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February 19, 2014 - 8:28 am

Asset values are based on several factors but sustainability of the income stream is extremely important – hence market value equates to the value based on achieving the market returns not some inflated amount (eg unwilling tenant tied into an above market rent).

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February 18, 2014 - 10:14 am

Resurfacing – wear and tear. It isn't an improvement as it is a like for like replacement.

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February 12, 2014 - 10:16 am

I use Austbrokers – Deanne Cawthorne. She's based in Baulkham Hills but they have a couple of other offices around Sydney.

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February 12, 2014 - 9:29 am

Catalyst wrote:

Most councils charge extra if you want extra bins.

Our council wants $300 a year. No thanks. We'll make do with the bins we have.

Wow! A whole $0.82 cents per day.  I wouldn't pay that either.

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February 9, 2014 - 12:06 pm

You will need two different valuers – one in each state as it is a state based registration system.

Real estate agents don't value, they put forward an opinion (unless they are qualified valuers & provide a paid valuation for you).

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February 7, 2014 - 12:02 pm

12 weeks is 40 weeks short of what is required if you are to rebuild a house.

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January 29, 2014 - 10:58 am

Hi Michael,

it is not always an option to have a vacant house/unit for a photoshoot – especially for a rental. Waiting out the last few weeks, then getting the photos done and uploaded to the web and then doing the opens costs the owner/investor weeks of lost rent.

It is also rare for an owner to fork out $ for photos & a floor plan for a rental – I try to keep one from previous sales/RPD etc. The return on investment is simply not there on a rental.

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January 27, 2014 - 12:21 pm

Rail projects – south west rail link is under construction.

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January 24, 2014 - 8:31 am

I don't need life insurance, it doesn't go to me anyway.

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January 23, 2014 - 11:38 am

I have dealt with several of the agents in Muswellbrook. The best that I have found was Floods, the most useless was LJH.

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January 21, 2014 - 5:52 am

that is a serious problem for you and your family. Have you looked at refinancing his loan? Why is the property so heavily negative? Is it possible that the rent is so far below market? Can your father use the negative gearing losses?

Selling may be one solution but not necessarily the best one.

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January 20, 2014 - 11:32 am

It will depend upon the purpose of the valuation that you seek.

If you are looking to refinance an existing loan, then your bank is probably the best option (as above).

If you are looking to buy and want to know how much to pay, you can use RPData etc or engage a private valuer.

If you are looking for replacement value for insurance purposes, you will need an independent valuer

If your need a valuation for lease negotiation purposes (eg market rental), then you will need an independent valuer (specialised valuers do retail leases)

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January 20, 2014 - 9:33 am

why settle for one or the other?

The flat suits your lifestyle today, the land for the future.

Between them they’re $500k, you can use the fhog to most effect on the flat which will have the least interest and be non-deductible until you move out.

The house will generate an income and can be used to support the loan.

If you buy both, you’ve started investing and will have your own place.

Consider the returns and whether you can afford to take up 2 loans.

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January 17, 2014 - 11:17 am

More feebies (sic), more pressure.

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January 12, 2014 - 11:29 am

With 50km out of Sydney, you may be hard pushed to see any capital gains. You'd be looking at Campbelltown, the other side of Penrith or Wyong. Much of the areas closer to Sydney (western suburbs) have bolted but it would largely depend upon your budget and the type of property that you are considering.

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January 8, 2014 - 11:23 am

You might look at engaging a tenant representative who works in these areas. Not a mainstream role but they they do specialise in this line of work. (Usually find them doing commercial/industrial or retail lease negotiations).

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January 5, 2014 - 6:34 am

Just one (maybe two) words of warning.

The AUD is at a 3 year low. If you buy now, you are paying more than you otherwise would if the AUD appreciates again (likewise you will lose money unless your new assets appreciate at a greater rate than the AUD devalues against the USD. (Ignore this if you brought your money to the US when it was sitting above parity). Indications from reserve bank are they want to see AUD sitting between $0.85-$0.90 US).

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January 2, 2014 - 12:56 am

Johhny, why wait?

You have been in your ppor for 6 months, go out and rent a pad where ever you like (at least the interest on your current loan will be deductible and with $250k pa you would be able to afford something and take a long term lease). Your current place will carry a cgt exemption for 6 years provided you don't get another PPOR.

Use your income now for investment purposes rather than waiting until the baby is born.

Although you're still young, consider whacking the maximum of $25k pa into your super fund (or set up a joint fund with the +1 and contribute $25k to each).

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December 27, 2013 - 3:12 am

If you advise the agent that you want to buy the unit, there may be some provision in the managing agency agreement which makes them entitled to a commission as they have introduced the buyer to the owner (yes, there are such clauses).

Do you want to buy the unit because it is a good investment, 'it seemed like a good idea at the time', or just because you like the place and want to continue living there? There may be several other units in the same price range which will make better investments.

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December 26, 2013 - 12:39 am

Matt_Arnold wrote:

Merry Christmas All Is there any theories around what is the best day / time of the month to make the monthly interest payment on a I/O loan linked to an offset account ?

If the money is sitting in your 100% offset account it makes absolutely no difference whether it sits on the mortgage or separate account providing that you do pay.