Hi,I'm based in Sydney and haven't had much experience with solicitors on the Gold Coast.I'd suggest, though, that when choosing a solicitor, you interview them first to see if they're the right fit for you. Ask if they specialize in JVs, wraps and so forth, and ask for any references that they can give you. This can ensure that you don't pay too…[Read more]

I'd agree that 95% lends never left. You just had to be able to do the research to find them!It may just be more hype about them now – and you happened to be amidst it.I reckon 95% lends are useful to get your property easily – and perhaps even get more properties faster for your portfolio

I haven't heard about Real Estate Investar before – but I checked it out on Google, and it seems that its a software based in NZ. I wonder though if it has capabilities to work for the Australian context? or just NZThat's something you should take into consideration I suppose

Yeah, iphones are the craze in Aus – many companies in property are making apps too for the iPhone. An iphone compatible version of PI is a great idea… what about an app too?

In my opinion, my biggest annoyances with some property managers is the lack of communicationYou mentioned these points:*property managers never phone back*emails are never responded to, or if they are, its days and days laterAnd it's those ones that annoy me the most…

Meeting up and creating a mastermind group or mentoring group is a fantastic way to learn VERY quickly!I've seen some meetup groups in Sydney posted up on the internet, but haven't had the time to join them regularly myself.Instead, another way that I stay motivated and informed, is to use forums such as this one, or attend yearly conferences, and…[Read more]

I don't claim to be an expert on CGT, however I do want to point out that I did like these 2 options as mentioned above:1) "It may be possible to reduce your taxable income by making a deductible contribution to your superfund, and this will therefore reduce the CGT payable"AND2) sell the property and hence get the CGT during a low income year…[Read more]

I'm also not an expert on Japanese real estate, but from my research, some of the property prices seem very steep (even in comparison to Aussie property prices!(and the low yields and lack of growth is a concern)

Yeah, especially beginners should be wary of self-proclaimed experts.I agree that there are some out there that genuinely want to helpl, and they can give good advice.But be wary when you're expected to pay large fees. When depending on an expert, do some background research – especially check whether the expert actually practices what they preach…[Read more]

hmm.. i haven't invested in car parks myself.. but i've read some books that have touted the benefits of car park investing.Well done at least for wanting to get a head start in investing.(Just remember that you're bound to make some mistakes for your first rounds of investing) You'll learn as you go along.

Hey Anthony,Great post! I especially liked your comment about point 1). Many people do stop themselves short of property investing because of poor beliefs such as the misconception about debt, and a lack of understanding between the difference of good and bad debt!I believe education is a major remedy to fear and risk.

That's an interesting question – and I'd be keen to find out the answer too.From my understanding, Australia and US have a tax agreement in which you will have to be taxed in either US or AUS, but not both simultaneously for the same particular income. I think you'd have to pay the tax in either of the countries. Although, I'd advise you check…[Read more]

I'd suggest Sydney suburbs that are out west. Recently went to a property investing conference, and they were pointing out a number of suburbs in Sydney's west where you could invest with a $400K budget only.

I've read Rich Dad Poor Dad, and books on the Cash Flow Quadrant. I even played the Cash Flow games that he has out. I agree that often he does lack the nuts and bolts in his material. He has a more conceptual view of things. Some of his material ha sbeen inspirational – but then it can be difficult to know what to do next after you have been…[Read more]

I haven't read any books about investing in New Zealand.For investing in the USA, I like Eldred's real estate investing books. It's highly recommended in Amazon with alot of positive reviews.

I think investing in the USA can be alot cheaper, especially with the strong AUD currency in comparison to the USD. Properties in the UK, however, may be a little pricier. I'm curious what other's thoughts are on this as well though

hmmm.. yeah I've read some real estate investing books myself, and some have mentioned tax liens in the USA. It seemed very interesting, but I was totally clueless about what to do next. I think the difficult thing is that we're based in Australia – and I think it's important to go to USA to check it out for actually doing it.

Wow nice thai property. I love thailand, and am wondering about investing property there as an Aussie. Is it possible to invest property in Thailand? If so, how would one go about starting to do that? Do I need to invest with a Thai person? I prefer to invest on my own (without a Thai person), if thats possible…

I'n my opinion, it's best to be critical of all the media hype you read about. Use your own judgment and your own set of criteria when determining how good or bad a market really is. Also, consider learning investing strategies that can make you money in both up times and down times – that's how you can make money confidently in any…[Read more]

Hi,I was reading some intersting info today about the drop in Melbourne housing proces. While the median house and unit price is still in the 400-500k mark, it's been found that the median price of a house in regional Victoria is 310,000, which is close to your budget!See here for proof of the house price…[Read more]