Sure James, I agree. There are differences in reporting from most of the RE people- Commsec, Residex, homepriceguide.com.au, and a bunch of others.

I think it’s super important to be deconstructive on reports. I do however, think it’s important for us to know our market. Guess if we bought shares, we’d be doing the same thing.

For long-term…[Read more]

Mini,

Can I ask how much you pay for getting floors polished? Would a house of say a few bedrooms cost you around $800? Or less? Because THAT I reckon, is what makes a house look beautiful and light- newly polished floorboards. I am presuming you dson’t do the floorboards yourself. I’ve seen some home polishing jobs that look crap (your photos…[Read more]

georgis,

I can see where you’re coming from about the love/hate thing. But I do believe the reporting is about what’s happening. The boom is slowing down, and that’s what’s being reported. The article also said flat times can be from 4-10 years. I know wen I bought my property a few years ago, the market was dead flat, had been for a few years…[Read more]

Thanks Rubba

Here’s another article about “mini-cities”. I guess where there is still population growth, there will still be housing demand. Re your article above, and my article below, I wonder will these mini-villages be forst homebuyers buying in a flat market and prices remaining flat. I still think with such a fundamental as population…[Read more]

viralk,

You sent me a pm some time ago asking about Ayr, and I’m gonna reply now- sorry for the delay :o)

I was checking out townesville properties on RE.com.au some time ago, and Ayr came up as an extremely cheap alternative- still highly cheap despite the boom. Do some checking on realestate.com.au and see what you can find. I have a friend…[Read more]

Elves,

The last IP I bought, I had seen a few other similar ones for sale previously and tracked down anyone who might know if another was coming up. When this one did, I bought it and see it as very much a potential retirement home- of course I am going to love a place I might retire to, but for now, it’s an IP.

I am thinking the next few IP’s…[Read more]

Thanks Rugs and Chan :o)

but if she is talking about the BIG depreciation allowances- as in post-1985/7 buildings, isn’t she referring to neg geared places (most of those buildings would be neg geared initially) and then making them pozz CF due to taxation benefits? She isn’t referring to pozz CF upon purchase (from rental yield only) is she?

kay henry

Thanks for the info, yack :o) Presumaly it’s the same in NSW as well.

kay henry

I though Margaret Lomas was into taxation/depreciation, and neg gearing. But Cel, you tell me she’s got a book on pozz gearing- do I have this wrong?

kay henry

Yack,

A $5 rise isn’t soo bad My question relates to your tenant not signing a lease on a higher rent. Wouldn’t you HAVE to sign up an agreement if there is a rent increase? If it is not written down, it is just a gentleman’s (or woman’s) agreement. But I reckon such a verbal contract would not be valid. Leases are legally binding and cover all…[Read more]

Pisces,

Perhaps your interpretation that the lack of response to this topic is because people are “devoid of good ideas” might be attributed to people finding this topic childish and unworthy of reply.

Asking people their ideas on ways to torture Saddam? Get real Pisces. It’s highly inappropriate.

kay henry

Bron, do you have your own solicitor? Because if you do, he or she will answer any questions for you. I am not aware there’s any difference between the vendor using a RE agent (who is only a go-between after all) and the vendor selling privately. But push and prod your solicitor if you have any concerns.

If you don’t have your own solicitor, have…[Read more]

hehe Leigh

Mini,

I just came back from europe, and picked up as many english-speaking newspapers as I could- some of which were British. One newspaper had an amazing section full of articles on the English RE market. I would say it is similar (probably worse, from the articles I was reading) to hte Aussie market- home owner affordability at its…[Read more]

Here’s a link to an interview with a gentleman called Tariq Ali, a London-based author. His most recent book is titled “Bush in Babylon”. The interview is quite lengthy, but the situation in Iraq is a complex one, and the article provides perspectives on the current situation in the Middle East. People will either discount the perspectives…[Read more]

Marisa,

No such thing as a stupid question- ask anything you like and people will be happy to answer.

It is possible to make an addition to the property- perhaps a ceiling fan, airconditioning, dishwasher etc, to justify the rent rise, if that’s the way you want to go. I would suggest though, that it is an “improvement” rather than merely…[Read more]

Mini

The theory of “lowballing” can make sense if there aren’t a number of people bidding for the property. But looking at john’s example of the property he is interested in, I am wondering if someone offers $85k and another person offers 95K, the property will be sold- accepted at 95k- and if john wants the property, he’ll miss out. I just…[Read more]

wrappack,

A few of us sydney folks are going to the expo together. Would you like to come along? Details (sort of) are in the Forum Fun forum. I’ll post it in the major section when we’ve finished [gossip] about it and can consolidate a day

kay henry

Would “Wildly Wealthy Women” be like “Muscular Millionaire Men”, Rubba? [huh]

kay henry

cashpoor, I doubt the same rules apply in australia as they do in the USA- the States is highly deregulated financially- notso here.

But if you’re gonna pay a few bucks for an ebook- why not? Presumably, some of the info in the book will have universal application. Many people on this Forum buy american RE books- can’t hurt.

I checked out the…[Read more]

Ozboy, I would have thought it is de rigeur for the solicitor to only take out fees AFTER settlement. They take out their own fees, pay RE agent fees, any rates etc owing, and send the balance to the mortgage provider if there is still a mortgage owing on the property. Your solicitor should be handling all of that for you- it’s a part of their…[Read more]