Good on you, Darren! Sometimes you just need confirmation of what is already in your mind.I'm still facing the can I do something better with the money question after having properties revalued and not getting the equity gain I hoped for.D

WJ,Always a pleasure to hear from you.About the three families that want to live in the McMansions, this may be true, but the fact is that they will want to live in the house. It will not be empty. Those three families will probably pay rent if there is three of them sharing. That will mean that house prices will be a lot higher than they are now.…[Read more]

WJ, We just had some of our properties re-valued in order to access equity. They revalued the properties a lot lower than expected and as a result the equity we accessed is lower, hence we can borrow less money.This does not mean that the property market has gone down. This does not mean lenders are no lending. This means that lenders may be…[Read more]

Yeah I got emailed that too. I haven't had a chance to read through it. Seems a little bit on the different side, then again that's how she has made her money and her mark.D

Why don't you call them and ask them. They should tell you straight away. If they umm and ahh about it then you know they do and that there is a questionable legal issue. Then call a couple of other agents in the area and ask them too. You may also ask them about their fees etc and might be able to get a better deal or a PM you are able to have a…[Read more]

Hi Wannabe,Good on you for jumping in and buying. Good on you also for having the bright idea of renting out some rooms to help pay off your mortgage.Please, please, please pay for very good accounting advice as to what to when tax time rolls around and going forward in changing your PPOR into an investment property.As for the decision to rent out…[Read more]

Hi,I would go the other way and think that they are trying to keep the property in the best possible condition in order to have an easier job renting and keeping tenants. Ours puts little things like reminders about gutters before winter and getting jobs done before the end of the financial year as to claim jobs on tax. Think about it from their…[Read more]

Hi all,I think there are jobs like DR, lawyer etc, that if you are passionate about the role and want to do it, cool go to uni. There are plenty of other ways to earn money and job roles that will earn a lot of money if you do not have "the piece of paper". I have studied a couple of subjects (thanks oua). But I am sooooooooo glad I didn't waste 4…[Read more]

FWord,Rich is defined as,ample: affording an abundant supply, very productive, having an abundant supply of desirable qualities or substances, and lastly, fat: marked by great fruitfulness.So if you are ample and productive and have an ample supply of desirable qualities and substances you can be fat.I would think that with your definition even…[Read more]

Hi all,485. Need to get cracking, I can only afford to live for a year! Be nice to come back this time next year and have that score be HEAPS higher.D

W4L,Yeah, be nice to be in the rich club soon! Are you already there? Should I change my signature to…DW

Hi all,I must have missed all the fun!Firstly, the dob in line reeks of another place and another time which shall remain unmentioned. Why not dob in your neighbors because they are different……….umm no thanks.Secondly you would have to get everyone to quit their jobs in Melbourne and Sydney and move to another country to see a significant…[Read more]

Thanks everyone for posting,It is nice to see that others have gone before and what strategies they have used to get ahead (or get into Canterbury ). We are now at a crossroads of thinking about moving to a cheaper area in order to plough more money into developing, which is a bit hard as where we live is safe, and friendly and expensive .…[Read more]

Hi,Personally I would just wait as objections are pretty much just paper if the council is on board with the development. We had two objections, one because they said a plumbing fault with the previous house was our fault (?!) and the other because of,the ducks, the traffic, the way the windows were placed, their liquid amber tree getting enough…[Read more]

If someone can tell me too that would be great! I rent, in a very nice suburb in Melbourne and all my money goes in investing. I figure make hay while the sun shines then get the big, pretty house later when we are set for life. Sacrifice now for, living it up later. (Well sort of live it up now and live it up heaps later )My dream house costs…[Read more]

Nup, not the bank. I was wondering if this was money that was there for some reason, like to pay tax, or for whatever reason hence the reason you haven't used this money to either pay down the cars, or as deposit for another property. It is good that it is in the offset it is at least doing something, but if you could be doing something better…[Read more]

HmmmmAt least you are doing your homework and are responsive to changing your mind, you'll go a long way with that! Cheers!D

Hi, Have to say I feel the same about my super 'bonus'. That $16k (yes that's right!) is going to get me what when I hit 65? I don't see having $45k owing on personal debt as the worst thing in the world, but I would look at getting a little bit of it knocked on the head because it will reduce your borrowing power. Is the 30k for the tax man? Set…[Read more]

Again with the hotel investments…..Just do a quick search on this topic and throughout the forum you will find the threads littered with the bodies of those who thought this was a good idea. Please, please, please think carefully about this sort of thing as an investment, for a variety of reasons, lack of bank lending, no control over costs etc,…[Read more]

Hehehe, BTW, even my mum is banging on about doing a subdivision/duplex development. Because it must be really easy if I can develop….! LOLD