[TroodygMember@troodygJoin Date: 2009Post Count: 24]

October 6, 2010 - 11:43 am

Just heard….

recently we put in an offer on an old abc chilcare centre. At $385k it was a great buy we put in a lower offer but came to this after a week. This was what the recievers wanted. Had we put it in this offer first we could have possibly snaffled it up- as we were the first to see the only sign ,within the week though a few had seen it and we were out bidded at $425. We found out later an aquaitenace bought it and today found out hes just sealed a 30 yr total lease -$75k a year a little bit of work to do but not huge.

Still this is all good in hindsight. and we are happy with out little $150k unit we bought instead- a good reno adding a third bedroom and hope to increase to $240ish with a $25k reno.

Of course then theres all those houses we could have bought in Darwin- and more so the ones we bought but sold earlier!!

[TroodygMember@troodygJoin Date: 2009Post Count: 24]

September 29, 2010 - 1:18 am

Kingandy,

I have no idea about the legalities of the post I just wanted to say sceptic or not good on you anyway for making a stand. I always think even if nothing comes of it at least it may make them consider doing the same thing next time to some else (or get  a better lawyer- yes scepticism can be healthy!)

To give you a bit of a boost we recently had a regular everyday normal friend (normal = not a wealthy ex politician with contacts and influences) who has just done exactly what Paul Keating did and through a year long process and a few court hearings and sticking to his guns, managed to prove that his speeding ticket could not be proven beyond reasonable doubt because they momentarily lost sight of him. He had all his costs paid out to him. Sometimes the little guy can win

[TroodygMember@troodygJoin Date: 2009Post Count: 24]

July 22, 2010 - 1:39 am

Hi Erikmarwood,

It is definately a buyers market in Cairns at present there are some good buys to be had. Are you looking to buy a house or unit?

I would suggest ringing a few property managers and asking them what is renting quicker at the moment and what tenants are looking for. Dont ask a sales agent this question they will all tell you something else and you will get confused. Talking to the property managers will also give you a feel of which ones are efficient and know the market for when you want to rent your investment out.

There is a lot on the market in Southern cairns both to rent and buy- this is great for buying but then there are also a lot of properties to rent which will give you lower yields.  I am not familiar with the amounts on the nth side – I have seen a couple of good renovaters there.

You will be hard pressed to find a house in the central suburbs of Cairns – brinsmead, edge hill whitfield at under $300,000 even in todays market.

I havnt looked a lot into the unit market, though believe there are some good buys with yield over 5% at the moment.

[TroodygMember@troodygJoin Date: 2009Post Count: 24]

July 21, 2010 - 2:36 am

Yes Terryw  we could claim it back if we were GST registered in the entity we were buying- though it isnt- not sure how hard it is to be. we were trying to make a win win situation for the vendor and ourselves – we have put in an offer but of course they want more!

Of course we dont really want to pay more! However we thought if we could get out of the GST  as we only want it as residential, We would be able to pay the price we were prepared to and in fact the vendor would get more than they want because they would not have to pay the GST to the tax dept!

This one is certainly problems all over we thought of some great solutions to- unfortunately there may be to much red tape to make it worthwhile! Not to worry we have a few more angles yet!

[TroodygMember@troodygJoin Date: 2009Post Count: 24]

July 20, 2010 - 12:52 pm

THankyou Terry w and crj – unfortunately a call to ATO today confirms you are right – the current owner is registered for gst and must charge GST on a commercial property regardless of my intent.

If I the current owner changed the use before I bought no GST would be charged however getting this actually achieved is ? fairly unprobable talking to the agent and lawyers. 

[TroodygMember@troodygJoin Date: 2009Post Count: 24]

July 7, 2010 - 10:31 am

I havnt fully looked into it myself however was quoted recently by an investor that in Cairns it is about $60k to move a house locally.

[TroodygMember@troodygJoin Date: 2009Post Count: 24]

June 20, 2010 - 12:35 pm

This Just came through last week

REIA Guidelines to the Trade Practices Act (TPA)Photographic RepresentationsPrepared in collaboration with the ACCCACCC
Statement of Concern
The increase in popularity of advertising via the Internet has seen an increase in complaints to the ACCC about the ‘touching up’ of pictures that appear on these sites. More and more consumers use the Internet as their primary source of information about a product. The ACCC is concerned that photographs of properties which have been touched up to hide undesirable characteristics or enhance other features could mislead consumers.

REIA Guidelines
The REIA reiterates that whether conduct is misleading or deceptive, including the portraying of photographic images, can depend upon the overall impression or the implied representation produced by that conduct. Therefore, agents must ensure that photographic images and other market devices are not used in a manner that can give rise to implied representations that are false or otherwise amount to misleading or deceptive conduct. Consequently:
• Real estate agents must not alter or permit to be altered photographic images of properties, digitally or by other means, such that the images no longer truthfully and fairly represent that property.
• Whether the alteration of a photographic representation is misleading or deceptive will depend upon all of the circumstances. For example, digitally adjusting the exposure of a photograph so as to brighten the lighting of the photograph taken on a dull day may well be legitimate. However, removing television aerials or power poles adjacent to the property; brightening up paint work on a house or over-stating the views that might be achieved from the property may well amount to misleading or deceptive conduct
.• Real estate agents may well be liable for misleading representations contained in photographs that have originated from external sources such as an advertising subcontractor or the vendor. The passing on of such photographs by agents to potential buyers can amount to misleading or deceptive conduct by the agent. Agents would be well advised to ensure that their contracts with advertising sub-contractors include provisions to ensure that the sub-contractors do not engage in misleading and deceptive conduct, including in connection with marketing representations contained in photographs.

• Real estate agents should also bear in mind that it is generally no defence to an action for misleading or deceptive conduct for a real estate agent to claim that the consumer concerned should have checked the information provided by the agent or for the agent to claim that the consumer has failed to make reasonable enquiries.

[TroodygMember@troodygJoin Date: 2009Post Count: 24]

May 21, 2010 - 4:36 am

My Father passed away 2 years ago- We did not have to declare the proceeds from the distribution of his estate- the only thing we did have to declare was income we received from a payout from the insurance benefit on his superfund.

[TroodygMember@troodygJoin Date: 2009Post Count: 24]

May 20, 2010 - 12:12 pm

They have just done this in a big way in Cairns- pushing through development above local council regulations in a hurry to  try to combat our double figure unemployment. There is quite a lot of stuff in the media about it.

They just bought a block further up the road from me just over 1000m2 in the city for over $700,000 (Cairns remember)

Boy do I wish my block was bigger! looking forward to the next suburb stats!

[TroodygMember@troodygJoin Date: 2009Post Count: 24]

April 29, 2010 - 12:11 pm

My mums dog(read 5th child) has now got a tumor! and has to be operated on tommorrow. THe lady who was going to look after mums dogs has been admitted to hopspital today with pluracy! I really am not making this up!!!!

My mum can now not come- after I have already booked her tickets too

After spending the entire afternoon on the phone to various airlines- i can transfer my mums tickets and get a refund on my neices ticket with a doctors letter, and transfer names to my auntie who is chuffed on a free holiday. I really hope plan 3 works because I dont know if weve got the mustard for a plan 4!

At least Im feeling a little better about my auntie and MIL getting on- who have met before- in fact it was MIL idea this time.

Come on Thursday- get me out of here!

[TroodygMember@troodygJoin Date: 2009Post Count: 24]

April 27, 2010 - 11:56 am

Thanks Tracey B, DWolfe and Catfree- yes we have created a logistical nightmare- it is getting so hard now that we refuse to give in!

I think we have sorted it – we now have my mum flying in from brissie to meet up with MIL from Adelaide- and even though partner and I have been together ova 10 yrs- they have never met- because as they say- The wedding never happened did it! (every time we thought about it we decided we would spend the money buying another property instead! in hindsight I wish we thought about it a lot more!)

Anyway- Melbourne here we come!

[TroodygMember@troodygJoin Date: 2009Post Count: 24]

April 25, 2010 - 11:55 pm

We are flying down from Cairns- we think! organised for mother in law and niece to fly up from adelaide to look after kids- now neice has ended up in hospital with an abcess! MIL not agile enough to chase 1 and 5 yr old on own so up the proverbial creek!

We will go to plan 2 -just as soon as we work it out!

We are looking forward to some inspiration especially from the crowd and real people who are just doing it- however as this will (hopefully) be our first time without kids for 4 years we are mostly looking forward to some time away together and look forward to enjoying Melbourne- its been years but I remember it as a really lovely city with a great vibe.

[TroodygMember@troodygJoin Date: 2009Post Count: 24]

April 11, 2010 - 10:58 am

hi Gh, we are the same in cairns, which has had one of the highest employment rate rates in the country at 13%  and while there are people talking of great things to come inn ? years?   vendors still seem to want astronomical prices for property- so we are hearing you there- bit maybe its something we need to get used too?

[TroodygMember@troodygJoin Date: 2009Post Count: 24]

April 6, 2010 - 11:36 am

Wow 5.99 a metre- I need to move to melbourne to do renos!(presuming that is where you are) We dont see prices like that in cairns. The white painted floorboards I saw were definately shabby chic as D Wolfe says. they did have rugs down too- though Im presuming a tenant would pay for these. They didnt look like that they had been freshly painted though didnt look dirty or worn. I guess it may depend on the quality of paint you used.

[TroodygMember@troodygJoin Date: 2009Post Count: 24]

April 4, 2010 - 11:01 am

Hi Jaffa,
Our boards were painted – they had numerous layers on them plus carpet and lino! We ended up sanding them – there was a red layer thats extremely hard to sand off- though came off eventually with some heavy duty sand paper, sweat and tears. There was a bit of a blue layer that did stay in some of the grooves of timber- character- as are the two pieces that have been knawed by termites at some time over the last 100 years- we filled them with epoxy after being quoted $14 lm to get the same timber milled.

We love our floors- word of warning though- we can do most things but  would never sand them ourselves again- It was hard yakka and with soft floors easy to muck up. They are also easy to dent and sometimes its a never ending battle with the kids.

In answer to your question though I have seen some really nice places in my recent inspections with painted floorboards- mostly in off whites. very nice and easier I imagine. I would never use carpet in Cairns though for a rental in melbourne I would think it would be  the cheapest way to go especially in the bedrooms. There are some very good and hardy vinyl/ lino fake timber flooring options out there now for living areas. Or for a more upmarket rental the bamboo floating flooring is classy with an environmental twist. It can generally be put straight over the top of most flooring and comes sealed already.
good luck.

[TroodygMember@troodygJoin Date: 2009Post Count: 24]

March 27, 2010 - 10:03 am

I too get immediately turned off when a property is for auction- though in retrospect there have been times when Ive found out later the property has sold for below what i have expected.

My partner attended a doozy the other day when an aquantaince was at a same auction- they went to bid for a particular property which they got top bid but couldnt contact owner and property was passed in- at the end of the night no properties had been sold – the agents congealed on this person- the only serious buyer for the evening and they ended up buying a property that they had never seen in a location about 150 k's north on a 4wd track from where they believed it to be! Needless to say they have been trying to get out of it since but to no avail. There was certainly two parties tangoing in this madness though for me a re afiirmation of not getting tangled up in auctions!

[TroodygMember@troodygJoin Date: 2009Post Count: 24]

March 16, 2010 - 11:45 pm

Hi Supersapper 42,

We live in Cairns and are always up for a chat.  PM me some details if you like.

[TroodygMember@troodygJoin Date: 2009Post Count: 24]

March 4, 2010 - 6:33 am

Actually its easy fixed- paint the fridge silver- we painted our dodgy old fridge purple when my partner and I feathered our first little unit and it was a great talking point(and worked well) for many years to come.

[TroodygMember@troodygJoin Date: 2009Post Count: 24]

February 15, 2010 - 1:16 am

I Know it dosent help to get your floorboards however there are some very good vinyls out there now that look as suave as floorboards- vinyls have come a long way.  might make life a little easier than arguing with body corporates which from my experience can be very painful and frustrating

[TroodygMember@troodygJoin Date: 2009Post Count: 24]

January 19, 2010 - 1:32 am

I too currently use excel and am looking for something with more functions. What about the investment detective package sold through this site- does anyone know how this compares to Property Manager pro which I have also been considering?