18th for an informative evening followed by some festive cheer!

All the best,

Claire

• This reply was modified 9 years, 6 months ago by  CanberraClaire.

CanberraClaire | Capital Buyers Agency
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[CanberraClaireParticipant@canberraclaireJoin Date: 2005Post Count: 47]

October 16, 2014 - 9:53 am

ACT meeting: Tues 21st October, 7pm at Civic library (next to Canberra Theatre)

We are thrilled to have John Chamberlain from Lexmerca Lawyers to help us understand all things conveyancing. What actually happens on settlement day? You end up with a cheque or a set of keys, and this ‘settlement’ process just happens… sometimes things go wrong but what actually goes on? And what can we do to help the process go smoothly? No one likes the pain of paying penalty interest when things are delayed! John will demystify the settlement process and answer any questions that come to you.

Don’t miss this opportunity to meet a very talented local professional, and learn about the legal side of property transactions!
We will have networking afterwards, so please bring a coffee mug (foam cups are eluding me) and a gold coin for entry.
Please share with your friends who are looking to buy or sell their own home, this opportunity to hear from John is a unique chance to learn about a process that applies to non-investors too!

John’s website with contact details: http://www.lexmerca.com.au

• This reply was modified 9 years, 7 months ago by  CanberraClaire.

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[CanberraClaireParticipant@canberraclaireJoin Date: 2005Post Count: 47]

September 13, 2014 - 10:45 am

Agree with the comments above, it’s not your average sale and in each town/area they’ll usually be a few key people who are interested in them. Many are traded off-market, so I’d suggest getting out there and talking to agents about it rather than a fruitless search online.

CanberraClaire | Capital Buyers Agency
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[CanberraClaireParticipant@canberraclaireJoin Date: 2005Post Count: 47]

September 13, 2014 - 10:40 am

Welcome to the forums twiggymcg.

That does seem high, and may take up some of your profits. It depends how much, and how willing are you to share that profit for the experience?
I don’t know the company but I’d suggest looking around at other service providers who can also put you in the right direction. If you can find a buyers agent down there with investing experience, they can find you a place that meets your requirements and a good one will know what local developers are paying for them. (Don’t want to sound biased as I’m a buyers agent but there are licencing requirements if you’re buying property for people, so do be aware of that). Their fees may be a lot less than 24k, although many do charge 1-2% of purchase price. On top of buying at the right price they should be able to put you in touch with other experienced professionals (eg surveyor, planner, architect) who have been there, done that, and are happy to help.

The trick with getting a helping hand to start you off, is being clear about who’s getting the best deal. Newcomers can be easy targets for a big margin for businesses. The parties who are doing it for you will certainly have their own network of professionals who they want to work with, but check who they are and if you want to work with them down the track. If you’re planning on repeating the process it’s worth building relationships to help you in future. Are their service fees higher than what you’d pay if you were a regular customer? Sometimes these close relationships have kickbacks all over the place, and you don’t get the best outcome. And is the main provider you’re signed up with happy to have you by their side at every stage, or do they prefer interstate or time-poor investors who are more hands-off?

Speak to council and see if you can sharpen up your numbers, they can give you accurate costs and explain the process. Subdivs are mainly about paper shuffling, up to construction stage anyway if you are doing a build as well, so you’ll be dealing a lot with your surveyor/planner primarily. Council will also be able to give you a hand with the “subdivisability” of a block, free of charge. If you can find out from council which DAs have been for subdivisions, check out who’s drawn up those plans and follow up with the architect for more leads. Sometimes the best way to learn is by getting your hands dirty, rather than having someone hand it to you on a plate. If you’re intending to do more developing, personally I’d lean more in favour of spending time with councils and seeing the portfolios of subdivisions done by experienced surveyors and town planners. It’s not wasted time, it’s building a strong foundation to keep moving forward time and again.

I’d prefer to retain control and deal personally with all the service providers myself. Choose wisely and you’ll find they have enough experience to guide you in the right direction as part of their job description, no extra fee required.

CanberraClaire | Capital Buyers Agency
http://www.capitalbuyersagency.com.au
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[CanberraClaireParticipant@canberraclaireJoin Date: 2005Post Count: 47]

September 8, 2014 - 11:35 am

ACT meeting: Tues 16th September, 7pm at civic library (next to Canberra Theatre)

This month we are hosting Scott Bamford, from Greencap who are run off their feet doing asbestos assessments at the moment across town.
It’s a hot topic locally, and while we are waiting to hear the Government’s decision on the future of identified Mr Fluffy homes, it’s also at the forefront of our minds when renovating older houses. Before you go hammering a hole in your wall, come to our September meeting and gain some essential knowledge.

Scott will give us a broad overview of asbestos, and help everyone gain some knowledge about the different kinds and what to do about it.

Gold coin entry, please use the rear door to access the mezzanine level where the meeting is held.

Please byo coffee mug, notepad and pen, biz cards for networking and I’ll see you there!

Spread the word… this month will help home DIY’ers as well as investors so bring your family and friends

More about Greencap here: http://www.greencap.com.au/services/property-and-hazardous-materials/asbestos-risk-management/asbestos-and-hazardous-risk-assessment-audits

• This reply was modified 9 years, 8 months ago by  CanberraClaire.

CanberraClaire | Capital Buyers Agency
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[CanberraClaireParticipant@canberraclaireJoin Date: 2005Post Count: 47]

August 13, 2014 - 2:16 pm

Goro, didn’t mean to cause you offence, just stating that the assumed capital growth in mining towns appeared to be optimistic at best. If your company is not the mining town promoters, then my comments are not relevant to your particular company. House and land packages tend to be sold as a ‘solution’ as opposed to buying land and then building in a growth area, where you do the work and hence receive the profit. Agree that H&L have a ceiling, which is why I would suggest doing the hard yards and reaping that capital gain yourself, with the cashflow as icing on the cake for passive income. There’s a market for everything, not every investor wants to go through the plan and build stage. I’ve found this forum tends to attract the more active investor, hence my comments.

CanberraClaire | Capital Buyers Agency
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[CanberraClaireParticipant@canberraclaireJoin Date: 2005Post Count: 47]

August 13, 2014 - 7:56 am

Glad to hear they can move on, staying there may have been a daily reminder for them of the ill-will going around. There’s more to houses than mortgages after all.
Very sorry to hear your parents had to go through that, at least you’ve been searching for answers to help as best you can.

CanberraClaire | Capital Buyers Agency
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[CanberraClaireParticipant@canberraclaireJoin Date: 2005Post Count: 47]

August 12, 2014 - 8:09 pm

It’s great that you’re thinking about the end game now.
You might also like to find out about testamentary trusts if you’re concerned about estate planning, they activate as part of your will and might you help with passing on assets in the most advantageous way.

It’s not a black/white choice either, you can start off investing in your own name and then for future purchases buy in a structure. The cost of setting one up and keeping it compliant can add up, and you’ll need to consider other impacts such as land tax as already mentioned.

CanberraClaire | Capital Buyers Agency
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[CanberraClaireParticipant@canberraclaireJoin Date: 2005Post Count: 47]

August 12, 2014 - 8:01 pm

I’ve seen their huge ads in property mags. Selling a solution, and focusing on areas in, or close to, mining towns from what I’ve seen. If it’s the same crew, the spiel also assumes capital growth forecast on sustained and growing demand for various mining commodities. Not my thing, so I haven’t got a lot to add here sorry, but the fact they have spent a lot on advertising house & land solutions means they’re making a fair cut of the pie, which could otherwise be yours.

CanberraClaire | Capital Buyers Agency
http://www.capitalbuyersagency.com.au
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[CanberraClaireParticipant@canberraclaireJoin Date: 2005Post Count: 47]

August 12, 2014 - 7:51 pm

Are you thinking of doing a creative deal, or is this for someone you know?

You can use options to control property, have a chat to your ‘Legal Person’ to find out the fine print and the clauses you’d want to put in there. You’ll need the land owner’s permission to submit the paperwork to plan and build, but yes it can be done as far as I’m aware. The main concern I’d want to address is what the land owner gets out of the deal, and keeping them onside during the process. Do things in writing (especially if they’re a friend or family) and look carefully at addressing the ‘what ifs’ of the deal. Do the hard thinking now and you’ll minimise heartaches and cheque-writing later.

CanberraClaire | Capital Buyers Agency
http://www.capitalbuyersagency.com.au
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[CanberraClaireParticipant@canberraclaireJoin Date: 2005Post Count: 47]

August 12, 2014 - 1:42 pm

Whatever you end up doing, also consider the end game. Not only the impact on CGT exemption of your own home, but who the property will sell to. As an investor considering the purchase, I’d like to see that the great yield is backed up by attracting quality tenants, consistently. I’m always wary of mixing personal and investment decisions. Just a thought.

CanberraClaire | Capital Buyers Agency
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[CanberraClaireParticipant@canberraclaireJoin Date: 2005Post Count: 47]

August 12, 2014 - 1:23 pm

Hi JohnnyP

You have done a great job of getting two properties by the age of 21, and now you have exposure to market growth in that area. I’m guessing since you’ve renovated them and are holding them, you’re looking to keep holding them for the long term? If so, you’ve got many years ahead to see a few cycles of growth in Adelaide that will increase their value. I wouldn’t over-complicate things, decide what your goal is. It may only take three or four properties, when fully paid off, to bring in enough income for you to live off. But if you want 50, who’s to say that’s not a great goal? Just know why you chose that goal, rather than some random number or retirement sum plucked from thin air. If you’d like to buy another property, perhaps consider where you may get some capital growth in the future. Renovating from a distance can be very time and money intensive, a different experience than renovating in the immediate area where you can do much of the labour and monitor the progress daily. If you do decide to look further, make sure you get to know the area well. There’s no rush, take your time and look for characteristics that will drive up future values and consistently get tenants through both good and bad times.

Of course, you could always buy another local reno unit project and keep going with what you’re doing there. Perhaps you might like to sell it after the reno, if the cashflow is tight. You could put the profit against your existing investment loan to make the cashflow more positive. Over time, you’ll pay off those loans and can get the rent coming in each month with no loans to repay, build some passive income for you there. If the cashflow is fine, why not hold the third one too? There’s no rule against only investing in the same area! But do be aware of things like the land tax threshold, check out the SA limit if you’re not sure of it already and see the impact on your wallet if you go over it at the relevant date (30 June from memory).

Being so young, you can afford to take some risks if you want to. Other investors who begin in their 50s or 60s often don’t feel as comfortable with taking a risk as they need a ‘sure thing’ for their retirement. There are so many options to choose with property it can feel a bit overwhelming. You need to feel comfortable with your choices, but if there is something you’d love to try then give it a red hot go. Life is short, time is on your side.

Great question to ask, and I hope you have some fun with the next purchase. Enjoy the journey :)

Best wishes for your future.

CanberraClaire | Capital Buyers Agency
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[CanberraClaireParticipant@canberraclaireJoin Date: 2005Post Count: 47]

August 12, 2014 - 12:28 pm

I guess at the end of the day, they’re passing their opinion off as fact. Dangerous, yes. Outside their scope, certainly.
Couldn’t agree with you more about who to listen to, but so many accountants are narrowly trained that unless they’re heavily investing themselves, I wouldn’t go near them for structuring advice either!

CanberraClaire | Capital Buyers Agency
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[CanberraClaireParticipant@canberraclaireJoin Date: 2005Post Count: 47]

August 6, 2014 - 8:14 pm

August meeting: Tuesday 19th Aug, Civic Library 7pm

We resume our monthly meetings with a focus on getting the fundamentals right.

This month we’ll be hearing from one of our own attendees who has been studying furiously into the techniques used by ‘hotspotting’ gurus. Serena will share with us her findings, allowing you to leverage off her insights from months upon months of analysis. She’s been picking apart the background assumptions and methods, and we have a great opportunity to get the inside scoop without all the hard work. Kind of like reading the executive summary and not having to write the report!

Serena will be addressing some key issues that run through our minds as investors:

Ever wondered when to buy property and when to sell?
How to predict where a property market is heading, using a system that is 90+% accurate
Discover myths that distract investors and what are the true market drivers
Learn how to maximise your capital gains

Don’t miss it – your future self will thank you for it (Marty McFly style, for those who get the reference :))
As normal, please BYO coffee mug and a gold coin for entry. I have some property investing magazines for those who are first in, doors open just before 7pm. And don’t forget your coat!

See you there,
Claire

• This reply was modified 9 years, 9 months ago by  CanberraClaire.

CanberraClaire | Capital Buyers Agency
http://www.capitalbuyersagency.com.au
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[CanberraClaireParticipant@canberraclaireJoin Date: 2005Post Count: 47]

June 11, 2014 - 1:43 pm

Meeting date: Tues 17th June at 7pm
This month’s topic: Investing in USA, and Property Options

This month we are hearing from Dean McCormack, who has recently returned from the land of opportunity – the US of course.
He’ll be outlining his own personal strategy for starting to invest in the US residential market, and will demonstrate how he is getting net returns of 15%+. Dean will be talking us through how he built his current portfolio over the past two months that will provide him with $15k pa net cashflow.
Dean will also discuss the important details, key contacts overseas and differences between the US and Oz markets. Anything you might want or need to know about investing in the US, Dean has just come back and is happy to share what he’s learned and share how others might get started in the US market.

Secondly, Dean will be covering property options this month. Specifically, why is an option different to simply buying the property and why use it? He’ll go through the advantages and disadvantages of using an option and look at making money using short term options.

There’s a lot to cover, plus I have a stack of magazines to share this month! Gold coin entry please.

Bring a notepad, pen, a friend to share the learning with, your coffee mug, and see you there!

CanberraClaire | Capital Buyers Agency
http://www.capitalbuyersagency.com.au
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[CanberraClaireParticipant@canberraclaireJoin Date: 2005Post Count: 47]

May 12, 2014 - 2:14 pm

May’s meeting: Tues 20th May at 7pm
This month’s topic: Goal setting and staying motivated

Lately we’ve covered many topics relevant to property investing, but this month we are going to get crystal clear about what our goals are, why they are the right goals for us, and how we are going to attain them, and learn some insider tips and secrets from our guest speaker Leanne Shea Langdown, from Achieve Beyond coaching. More on Leanne can be found here: http://www.achievebeyond.com/

Rather than drifting from deal to deal hoping it will bring you closer to financial freedom, or taking a ‘hot tip’ from a friend or following the pack to invest in the next property nirvana, this is an opportunity to learn how to make a clear decision about what you’d really like to achieve, consider the most effective path, and learn how to maintain motivation to get you there (the tricky part!)

This evening will assist you beyond your investing success. This is the chance for you to learn directly from a professional success coach and mentor about goal setting and motivation and apply these secrets of success to any area of your life!

As this month’s topic is applicable to any area of your life, please do bring a friend or three with you. The journey is always better when you have good friends to share it with :)

Hope to see you there,
Claire

CanberraClaire | Capital Buyers Agency
http://www.capitalbuyersagency.com.au
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[CanberraClaireParticipant@canberraclaireJoin Date: 2005Post Count: 47]

April 10, 2014 - 1:25 pm

Our next meeting, Tues 15th April, will be at the same place and time as above. This month we are hosting Craig Russell from Priority One Mortgages to hear the latest in lending products, and answer the important question, “Do banks value new customers over existing ones?” Learn how you can get the most out of what can be a long-term and expensive cost: your investment loan/s. Craig will be answering your questions, so don’t miss this opportunity.

See you there,

Claire

CanberraClaire | Capital Buyers Agency
http://www.capitalbuyersagency.com.au
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[CanberraClaireParticipant@canberraclaireJoin Date: 2005Post Count: 47]

February 20, 2014 - 3:10 am

Sorry PeterInvestor, it has been sold.

CanberraClaire | Capital Buyers Agency
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[CanberraClaireParticipant@canberraclaireJoin Date: 2005Post Count: 47]

December 2, 2013 - 9:07 am

Hi Shane

Haven't heard from Jeanno, so yes it's still avail. 

As for price, I haven't thought too much about it, as it's first in best dressed. Feel free to PM what you're happy to pay? 

CanberraClaire | Capital Buyers Agency
http://www.capitalbuyersagency.com.au
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