[CeliviaParticipant@celiviaJoin Date: 2003Post Count: 886]

October 14, 2005 - 4:58 am

Bradshaw, very good advice, I totally agree.

Sometimes we are getting too emotionally involved and focus too much on the one property we are after and lose sight of the very basic rules. Thank you for reminding us.

Celivia

[CeliviaParticipant@celiviaJoin Date: 2003Post Count: 886]

October 14, 2005 - 4:48 am

Hi Jarred, sorry I can’t be of much help, but I am wondering, is this a reasonable market rent in this town for a property like yours? Did the property manager suggest this amount?

Have you had a chat to your property manager and did s/he have any suggestions?

Assuming that there is nothing wrong with the house, perhaps the reason would be that there is a lot of competition in the area?

If you drop the rent, you might find a tenant quickly.
I know that nobody likes to drop their rent, but it may be a bettr option than having no income at all from this property.

Let us know when there are any changes, I’m interested!

Celivia

[CeliviaParticipant@celiviaJoin Date: 2003Post Count: 886]

October 13, 2005 - 4:33 am

Originally posted by Gatsby:

Uhmm,…Polygraph?
Cheers,
Gatsby.

“Sometimes the hardest thing to do in life is often the best thing to do.”

Funny you mention that, Gatsby.
I was thinking about how a polygraph doesn’t really register if something IS or is NOT true, it only registers whether the ‘suspect’ believes whatever he says is the truth.
But that’s all they wanna get out of them, I suppose! [biggrin]

Celivia

[CeliviaParticipant@celiviaJoin Date: 2003Post Count: 886]

October 13, 2005 - 4:16 am

No, a property on the main road is not for me.

You say that it is a fairly reasonable price- so it should be, it is on the main road.
If the same property would be located in a quiet street or cul de sac, for instance, the price would be more, and should be.

If you need to sell one day, other potential buyers will also expect it to be a fairly reasonable price.

I can’t imagine that traffic noise is not that noticeable when there’s a tram stop at the door! I’m sure that you were distracted or inspecting in the middle of the day when the noise may not be so noticeable.
Can you imagine lying in bed sober at night or early in the morning, and having to listen to the cling-clang and ding-dong trams stopping and taking off every 15 minutes or so?

I rented on a busy road, and NEVER again. Every time a truck went past the house it was like surviving an mini-earthquake.

You will have a high turnover of tenants. Insomniac zombies that will leave the house as soon as the lease is finished!
Either that, or tenants that are noisier than the traffic surrounding them.
Either that, or tenants who can’t afford to rent in a quiet street and are atttracted by the ‘fairly reasonable’ rent you’d have to come down to.

Don’t mean to sound so blunt (I’d be more sensitive if you already had bought the property )) )(I’d be telling you all about double glass windows etc) but these are my views on properties on main roads and I wanted to express them without the frills.

Celivia

[CeliviaParticipant@celiviaJoin Date: 2003Post Count: 886]

October 13, 2005 - 3:50 am

For me, it’s too much trouble and stress to invest in another country.

If something goes wrong, it’s a far way to go and perhaps harder to clean up the mess.
I’d have to depend too much on others because of the distance, don’t like that idea.

I have thought about investing in my homeland because of the low vacancy rates(almost zero) and low maintenance outgoings, but there are other factors that make investing there less attractive to me.

Perhaps when I visit one day I will talk to the right people about property investing there and perhaps then look into it more closely.

Celivia

[CeliviaParticipant@celiviaJoin Date: 2003Post Count: 886]

October 13, 2005 - 1:03 am

Interesting topic, gross.
Jacob, you seem to know a lot about the matter! I’ll keep an eye out for one of these books, sounds like a joy-read.

I agree that the truth is very subjective.
Inside every person, there is a constant rivalry of truth and lies,( of good and bad). These are two sides of a coin.

For most people, the truth means the truth that suits them best.
Truth is relative in that it relates to a certain context and certain circumstances.

In everybody’s thinking there is a kernel of truth.

But having said that, there exists also a ‘general’ truth. These are truths spoken by groups of people, e.g. religions or cultures(; even times can change the truth).
These have one accepted general truth.
Still, general truths remain subjective truths as well (if it wasn’t, religions wouldn’t be killing each other).

Because I think it is true that the truth is subjective and relative, I think that nobody can be 100% right. Whatever I think is the truth at this given moment doesn’t necessarily mean it is the truth. But then again, I might be wrong, hehe.
That’s why everything everybody ever says is always subject to conflicts, debates and contradictions.

The truth can be misleading. Something that seems to be true can turn out to be not true.

I think that there are just too many criteria as to what truth is, to be able to decide upon one truth.

The only exception is truth based on facts- scientific truths.

The truth has to be logical, the truth cannot be contradictory, and truth is compatible with other truths.

I think the question of What is True is very much a rhetorical question.

My answer, therefore, is: Dunno! [whistle]

Celivia

[CeliviaParticipant@celiviaJoin Date: 2003Post Count: 886]

October 12, 2005 - 10:49 am

By Resiwealth: “We all need a cuddle in our lives and the purpose of this at some legit events is to build connection with other human beings rather than distancing our selves from people. In my experience some of the richest people i have met (not necessarily money) are the most affectionate.“

Fair enough, resiwealth, I never looked at it like that. But for me, I need to connect with people naturally and gradually, I’m not very much into hugging strangers.

Anyway, we are all different and I’m glad that you and others got something positive out of the seminars you attended, whether they can be classed as a science or not[wink2].

Celivia

[CeliviaParticipant@celiviaJoin Date: 2003Post Count: 886]

October 12, 2005 - 10:12 am

Hehehehahahahehe, too funny, you got it, Milly!

When I left home at almost 20, my leaving-home gift was my mum’s faded couch, my aunt’s scratched coffee table, and a few fraying sheets and towels of my gran, but I felt like the richest woman in Babylon I tell ya![biggrin]

Mum: “I bought a new couch, dunno what to do with the old one.” *Hint, hint*

Perhaps these days the kids do not fall for cheap hints anymore, hehe.[biggrin]

They won’t take the bait until it gets bigger and better….[whistle]

Too much financial education can financially kill parents; we gotta keep them at school where, apparently, they learn nothing they can use in life! [thumbsupanim]

(I do not take credit for the advice given above-others have written fat books about the matter).

Celivia

[CeliviaParticipant@celiviaJoin Date: 2003Post Count: 886]

October 12, 2005 - 9:40 am

That sounds like a really big improvement, dohicky. I only can imagine what the ’66 bathroom must have looked like![puke]

It would be good if there was a photo forum on this site in where we could show off our before and after renovations with as easy access as going to any of the other forums.

When someone writes about the work they have done, renos or decorating, I always get very interested and curious.
Would be fun to have a look at each other’s work and improvements.

Celivia

[CeliviaParticipant@celiviaJoin Date: 2003Post Count: 886]

October 12, 2005 - 4:44 am

OK????
This thread is too enigmatic for me…[confused2]
Me has only a simple mind…[biggrin]
Perhaps I rely too much on clarity?[wha]

Celivia

[CeliviaParticipant@celiviaJoin Date: 2003Post Count: 886]

October 12, 2005 - 4:31 am

Originally posted by cozi:

Thanks for your advice everyone. One unit I have found is only 20 Sqr metres (tiny) and is on a lease with a motel group. Cost is $155,000 with rent paying about $200/week.
Does anyone have experience with leases with motel chains?
Cheers,
Cozi

Michelle Wickes

$155K with $200 pw = $10400 p/a???

Doesn’t sound positive returnish to me!
If you have to pay rates, management fees, body corp/sinking fund fees etc, it will be quite heavily negatively geared.
Perhaps… is there high depreciation that makes a big difference?
I have the feeling that I am missing something? I don’t see the positive returns…[confused2]

Celivia

[CeliviaParticipant@celiviaJoin Date: 2003Post Count: 886]

October 12, 2005 - 4:16 am

“And ok I admit I’m a cynic but I rekkon with my 4 kids, one might actually appreciate getting a free house and use it to full potential. Another of the kids will probably gamble it away, another will sell up and go travelling and another will have a messy divorce in which he/she ends up losing teh house. If i had a fifth kid, they’d prolly be the junky and it all would go up in smoke. “

[laughing] Funny, Milly! [biggrin]

But seriously, I won’t be helping out my children in such big doses of financial medication before they need it.

Yes, if and when they need it, and IF I think they are ready and responsible enough, I wouldn’t mind helping out with deposits (or part of deposits depending how big the deposits are and how my own finances are at that moment) as gifts to start them off, or with an interest-free loan, but I expect them to be finacially responsible by the time they are ready to leave home.

If they have a job and can’t manage paying off a home, then they will be renting. That’s life.

If they don’t have a job and want to leave home, they will need to get a job to support themselves. That’s life.

If they can’t cope and think life is unfair, I will be there to support them emotionally. [chill]

Am I a mean mother?
No way. I will always be there for my kids.
If there are ‘needs’ to be filled, I will be there to fill them when I can.
But where the ‘wants’ come into the picture, they got to sort themselves out.

It is important to me that they learn to be self-supportive.

In no way I am criticising the way others are helping out their kids. Every family is different. Just saying how I look at it to suit my own family.

So to answer your question: “How to start is the question ie try and buy near where we live or rather look for property further a field“

My answer simply would be:
You do not need to start at all.
Perhaps just keep investing for yourself and if it makes you feel good, make sure you have a deposit ready (e.g. in equity) by the time you feel you want to help out your kids buying their own home- of their own choice. This would be a lovely ‘leaving home’ gift.
If they are not quite ready to buy their own home, perhaps it will help them into their first investment property, or you can keep your deposit for the time they are financially ready to commit to paying off a mortgage.

Celivia

[CeliviaParticipant@celiviaJoin Date: 2003Post Count: 886]

October 12, 2005 - 3:02 am

Originally posted by resiwealth:

So many negative people in the world today with opinions about topics they know nothing about. It still amazes me how individuals can belong to a forum and post opinions with little or no knowledge.

97% of people will fail to become wealthy or self supporting by the time they reach 65 and the same number will be sad and miserable because they have missed opportunities along the way. Go visit a retirement village and interview some lodgers, you view may change.

NLP is a science of how you can better your life, its your choices in life that will determine your destiny, are you making the right choices today?

NLP is a science of what works and how you can impliement those stratagies to better your life, it is not a religion or scientology or a cult, go do some research.

NLP is used by leading negotiators/police/physotheropists etc so its not for dummies and losers.

resi

To add to your knowledge, resi, NLP is NOT a science. It is a believe system. The fact that NLP ‘scientists’ borrowed fancy words, such as “modeling” or “feedback loop” from other sciences doesn’t make NLP a science.

I am not saying that NLP is useless- something doesn’t have to be scientifically ‘proven’ to make a difference in SOME people’s lives.

When I expressed my opinion it was about the singing/dancing hype that goes on in these kinds of seminars- I wasn’t attacking the material itself that’s being discussed in the seminars.

I am glad that people come into the opinionated forum to express an opinion- even if they do not know EVERYTHING about the subject. Nobody knows everything about anything and we are all here to listen to and learn from each other.

Celivia

[CeliviaParticipant@celiviaJoin Date: 2003Post Count: 886]

October 11, 2005 - 12:04 pm

Have you tried to negotiate a reasonable increase in rent in return for an air conditioner?

She shouldn’t be able to keep demanding improvements (I’m not talking about necessary repairs of course) without expecting an increase in rent.

Celivia

[CeliviaParticipant@celiviaJoin Date: 2003Post Count: 886]

October 11, 2005 - 4:33 am

I chose the Hello Kitty avator merely because it is so very cute, playful and mischievous- the cutest avator I could find!
Just makes me happy to look at it!
I love collecting some of the Hello Kitty stuff (yes I have Hello Kitty socks and a nighty). Another character I love is Miffy the bunny (Nijntje).
I know…pretty childish characters to love but hey what can I do- love is blind![inlove]

Celivia

[CeliviaParticipant@celiviaJoin Date: 2003Post Count: 886]

October 9, 2005 - 7:54 am

“I’d rather have control over a 4% return, then be locked out for 45 yrs and have no control over a 11% return. Oh, and where’d this 11% come from ??”

Exactly what I was thinking. Who wants to lock away every cent into super, which you can’t touch for years.
At least, when you put the money into your own home, whether you have a mortgage or not, you can still use the equity for further investments, which also accumulate equity to use, and so on.
Super does not offer any flexibility.

True about the changes into super, too.
Weren’t they talking about making new changes again, something about making part of the super accessable so that people wouldn’t be too afraid to put more into super?
You never know what new changes ‘the gov gang’ will come up with next that will affect our super, like it or not.

Anyway, I wouldn’t complain if people decided to rent and put their money into super instead of buying their own home

Celivia

[CeliviaParticipant@celiviaJoin Date: 2003Post Count: 886]

October 9, 2005 - 1:20 am

Hehe, no I haven’t lost my cool (yet), and usually play around a little- I like being a broken record: “Sounds very interesting, but sorry, I am not interested.”
Then they come up with some more points to make me crave their product or service, and I say the same thing: “Sounds very interesting, but sorry, I am not interested.”

I like the calls in where they tell you that you have “won” something.
Last week this guy told me that I had won a free mobile phone (probably with such and such plan or contract that they try to sign you up for).
I said: “Nice, thanks for the offer, but you can give it to someone else coz I already have a mobile.”
Then they suggest *I* give it to someone else- to a partner, a child, a parent, a friend.
I keep telling them that everybody I know already has a mobile.
Of course, their mobile, which is ready to be send to me right now, is a much better, newer one, the *latest* with lots of thingies and functions that my old mobile phone does not have (assumingly).
Hehe, I say : “I like to keep things simple in life.”
But of course, perhaps my partner, friends, parents, kids will like the functions on THIS phone and it would make a great present from me to them and they would love me for it.
“No thanks, I am not interested.”
He suggests that I keep their free phone for the time my old phone gives up on me.
I say, “good idea, but I am not interested”.
Finally, he says: “I guess you are not interested in this beautiful, free phone with all the latest functions and a money-back guarantee.”
Hehe, I say: “What money back guarantee, I thought this was totally free?”
Suddenly he gathers that I am not interested and ends the conversation. Too much fun!

I’ve been offered free carpet cleaning, sofa cleaning (SURE!), free holidays, free water testing, now this free phone…. just waiting for someone to ring me on my crappy old phone to offer me a free property next, hehe.
Me look forward to that!
Me does like the simple things in life.[biggrin]

Celivia

[CeliviaParticipant@celiviaJoin Date: 2003Post Count: 886]

October 8, 2005 - 12:14 pm

Apart from my personal preference of having a separate bath and shower, I imagine, to answer your question about the bathroom design adding value to the property, that having the tub separate from the shower will add more value to the property than combining them.

People today just love luxurious bathrooms in terms of comfort (don’t they call them Power bathrooms?, hehe)

Having said that, it doesn’t mean that you will have to cramp both bath and shower in a small bathroom.
People also are into storage and space.
It’s all about maximising the space you have available.
Walking into a bathroom where everything looks squashed is not attractive and won’t add value.

If having a tub AND a separate shower looks cramped, then think of a combined tub/shower but make the vanity base one that is offering a lot of storage, and perhaps add a safe medicine cabinet.

Celivia

[CeliviaParticipant@celiviaJoin Date: 2003Post Count: 886]

October 7, 2005 - 3:03 am

Welcome back, Bill!
It would be good if more “Oldies” came back, like Jetdollars and SIS, Rugbyfan, and Melbear.

Celivia

[CeliviaParticipant@celiviaJoin Date: 2003Post Count: 886]

October 5, 2005 - 9:54 am

I’m glad it works, G7, and that your pc is still standing![specool]
Looking forward to your future click here links!

Celivia