Thanks, I'll bookmark it 

Not an expert on this area, but from what I've read the NRAS property scheme offers investors about $10,000 in tax credits for the first 10 years (+negative gearing benefits), in exchange for the investor providing rent that is 20% lower than market rentAt first glance this appears to be a great opportunity especially on the cashflow side of…[Read more]

To answer your question, it depends on what is happening in the marketAre property prices likely to go up or down in the area you are looking to purchase in, within the specified timeframe it would take for you to save a 20% deposit i.e. $80,000? If you think property prices will increase, then it might be better to borrow more money e.g. 90% LVR…[Read more]

Hi Mr Props,Welcome to the property forumsHope you enjoy reading and participating in the discussions in this forumTo answer your question, I think it depends on what a person's goals are and their knowledge and skill baseMany mum and dad  investors choose the negative gearing model because they would like to save tax, and/or because they believe…[Read more]

Interesting discussion and comments here

Just wondering if there are any other options available that would allow this great deal to go through

I.e. if you could get the vendor to provide financing for 30% of the purchase price maybe as a balloon payment after 5 years, would there be any lenders happy to provide a loan for +70% of purchase price?

I think one of the biggest expenses when it comes to selling is the taxes that you will need to pay and this can vary depending on how the property was purchased (individual, trust, superannuation fund, or company), what type of property it is (residential or commercial), how long you've had the property (CGT discount), and other costs…[Read more]

Hi Lee,You can download the modules as PDF or Word documents if you go to the resource section and scroll down to the bottomFor a direct link to Module 1 you can click hereFor future inquiries it might be best for you to contact the dedicated Property Investor Training team via the following options:Phone 0388923800Email…[Read more]

Hi Rickim,If you don't me asking, why would you want to transfer the equity in your home to someone elses?I'm not an expert in this field, but I believe there are a lot more fees and taxes involved when you want to transfer equity between individuals – If it were owned under a trust structure it might be easier and less costlyCheers,Kong

I believe the 1% rule is a guideline Steve formulated to help find positive cashflow propertiesIt is based on the interest you can borrow at + 1% to account for other expensesE.g. If you can borrow at 7% interest, the 1% rule states that you should only be looking at properties yielding or with the potential of 8% or above

Thanks for the advice Freckle,The more research I conduct the less confident I feel about investing in the property market for generic growth, and I might follow your advice and hold off.When do you think the fireworks will start? What do you think will happen? How will this impact jobs in Australia, interest rates, and the property market? What…[Read more]

Thanks for the post possumpal,I've had a look at 'The Chase, Alfredton' but I couldn't find many properties for sale on realestate.com.au and according to the developer's site they are 'Sold out':"The Chase. Alfredton's most popular address!A place of tree-lined boulevards and natural landscapes, where majestic parks meet with thriving wetlands,…[Read more]

What's the purpose of the thread?To determine if there is any correlation between the car you drive and how wealthy you are?Personally I believe there is no correlation between the two, and that it in the end it comes to personal taste and affordability. Some wealthy individuals will buy more affordable cars, whereas others will buy more expensive…[Read more]

Steve's Market Update for April 2012 was sensational and he gave great insights about the Australian Residential market.Amongst the indicators he mentioned are:Median house pricesJobs and employmentHousing FinanceHousing ApprovalsConsumer and Business SentimentsUsing the indicators above it appears that the best capital cities to invest in…[Read more]

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't the yield based on the use of the property i.e. for commercial it would depend whether it is retail (4.5-8%), industrial (7.5-8.5%), or office(6.5-8%), and since the property you are considering buying/building is already at the higher end, wouldn't it be harder to improve its use, thus its yield, and ultimately…[Read more]

Don't mean to offend you, but I don't really see the logic behind the following statement:"You build/buy brand new investment property at place B but you decide not to rent it out"Why would you decide not to rent it out? Is it better to lose more money and claim more tax deductions even though you only claim a portion of that loss?How does a…[Read more]

Thanks for all your insights and opinions. Greatly appreciate it.LocationIn terms of location it seems like Ballarat has a lot of potential for future growth.Close to Melbourne for those that love to shop, dine at fine restaurant, or enjoy the night life Close to Geelong if you want to relax at beachAppears to be an employment hub with many…[Read more]

Have done a bit a research recently and it seems that the Australian Government is very generous and have implemented many schemes to help make it more affordable for Australians to own their home:First Home Saver AccountGovernment making contribution equal to 17% of your personal contribution up to a maximum amountEarnings from this saving…[Read more]

One of the websites you might consider looking into is:http://www.realestateinvestar.com.au

Very impressive If you don't me asking…How did you go about with your research to find such a gem?

Although Australia is in a much better position than the rest of the world, I believe that we are still not immune to what is happening to the rest of the world and depressed/lower property prices. There are three critical areas to consider:Economy – How would a slowdown in other parts of the world and our rising dollar affect our economy, exports…[Read more]