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  • Profile photo of EllenEllen
    Participant
    @ellend
    Join Date: 2005
    Post Count: 11

    Hi Racingdork,

    The final cost of your reno will depend on the quality of the finish – and whether or not your trade friends will do the job at cost??   I think that your plan is perhaps a little ambitious, but if you do a lot yourselves, then you might get the internals and the garage & driveway within that budget.  Just be circumspect about 'using' friends on a reno – it's possible to end up with a nice house and no friends :)

    Suggest that your first step is to cost it out accurately.  Ask each of your tradesfriends for quotes – then, assuming you plan to do the rest yourself, head off to Bunnings and cost the items that you will need.

    If you plan to live there while renovating, my suggestion is ………..don't  – it's much less stressful and much more cost-effective and efficient :)

    Planning and budgetting is the key to getting this right – and also make sure that the house can be re-sold at a value that covers the true cost – which includes the purchase costs (stamp duty and legal fees), holding costs (interest on the loan, rates, insurance) and selling costs as well as the renovation costs.  It's the sum of all these costs less the prospective sale price that will give you a true picture of your potential profit.  Make sure you check out recent sales in the area for comparable, renovated properties (ie 3 bed 1 bath, not 4 bed 2 bath).  Very important not to over-capitalise.  Not sure why you would want to put in a 4 car garage??  Isn't 2 enough for a 3 bed house. 

    There's a product called 'Renovation Toolbox' – I've heard that it's great  – particularly in helping with the planning and costing.  I haven't used the product myself but have heard good things about it.  I think it's available from this site's on-line shop.

    …..good luck :) 

    Profile photo of EllenEllen
    Participant
    @ellend
    Join Date: 2005
    Post Count: 11

    Hi Reeco,

    It's not clear from your post whether you want to buy a house to live in or an investment property.  Either way, you need to have a plan – and to do this you need to have identified your end goals – personal and financial.

    Suggest that the process you need to follow begins with establishing your long-term goals and then putting together a plan to achieve them.  There are lots of good books available about property – whether purchasing a house to live in or an investment property – and every one of the good ones will recommend that you start with goals and a plan.

    If you do decide that property is the means to your end goals, then there are plenty of resouces (books, seminars, mentoring etc) that you can use to educate yourself about property investing. 
     
    All the best
    Squeak

    Profile photo of EllenEllen
    Participant
    @ellend
    Join Date: 2005
    Post Count: 11

    Hi,
    I’ve just seen your post – and I hope you found an answer to your question before this.

    I’m Australian and have bought property in the US – and it doesn’t matter who is buying the property, the rules and regulations are the same for all i.e. you need to do the same things that you would od if you were selling to a US resident. Your attorney should be able to help.

    Good luck

    Profile photo of EllenEllen
    Participant
    @ellend
    Join Date: 2005
    Post Count: 11

    Check the IRS website for details of who can and who can’t get a social security number (SSN). If you aren’t eligible for a SSN and intend to do business in the US as a non-resident foreign alien, you can apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) which can be used when applying for loans etc. Link to the IRS site:
    http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96287,00.html

    Profile photo of EllenEllen
    Participant
    @ellend
    Join Date: 2005
    Post Count: 11

    I bought it 3 years ago, and had a building inspection done at the time – there is no mention of any problem with the bricks in the report.

    It’s not positively geared – I bought it primarily as a home for my Mum.

    Profile photo of EllenEllen
    Participant
    @ellend
    Join Date: 2005
    Post Count: 11

    Hi Gavinh,

    http://allhomes.com.au/c/ah? publishes median house prices for Canberra suburbs.

    http://www.ourbrisbane.com/living/suburbs/ has median prices for Brisbane suburbs (albeit out of date) – hopefully they will get around to updating soon.

    Australian Property Investor magazine publishes median prices for each state – monthly magazine.

    Hope this helps.[cap]

    Profile photo of EllenEllen
    Participant
    @ellend
    Join Date: 2005
    Post Count: 11

    Thanks folks – appreciate your help. The book looks interesting – will do some reading and follow-up with accountant.

    Cheers
    Squeaker

Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)