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Been tossing up some ideas as I want to reduce my environmental footprint, but getting stuck on what does actually have some environmental benefit and where the payback period won't be 20+ years! * Solar - we don't have a north-facing roof but seems this idea could be worth investigating *...

Hi all, Recently I've been thinking about genetics and how my brain is wired. (In my family going back 2-3 generations, there is a clear anxious/OCD streak and also an ASD streak (autism spectrum disorder) - not saying necessarily the two things are linked, just saying that you can recognise...

So I just noticed I haven't raised the rents on an IP for a while. Got in touch with the PM and basically said: In August last year the rent was raised from $275 pw to $285 pw. Is there any scope for a $5 pw to $10 pw rent increase? Could you please review and let me know. By the way, are...

Hi all, For my first 3 IPs I did the typical newbie mistake of putting in cash for the 20% deposits. I now understand what I should have done instead - and apart from using a time machine, there's no way to change what has been done already. Lately I've been toying with the idea of...

So I probably should have researched this before I bought a place, but... how much does it cost to add a 2nd storey to an existing house? Let's say I wanted to add 3 bedrooms (including a master bedroom with WIR and ensuite) and 1 bathroom. Maybe 60-80 sqm all up. I'd like it to be done...

There is a really interesting fact sheet here which might be of interest to NSW investors. http://www.osr.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/file_manager/ofs_lt06_1.pdf To summarise (directly from page 2) If A & B jointly own Property 1 with a land value of $800k, and Mr A wholly owns...

Hi all, I am curious about how it would work if I use equity in multiple IPs to fund my next IP deposit. For example: IP1 - $80k equity IP2 - $50k equity Total equity - $130k Let's suppose I wanted to buy an IP worth $650k, putting down 20% deposit ($130k). How would one be able...

Despite their assurances that they would not, they've dumped a couple hundred grand of refinanced $$ STRAIGHT INTO THE OFFSET ACCOUNT OMG the customer service rep does not know what an offset account is and thinks I mean offshore.

http://htw.com.au/Month_in_Review/Month-in-Review-July-2014.pdf Sydney just got bumped up to peak of market for both units and houses. Happy days for those already in the market but I'm planning on buying another IP in Sydney and now I'm a bit worried if HTW is calling it the peak. Any...

Dear SS brains trust, I'm (wishfully) thinking about developing in Sydney's inner west - doing something like a knockdown-rebuild and putting a duplex on the block. One half of the duplex would be our PPOR and the other half I'd keep/sell depending on the situation. Main problem though is...

Saw a lovely house on the market and was wondering what the feature in the photograph is called. Advantages / disadvantages? Probably quite cold to heat in winter due to the glass; also gets hot in summer? Needs double glazing perhaps? If we were to do a home build or extension with...

Hi all, Not sure if anybody here remembers me but hello SS! Good to be back. I can see some familiar names about and the forum bantering is pretty much the same :D Just some background story if anybody cares: bought IP3 in mount druitt 2 years ago, followed by a serious health crisis, wasn't...

Hi SS! I have a dilemma... I need to cook something for some elderly Australians from the country, on the weekend. I have NO idea what to do...! Started googling for country womens association (CWA)-type recipes but I have no idea if I'm on the right track or not. I normally cook Asian...

Thanks to what I have learned on the good ship Somersoft... I have taken out my first loan split and LOC. I didn't realise it was so easy to access equity. Should really have done it earlier and purchased IPs with equity, but there you go, lesson learned. I'm starting to understand how people...

I guess that the best time of year to buy an IP is when a cracker of a deal pops up... however I'm just wondering if anyone has noticed that you can get more bargains at the end of year around December when sellers feel like they are desperate to sell before the Christmas break. We are...

If you google "EBM insurance" and click on their google ad, or use the promo code webpromo1, you get 2 months free. My EBM insurance was up for renewal with no discount. While shopping around I noticed I could get 2 months free by going to their website and signing up again... Seems like...

Just wondering if accountants are able to give general advice about fixing loans etc, or if this is something I should be asking my mortgage broker. I negotiated some 3 year rates with WBC (not as good as 5.99% pa but close enough to 6.1%) and I'm just trying to decide whether to take it up...

Someone has sprayed a graffiti tag on my PPOR! :mad: I might contact council to see if they have any way of dealing with the graffiti otherwise I'll just scrub it off myself - any cleaning recs? It's on a painted brick wall. Also it is worth reporting to police (perhaps overkill, I'm sure...

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/its-just-a-washing-machine-landlord-attacked-during-delivery-20111202-1o9sy.html Occupational hazard of being a LL?

Hi! I currently subscribe to API which is great but saw that you can get 2 years of Money Magazine subscription for the price of 1 year (ie. 2 years = $50) and was wondering if it's worth subscribing to this one too... Any thoughts on money magazine? http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/56294 My...