I should say that we also have success stories, but they were more accidental and there isn't much to learn from them.S

OK, I'll go first.This is a non success story (OK, I'll say it, a FAILURE)Getting all excited about the mining boom in a nearby town, we entered into what looked like an exciting opportunity to subdivide/reconfigure a few blocks of land and resell.  The agent was a local Councilor (as in local govt, not as in psych), smoothly made it sound like…[Read more]

Why are you selling at such a loss?  What is the scope to recoup your loss if you hold?

I've never done any hard core reno, but I've done the freshen up, painting, gardening etc etc.  I've learnt a great value in using the little shops.  You know, the little paint shop on the corner that is owned an run by a guy who has been in paint his whole life and can give you just the best advice.  You may pay a bit more for his product (I fo…[Read more]

hbbehrendorff wrote:
And Shales… are you laughing at me ? Do you think I have been shamed and debunked ? I don't think so.

Never thought you were quite so sensitive, HB.  Go back and reread the thread.  I wasn't laughing at you.  I don't think you have been shamed or debunked.  You should know by now that I take a middle ground which acc…[Read more]

Don't panic.  I'm just having a laugh. I'll have to stop that.Sorry.Serious investor stuff only from now on.. S

harb wrote:

SHales wrote:
Fair enough.  And as discussed here somewhere before, a variety of ideas makes the debate more interesting, challenges our opinions and furthers our education.

And I can vouch for that. Trying to re-educate ummester and turn him into a property investor is very challenging but I haven't gave up on him yet. 

I ca…[Read more]

May I suggest that such a thead could also contain non success stories.  Many of us have learned much from our mistakes.  These stories might also be a good inclusion in such a thread.S

ummester wrote:

SHales wrote:
Why, unmester, if you don't want to ever own any real estate other than your own PPOR are you such an active participant on a property investors forum?

Where better to fight snakes than the viper pit:) Nah – it's 'coz every few months I enjoy shooting the breeze with Harb, as he seems to with me. We are both sure…[Read more]

Wow!How did we get to rich is bad?  Why, unmester, if you don't want to ever own any real estate other than your own PPOR are you such an active participant on a property investors forum? All very interesting ideas.  It is necessary to recognise that resources are scarce, and that if you are to increase your own wealth, it will be at the expense o…[Read more]

doubledown trent wrote:
I'm just pointing to the scoreboard.

Hope you like egg…..

doubledown trent wrote:
I think people who are so absolute in their opinions are dangerous, and should be challenged on their thoughts and opinions. 

It is good for us all to have our thoughts and opinions challenged, debate refines our thinking, and often adds to our education.  Most of us have a fairly elastic approach to learning which al…[Read more]

Contact the local council with the address and see if they can help.  Privacy Act might get in the way, though it hasn't actually got in my way yet (at least for this purpose, but I'm talking about rural, not city councils).

What is it worth TO YOU?  10% under at least.  I'd be starting to feel a little cheeky at 20% unless I had some reason to feel that the property was overpriced to begin with.  But then, lots of cheap offers will sooner or later get you a cheap property.  You should have a feel for what to offer, though, from talking to the agent, looking at the…[Read more]

J,Pay off your small debts first. Sure, roll it into your home loan if that doesn't cost too much to redraw (if necessary), but there is a danger with this, because then you will be able to bok your credit card up again.  So, if you do roll everything into your homeloan, make your credit card max at $1000 so you can't make the same mistake…[Read more]

I think you've got it pretty well covered.  I like the paper the best cause in my market it is the primary marketing tool for property, and I really enjoy reading through it on a Saturday morning.  Or I did, have to say I'm getting a little sick of waiting and waiting for what I think will happen in the market.  I find the websites to be a fair wa…[Read more]

no

Definetely, the circumstances are different for a whole heap of reasons.  Your point here was also well made in an API mag article a month or so ago.  And I agree, we probably won't see a market decline here quite like what has been witnessed in the US, with houses selling for $5000 etc, but I still think that some people just won't be able to c…[Read more]

My main gripe with Labor at a state level is their tendency to pander to the SE corner of QLD and forget everyone else, in particular the farming communities.  They seemingly do anything to satisfy the green agenda, at great expense to agricultural production.  Just before the election they placed a moratorium on the clearing of REGROWTH.  Now gr…[Read more]

No argument there.  It is a scary scenario, and the possibility had occurred to me.  Here I see some much better educated and informed people than I share my concerns.