Just as a follow up to the original question;
Let’s say you depreciated an asset (eg, $2,000 A/C) completely over, for example, a 10 year period, but then when you decide to replace it with a…[Read more]

Have a look at Toms Hardware Guide (tomshardware.com), they do an ok job of it.

Whilst I too find the links a tad on the annoying side, it must be realised that web site maintenance doesn’t pay for itself.

However, perhaps some effort could be made towards making the links somewhat relevant.

That is, pick certain definite words as links, and use only those words.
Recently someone wrote a post which…[Read more]

Most local council’s DA forms include a space for the owner’s signature where the owner is not the applicant.

A couple of years ago I asked the council I was dealing with at the time why this was necessary (I was looking after a tenancy refurbishment, the owners…[Read more]

First of all, thanks for the update. It’s through people’s full experiences that others can learn too. So thank you for following this through even though I’m sure you have lots on your mind.

From what you have said it sounds like the solicitor is doing a pretty good job of keeping himself and the conveyancer out of any…[Read more]

I bought my first when I had plenty of time on my hands between finishing uni and starting my first full time job.
I’m glad that this was my first because, whilst it is not difficult for anyone with half a brain, it can take a good deal of time running around to the…[Read more]

The other point I was going to add was;
Check other 4 bedroom houses in the area. Whilst $100 per room might not sound like much, if there are other 4 bedroom houses renting for less than $400/wk, you are not going to get many tenants other than those who can’t do math…[Read more]

I just had a bit of a play around on Excel to see how things work etc.

For anyone who is interested, I came up with the following (applies to only two possible outcomes like in Bibra’s example);

– Subtract 1 from each of the odds (eg 1.5 becomes 0.5 and 3.3 becomes 2.3).
– Multiply the two new numbers…[Read more]

You may have got the wrong idea from my post. I’m not advocating vendor or dummy bids, just acknowledging that they exist and that whether it’s the vendor you are bidding against or someone else, the principals are similar, ie have a top price, and bluff as well as you can [biggrin]

I work in the building…[Read more]

At the end of the day, if the vendor ups the anti, you can simply say “no more”. It’s just like competing against another bidder. Once you reach your limit,…[Read more]

Let’s try this one for a different way of looking at the issue;

When you pay interest (eg at 10%), what you are really saying is “10% per annum”, or in other words, 10% of the total amount is paid back every single year.
Therefore, on $200,000 you would pay 10% of this ($20,000) every…[Read more]

I won’t bother with the description of how they make money because;
a) It is covered on the threads I mentioned above
and more importantly
b) I still don’t really…[Read more]

My suggestion (for what it is worth) is to have a “30 day notification period” so that you only have to give 1 month’s notice of your intention to leave without penalties.

Of course, your Landlord may not agree to this – but you can ask.

You could…[Read more]

We were discussing the various types of palm trees and what they would be worth (the ones in questions are about 7m high).

He said that cocos palms were worth virtually nothing and that they are technically considered to be a “weed” these days [blink]

Clint

There can be some issues if your tenant simply moves in and starts operating a business. Some of these are real issues (parking, noise etc) and others are “techincal” issues (where the local council says “It’s not in the rules,…[Read more]

I try not to be rude when someone interrupts my down time at home – they are just trying to earn a living and I did answer the phone after all.

But…. if they continue to try to pester me after I say I am not interested then, rather than hang up, I ask them if they could…[Read more]

Go to http://www.physiotherapy.asn.au and click on “Find a Physio” at the top right of the screen.

Try each state and see if his name is listed – you can then follow up through the workplace he is listed under.

This will only work if his details have been…[Read more]

Standard stackables, bifolds etc are not much more than a normal wall, but you get no acoustic separation.

Regards,
Clint

Allthough, I heard Frank Sartor on the radio this morning greatly downplaying the proposal that was written about in the papers. He seems to be very politically aware of the possibility of a huge fuss from the residents of The Block which may…[Read more]

1) Work out all the costs of owning the property and convert to a weekly basis.

2) Work out all the income from the property and convert to a weekly basis.

If (2) is more than (1) then it is positive cashflow…[Read more]

In this situation your position would obviously be affected (but not until your current lease expires), otherwise, as the…[Read more]

The one thing that may detract is the area they are in. For example; is it a mining town where the mining company pays large rents on behalf of it’s employees, but if the mine closes down….

That sort of thing.

If it’s a “normal” sort…[Read more]

Therefore, you can’t buy an IP with the traditional deposit + loan arrangement – you have to go and buy the IP outright.

Hope you have enough money in your Super Fund for that one!

PS, could someone confirm the above…[Read more]

Some sort of common area (whether by search or by listing) where people can find generic information (“how do you calculate the 11 second rule?” for example) and then people swing into the forum itself and ask a more specific question which is then either…[Read more]

the first thing to consider is that you own the property, not the tenant. Therefore, it is for you to decide whether or not you want to make any improvements over and above it’s current state.

If the tenant won’t live there without the improvements they request, they can always go elsewhere.

However, it is quite possible that the…[Read more]

Whilst there are general principles that apply across each state, the DA submission requirements differ from LGA (Local Goverment Authority) to LGA.

Again, each LGA will give you access to it’s current zoning policy. Many have…[Read more]

1) Wait 2 months now, rent it out in January and then keep re-leasing every January.
RESULT: A definite 2 months of no rent.

2) Rent it out right now and then try to re-lease it next November. If you can, great. If you can’t, well just keep trying until the…[Read more]

With regards to renting to students;
1) Follow Derek’s advice – time your rental period.
2) Consider not trying to lease individual rooms.…[Read more]

I looked at CBD carspaces around 2000/2001 (but bought a house to live in instead).

At the time, CBD spaces were around $70k – $100k (asking price – not sure what the final sales were) and were renting for a bit over the $100/week mark from memory.

Some on the city fringes…[Read more]