I perceive that Brisbane has somewhat of an over supply of rentals. (Due to massive amounts of development in recent years.)If you want to invest, always a good idea to check rental demand (eg vacancies) in that area before buying.Plus, check future employment prospects to see if the long term demand looks healthy.Elsewhere in Australia, I don't…[Read more]

Hi Wonderland,If when you have your family, there will be less family income, definitely better to buy an IP before then. (Bank may not want to lend.)6% is often seen as a good return on investment in a capital city. More often found in 'average' areas and at lower prices.But then again, maybe less capital growth expected. But more affordable when…[Read more]

In my opinion, I don't ever want pools in my IP's. Cost of upkeep, especially if tenant has lost interest, becomes a problem.No-one wants to pay for a new filter for an IP pool! Vacancies of IP's with a pool means you have to pay someone to maintain it.If you want a pool in your PPOR, I strongly recommend to buy the house with the pool!Unless yo…[Read more]

Buying an unappealling place and doing a reno is a quick way to add value, and add to your rental income.Everyoine else wants to buy the clean modern place too.So maybe the one which needs new carpets may be a better investment.Trick of success will be, getting a quality tenant. I'd be screening agents carefully, before asking them to manage any…[Read more]

Or buy a 2 bed apartment, in a suburb a bit further out. ie similar price.Ask your bank about their policy on lending for 1 bed apartments.Banks are geneally conservative about lending for 1 bed apartments esp if less than 50 sq m.Which caps your eventual sales price, and hence may limit your eventual capital gain. 

That may be right, Greg.Us property taxes cover schools etc, not just like our council rates, hence a lot more expensive than our council rates. 

My question to you would be, can you buy USA houses with cash?If not, you need to be able to open an account in USA, to be able to borrow.Maybe also set up a company to protect youself, to buy property in (must be a US company of course).All of the above quite difficult to do from Aus.quickchick 

A buyers agent is a good idea if you don't have the time or the knowledge to make a good IP purchase.If you want more than a couple of IP's, may I suggest you spend the money on your financial education rather than paying someone else with more skill than you.I personally would recommend Steve's RESULTS programme if you really want to be a…[Read more]

I doubt that you can BUY one.But maybe you can MAKE one cahflow+ eg with above ideas.Or maybe buy a block which you can subdivide, and use payment to pay down your loan.(Check with council; don't presume this will be possible!) I'd steer away from apartments unless you count in the body corp expenses.Maybe a small block of units which you buy in…[Read more]

Hi Scott,Best approach to this deal would have been to see an accountant BEFORE you bought the property, set up a trust if advised (only takes your accountant about a week), then buy the property in the desired entity. Now, if you plan to change ownership, I believe that you will have to pay the full stamp duty price. Again!(Unless you are in a…[Read more]

http://sn130w.snt130.mail.live.com/default.aspx?wa=wsignin1.0is the link to the article, see for yourself.quickchick

On a slightly different note, has anyone seen the new RPData review that it might be time to look into investing in mining towns?Due to prices and demand improving, they suggest jobs will increase and hence there will be a squeeze for rental property availability. At current prices and rents, they say they are a very good return. They discuss the…[Read more]

I'm not an accountant, or a solicitor.But what has worked for us, is to have properties held with the same strategy, in the same trust. eg Trust 1 for positive cashflow with us as trustees.Trust 2 is for developments, and has (our) company as its trust.We have been advised not to hold "too many" properties in the same trust. In our case, we'll lim…[Read more]

Maybe I can help with your questions, as an investor with property who has visited there.Dysart is maybe 2 1/2 hours from the coast, by car.I imagine landlords will generally be OK about pets, maybe just put on the lease for you to clean carpets on leaving. Will depend. There are less houses for rent there now than have been advertised for the l…[Read more]

Hi Koiking,I noticed that this post is now 3 months long….Any update on how things are going? Did you approach neighbour?If not, may be time for action.You'll never know if you don't give it a go!quickchick

We have friends who rented out their first house and moved to the country. They moved back after a few years, wanting to live in their first house, having given the required 60 days notice in writing. (NSW) The tenants didn't want to move, said they couldn't find another place, and our friends had to stay with other friends until the matter went…[Read more]

RE NSW STAMP DUTY CHANGESWe have a property near Parramatta which we propose to build a new house at the rear, then split the title with a dual occupancy title. Has to be dual occ due to size of land, which council requires us to build before the new title comes into effect.Can we take advantage of the new system by selling to an empty nester m…[Read more]

RE NSW STAMP DUTY CHANGESWe have a property near Parramatta which we propose to build a new house at the rear, then split the title with a dual occupancy title. Has to be dual occ due to size of land, which council requires us to build before the new title comes into effect.Can we take advantage of the new system by selling to an empty nester m…[Read more]

Broad questions, Jason!First, I don't think you'll get any First Home buyer grant as you aren't going to live in the house for 6 of the first 12 months.Terminology wise, you will be the landlord but you will have to get an agent to manage it for you. Local agent is best. A tip, ring a local agent asking to see a house they currently have ad…[Read more]

Did some quick numbers on James’ deal…
If you borrowed $198,000 (using equity in another property), if you could borrow at 7% it would cost you $266.54 to pay interest only.
Is the rent $390 for each unit?
If so, $390 – $266 – $160 outgoings comes to a loss of $36 pw. Does the outgoings include strata fees?
Of course, if you have a deposit the…[Read more]