robo, I got my super statements the year before last and had lost lots of money because thetre had been some downturn somewhere blah blah :o( There goes the retirement! hehe. Property was booming and super funds were losing money! It might be the opposite in the bext few years- RE might be flat and super funds might make big money… but if they…[Read more]

Well, Gatsby, as you probably know, you can access smh.com.au online (the owners also pwn the Age, so not much point doubling up) and news.com (the owners own the Australian too, so no point doubling up there). Campus Review is a free rag in all Universites, so you can pick one up by just going and visiting one and asking the Union for a copy. The…[Read more]

Gatsby,

This one is a little basic, but you can always look up “Mcdonalds opening real estate” as key words in google.com.au (australia only sites). Or replace mcdonalds with “Bunnings” or whatever.

Generally, you can find out that stuff by reading newspapers and everything you can on the net. For example, I have found out recently where new…[Read more]

Steve,

First of all Happy Birthday! Also, congratulations on doing something you love. I know you hated accounting, so it’s good you’ve moved into an area that you’re passionate about :o) Everyone deserves to do something they enjoy in life.

Hope you had a happy birthday

kay henry

Daaj,

Hoping this can be sent through as i’m having massive computer problems. My solicitor did those checks for me- basically cost me nothing- a few bucks. The search will only give you the date the place was *registered* and the house may have been relocated there, so don’t take the date as a given. A Builder can give you an approximate date of…[Read more]

Pisces,

Your phone calls to me to arrange dinners and flights to meet forum members – yes, interesting… you sure do have a rich inner world, Pisces.

kay henry

Nandos,

Of course you are entitled to trust people- they ashould do the right thing by you and be honest- we are all entitled to be treated with dignity…

Having said that… you said:

“My plans are to invest to a point where I can take a day off work or two and spend more time with my son and family.”

If you are planning on investing to the…[Read more]

westan,

I did the pre-midlife crisis thing and bought the red sports car early- nothing wrong with an early-life crisis, if it means you have a fun car to go along with it

kay henry

Gatsby,

It might be worthwhile negotiating this type of insurance with your employer as part of your package. It would be more worthwhile in the long run that having those other things like car lease etc (not good value, in my opinion). We get IPI as a condition of employment. I’d rather it than life insurance (although we get that too in our…[Read more]

watchful, good question. You’ve asked if prices will be driven up “artificially”. I think if there has been demand, then there is no such thing as artificiality. Demand is a real concept.

However, it will be interesting to see how the prices of CF+ hosing stock goes now that the market has changed somewhat. The RB has officially declared the…[Read more]

Well, Celivia, miss kitty is very cute! Thanks for telling me of it’s origins! I didn’t know that. One has to love the Dutch- adorable indeed!

kay henry

Some good news for investors- prediction is, no interest rate rises for a few months (ahhh, but we knew that, dind’t we?) My hit prediction is none for 6 months, but get back to me if I’m wrong (you know you want to) :

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/05/07/1083911405337.html

kay henry

And it’s Number 1 article on page one of today’s Australian newspaper:

Housing Bubble Bursts: Reserve Bank

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,9500942%255E601,00.html

And then this article: Think Housing Prices never fall?

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,9499163%255E31478,00.html

kay henry

Fern said:

“What really causes a crash?
Mainly I’d say people hurting is the main cause.”

Fern, I agree that is one aspect. The other is, I reckon, fear and panic. The thing about fear and panic is, that it doesn’t necessarily even require hurt, and the same result will occur- decisions made that are not necesarily in the person’s best…[Read more]

Mr Chan, an article associated with this Commonwealth bank property value guide says:

“The Commonwealth Bank Property Value Guide is based on new loans and on valuations conducted by the bank when customers refinance loans.”

http://smh.com.au/articles/2004/05/06/1083635285152.html

As with all of these guides, I find them *indicative* but not…[Read more]

fifi- an 8 *bedroom* house????????? Or was that 8 rooms? sheesh, if it’s an 8 bedroom house, that;s some motel you have there!

Ultimately, it’s not up to your PM to be reluctant. He isn’t paid to show reluctance. He is only paid to show us love ) hehe. Seriously, tenants for 5 years with no rental rise- they’re doing fairly well. I lived in the…[Read more]

hey Celivia,

Is your avatar miffy?

kay henry

Gatsby,

Not sure *where* to get it from, but I thought I’d let you in on a little anecdote. One of my colleague’s daughters went to get income protection insurance and disclosed that she had some depression issues. She got knocked back from that form of insurance and was VERY upset (and no doubt embarrassed). Food for thought.

kay henry

Lifex )

To answer a couple of your Q’s, firstly, you said:

“if, after paying off your 5 props you are making $300 a week cash. That then becomes a positive cashflow scenario. So I think we are agreeing pos. cashflow may be better once you want to retire.”

Lifex, this is what I have always seen property to be about- money for retirement, and…[Read more]

Jo,

FatTony has made 8 posts. For all I know, he might be a new investor also. I was commenting on your use of the word “loser”. I don’t like that word, and I thouht it was unnecessary in this context. If you don’t think it’s harsh, ok.

A new investor is not necessarily an idit (Pisces, *mwah*) A new investor is a new person to property…[Read more]