HI, have you thought about getting your accountant to lodge a tax variation ( I can't remember the correct title) that will increase your week to week cashflow rather than receiving a lump sum come tax time?Large regional areas can often provide better cashflow, although they may not provide a great capital growth return. Also look at buying in…[Read more]

Hi, What exactly are you using a surveyor for? Their roles and areas of expertise are completely different.cheersSonya

HiI haven't bought anything for christmas for my tenants, one has only been in the property for a month. However, my other tenant has been in my first IP since i purchased it and i bought them some movie tickets about two months ago as a 'thank you' for being good tenants who have been completely trouble free for the last two years.cheers…

HI Have you tried contacting the rental bond board/agency in TAS? I would imagine that they should have a record of the lease agreement in order to lodge the bond with them. I would also be looking at engaging a better more efficient agent.Good LuckSonya

HI rachie, Another idea that I have seen is people renting out a room, or in your case their garage to people who need storage, perhaps while travelling overseas for 3 or 6 months. I know if you have a self storage unit that the person who rents the unit gets their own contents insurance as insurance for their property. They hen have a lock and…[Read more]

Hi I found my financing an absolute nightmare!! My morgage broker took so long to get things organised, more than three months and there were additional costs whichI can't understand given that there were two rate rises before settlement as well as having paid three extra months of interest payments. I will be going over these loans with a fine…[Read more]

Hi,i have bought cashflow positive properties in large regional areas, some investors prefer to only buy in cities, but I am happy wih the returns I am getting on my properties. Perhaps get a property manager in to have a look at your property and to give you some information regrading how much it would rent for as is. Is the property 3 mins walk…[Read more]

I asked the same question at ANZ and got the same responsecheersSonya

I would be putting as much money as possible into your offset account to reduce the interest that you are paying on the PPOR. Is the offset a 100% offset? Also have you thought about refinancing your loan on the IP? I have just refinanced two IP loans that were at slightly higher interest rates to yours down to 5.29%. my loan repayments for both…[Read more]

HI i have two, soon to be three, investment properties that I have never physically been to or seen. I do my research on an area and if I am happy with the area then I look for a suitable property, make an offer and have the building and pest inspections carried out. If these all come back good then I go ahead. A good idea is to talk to a number…[Read more]

Lower Blue Mountains, great fresh air, excellent bushwalks, country town feel but close enough to 'the big smoke!'cheersSonya

My ex-husband organised for a real estate agent to go and view our home and was in the process of drawing up contracts for the agent to list the house for sale when I contacted the agent and told him that I was a joint owner and as far as I was concerned he had no right to be listing the home for sale without my permission! i don't know whether my…[Read more]

Can I ask why you are not using your line of credit to pay your deposit? With  $140K available you would have a sizeable deposit for one or more properties, well above the 20% usually required as a deposit. cheers  Sonya

Hi Jaime,I am also single with three children and I have purchased my PPOR and two investment properties in the last two years since getting divorced.The first thing that you need to do is determine how much money or equity you have available as a deposit on a property as well as determining your weekly cashflow so that you know how much money you…[Read more]

Hi Loosenut,In response to your question regarding books to read, head to your local library and see what they have on the shelf. I have found that Australian authors are better to read as  the information that they provide is relevant to Australia as opposed to the US or UK. I personally like Margaret Lomas as she writes things in a clear and…[Read more]

Apologies,i just reread your post and saw that you mentioned that you don't have other debts.CheersSonya

Hi, even though you have not drawn any money from your line of credit, the bank will still factor in this available amount of money as though you have already drawn this line of credit out to it's total limit. Therefore they would be working on a loan amount of $370,000 that you are liable for. You have not mentioned if you have any credit cards…[Read more]

I woul also make sure that you have photo documentation of the damage before you carry out any repairs or cleaning. Also can you get a copy of the original leasing agreement where the tenant and property manager notes any existing marks on the wall and carpet etc? This may also support your case for with holding their bond for more than fair wear…[Read more]

Hi if you are planning to rent the unit when you are not using it then you would need to be aware of any tax implications of using the property for your own personal use. Check with the tax office regarding how many days you are permitted to use the property before it is no longer considered an investment property. You may be better off buying…[Read more]

HI Scott, i have bought all my properties sight unseen including a property that is interstte. my solicitors simply liased with interstate solicitors that they have had experience with. The property management has been ahndled by the same real estate agent which I bought thru on two occasions. On the other occasions I have telephoned around for…[Read more]