31 October 2010

Property Investment Advice?

| justsomeaussie
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Hi,

I’m looking to find a company to provide me with independent investment property advice.

I’d appreciated any personal experiences people have with Canberra companies, or even better negative experiences so I know who to steer clear from.

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GrumpyStumpy8:02 pm 11 Oct 12

My experience with The Investors Club over the past 14 years is that they are a group of like minded individuals helping others to make there way through the investment property maze. My involvement has certainly boosted my meager super to a point where I was able to retire at an age that leaves time to enjoy it!

Overheard said :

NoImRight said :

Given its a business website it seemed appropriate to suggest looking at making better. Hardly having a crack at them.If it was just a post by someone I would have let it go. I made no judgements about the person involved and managed to avoid schoolyard name calling in saying it. Your inability to express an opinion without resorting to dated cliches and desperate attempts at bon mots doesnt give you the credibilty to lecture anyone about how or what they write

Salad dodger.

Ah, point missed. Again.

My final word on this (since surely you should be back in school at 1:29pm) is that if you start to practice what you preach, and tidy your own writing up (i.e. use an apostrophe or three) then it just might help you get that after-school job at McScottish.

Your point wasnt missed, you just didnt make one.There I go with those darn postrifies again..sigh…how will the internet survive?

Its tedious enough seeing you drone on without any concept in this thread. Why would I want to be your boss on the drive through window?

Im done with this anyway you seem to be quite the expert on writing but no idea on reading. Besides it must be hard for you to keep typing with just one hand.

The Investor’s club quite openly state that they take commissions: you are paying them the equivalent of what you would pay to a real estate agent completing your sale. Out of this commission come the fees for buyer’s agents, conveyancing, mortgage brokers and administration of the company.

Contrast that to the service you get from a real estate agent which is … introducing you to the property. You then have to pay conveyancing out of your own pocket. Sure, you might be smart enough to do Queensland conveyancing on your own. More power to you.

NoImRight said :

Given its a business website it seemed appropriate to suggest looking at making better. Hardly having a crack at them.If it was just a post by someone I would have let it go. I made no judgements about the person involved and managed to avoid schoolyard name calling in saying it. Your inability to express an opinion without resorting to dated cliches and desperate attempts at bon mots doesnt give you the credibilty to lecture anyone about how or what they write

Salad dodger.

Ah, point missed. Again.

My final word on this (since surely you should be back in school at 1:29pm) is that if you start to practice what you preach, and tidy your own writing up (i.e. use an apostrophe or three) then it just might help you get that after-school job at McScottish.

Given its a business website it seemed appropriate to suggest looking at making better. Hardly having a crack at them.If it was just a post by someone I would have let it go. I made no judgements about the person involved and managed to avoid schoolyard name calling in saying it. Your inability to express an opinion without resorting to dated cliches and desperate attempts at bon mots doesnt give you the credibilty to lecture anyone about how or what they write

Salad dodger.

NoImRight said :

Overheard said :

NoImRight said :

Overheard said :

NoImRight said :

cassmith said :

Hi, I don’t like blowing my own trumpet but if you want independant property advice on all financial aspects visit http://www.wfscanberra.com.au for “Wholistic Financial Solutions”
Regards
Catherine Smith

You might just want to run the old spell check over that site 🙂 Plus consider what does and doesnt need a capital. Im not perfect either and yes its beside the point, Im being pedantic, who cares etc. All those comments would be true.

Just a personal bug when looking at a business if it cant get basics right I tend to move on

Um, beg pardon? This from someone who wouldn’t know an apostrophe if it jumped up and started having contractions in their face?

Overreact much.Did you see the part where I said Im not perfect? That would include times I type in a hurry and dont check it. You can probably find a bunch of times on here Ive done that. Oops there I go again! Then again Im not using a website to promote my business so my failings as a typist really only affect me and it seems you.

It was a minor point and done with no malice but please feel free to keep climbing that moral high ground you are so keen to get to though 😉

Right. I’m over-reacting. Just because I don’t do smiley faces doesn’t mean….. see it was the use of the word ‘contractions’ that sort of gives it away. I guess I could have added ‘See what I did there?’ but I didn’t really think it needed that much literal translation.

Sorry that you seem to be so possessive. (See what I did there?)

But seriously, think about the occasional apostrophe. Makes you look less like an eighth-grader. Which you could almost get away with if you weren’t beating up someone else for their under-capitalisation. (See what I….)

My typing is pants and I can rarely be bothered going back to fix it so your sad little attempt to be patronising is wasted.By the way WE dont have an eighth grade. Its Year Eight. Try to include less American sitcom stuff when pretending youre using your own witty banter. Oh noes I used different yours and I didnt put in postrophies . Only Underdone (See what I did there?)can save the world!

Yeah, newsflash, brainiac: you were the one who started this by having a crack at someone over their formatting and expression. So tuck yourself up back in that glass house and, I don’t know, get stoned rather than throw them.

Oxygen thief.

Overheard said :

NoImRight said :

Overheard said :

NoImRight said :

cassmith said :

Hi, I don’t like blowing my own trumpet but if you want independant property advice on all financial aspects visit http://www.wfscanberra.com.au for “Wholistic Financial Solutions”
Regards
Catherine Smith

You might just want to run the old spell check over that site 🙂 Plus consider what does and doesnt need a capital. Im not perfect either and yes its beside the point, Im being pedantic, who cares etc. All those comments would be true.

Just a personal bug when looking at a business if it cant get basics right I tend to move on

Um, beg pardon? This from someone who wouldn’t know an apostrophe if it jumped up and started having contractions in their face?

Overreact much.Did you see the part where I said Im not perfect? That would include times I type in a hurry and dont check it. You can probably find a bunch of times on here Ive done that. Oops there I go again! Then again Im not using a website to promote my business so my failings as a typist really only affect me and it seems you.

It was a minor point and done with no malice but please feel free to keep climbing that moral high ground you are so keen to get to though 😉

Right. I’m over-reacting. Just because I don’t do smiley faces doesn’t mean….. see it was the use of the word ‘contractions’ that sort of gives it away. I guess I could have added ‘See what I did there?’ but I didn’t really think it needed that much literal translation.

Sorry that you seem to be so possessive. (See what I did there?)

But seriously, think about the occasional apostrophe. Makes you look less like an eighth-grader. Which you could almost get away with if you weren’t beating up someone else for their under-capitalisation. (See what I….)

My typing is pants and I can rarely be bothered going back to fix it so your sad little attempt to be patronising is wasted.By the way WE dont have an eighth grade. Its Year Eight. Try to include less American sitcom stuff when pretending youre using your own witty banter. Oh noes I used different yours and I didnt put in postrophies . Only Underdone (See what I did there?)can save the world!

HenryBG said :

What a fantastic idea!

The top of the bubble is absolutely the best time to be investing in property.

Snort. Every day, there’s another one born, isn’t there?

The bubble has been slowly deflating for a couple of years now. A few more and we’ll be ready for some more decent rises.

NoImRight said :

Overheard said :

NoImRight said :

cassmith said :

Hi, I don’t like blowing my own trumpet but if you want independant property advice on all financial aspects visit http://www.wfscanberra.com.au for “Wholistic Financial Solutions”
Regards
Catherine Smith

You might just want to run the old spell check over that site 🙂 Plus consider what does and doesnt need a capital. Im not perfect either and yes its beside the point, Im being pedantic, who cares etc. All those comments would be true.

Just a personal bug when looking at a business if it cant get basics right I tend to move on

Um, beg pardon? This from someone who wouldn’t know an apostrophe if it jumped up and started having contractions in their face?

Overreact much.Did you see the part where I said Im not perfect? That would include times I type in a hurry and dont check it. You can probably find a bunch of times on here Ive done that. Oops there I go again! Then again Im not using a website to promote my business so my failings as a typist really only affect me and it seems you.

It was a minor point and done with no malice but please feel free to keep climbing that moral high ground you are so keen to get to though 😉

Right. I’m over-reacting. Just because I don’t do smiley faces doesn’t mean….. see it was the use of the word ‘contractions’ that sort of gives it away. I guess I could have added ‘See what I did there?’ but I didn’t really think it needed that much literal translation.

Sorry that you seem to be so possessive. (See what I did there?)

But seriously, think about the occasional apostrophe. Makes you look less like an eighth-grader. Which you could almost get away with if you weren’t beating up someone else for their under-capitalisation. (See what I….)

steele_blade4:34 pm 04 Oct 12

NoImRight said :

Overheard said :

NoImRight said :

cassmith said :

Hi, I don’t like blowing my own trumpet but if you want independant property advice on all financial aspects visit http://www.wfscanberra.com.au for “Wholistic Financial Solutions”
Regards
Catherine Smith

You might just want to run the old spell check over that site 🙂 Plus consider what does and doesnt need a capital. Im not perfect either and yes its beside the point, Im being pedantic, who cares etc. All those comments would be true.

Just a personal bug when looking at a business if it cant get basics right I tend to move on

Um, beg pardon? This from someone who wouldn’t know an apostrophe if it jumped up and started having contractions in their face?

Overreact much.Did you see the part where I said Im not perfect? That would include times I type in a hurry and dont check it. You can probably find a bunch of times on here Ive done that. Oops there I go again! Then again Im not using a website to promote my business so my failings as a typist really only affect me and it seems you.

It was a minor point and done with no malice but please feel free to keep climbing that moral high ground you are so keen to get to though 😉

Hurry over to this thread everyone, its an apostrophe fight! Or should that be “it’s an apostrophe” fight. Hell, I’ve just gone from the sidelines to the middle of the battleground.

Overheard said :

NoImRight said :

cassmith said :

Hi, I don’t like blowing my own trumpet but if you want independant property advice on all financial aspects visit http://www.wfscanberra.com.au for “Wholistic Financial Solutions”
Regards
Catherine Smith

You might just want to run the old spell check over that site 🙂 Plus consider what does and doesnt need a capital. Im not perfect either and yes its beside the point, Im being pedantic, who cares etc. All those comments would be true.

Just a personal bug when looking at a business if it cant get basics right I tend to move on

Um, beg pardon? This from someone who wouldn’t know an apostrophe if it jumped up and started having contractions in their face?

Overreact much.Did you see the part where I said Im not perfect? That would include times I type in a hurry and dont check it. You can probably find a bunch of times on here Ive done that. Oops there I go again! Then again Im not using a website to promote my business so my failings as a typist really only affect me and it seems you.

It was a minor point and done with no malice but please feel free to keep climbing that moral high ground you are so keen to get to though 😉

What a fantastic idea!

The top of the bubble is absolutely the best time to be investing in property.

Snort. Every day, there’s another one born, isn’t there?

NoImRight said :

cassmith said :

Hi, I don’t like blowing my own trumpet but if you want independant property advice on all financial aspects visit http://www.wfscanberra.com.au for “Wholistic Financial Solutions”
Regards
Catherine Smith

You might just want to run the old spell check over that site 🙂 Plus consider what does and doesnt need a capital. Im not perfect either and yes its beside the point, Im being pedantic, who cares etc. All those comments would be true.

Just a personal bug when looking at a business if it cant get basics right I tend to move on

Um, beg pardon? This from someone who wouldn’t know an apostrophe if it jumped up and started having contractions in their face?

cassmith said :

Hi, I don’t like blowing my own trumpet but if you want independant property advice on all financial aspects visit http://www.wfscanberra.com.au for “Wholistic Financial Solutions”
Regards
Catherine Smith

You might just want to run the old spell check over that site 🙂 Plus consider what does and doesnt need a capital. Im not perfect either and yes its beside the point, Im being pedantic, who cares etc. All those comments would be true.

Just a personal bug when looking at a business if it cant get basics right I tend to move on

Hi, I don’t like blowing my own trumpet but if you want independant property advice on all financial aspects visit http://www.wfscanberra.com.au for “Wholistic Financial Solutions”
Regards
Catherine Smith

2604 said :

a glance at the TIC website reveals that it’s involved in property development and mortgage broking – so it is definitely a for-profit venture with an interest in luring people into socking their money into real estate.

Absolutely! TIC is simply a real estate agent in disguise. They get kick-backs (they call it “commission” in their literature) from developers whose property they on-sell.

By and large, the Investors’ Club and other such fora are confirmation traps aimed at unsophisticated investors who think that they can’t lose with property and are suspicious of any other type of investment. In fact, a glance at the TIC website reveals that it’s involved in property development and mortgage broking – so it is definitely a for-profit venture with an interest in luring people into socking their money into real estate. You’d get an honest and more objective viewpoint elsewhere.

I suggest looking at John T. Reed’s website. He is a property commentator who gives a more balanced and realistic view of what’s involved with being a landlord. Try the following:
http://www.johntreed.com/beginner.html
http://www.johntreed.com/realestatemistakes.html

Go talk to someone who is doing what you want to do and pick their brain. My uncle is a bit of a property mogul so I get my advice from him. So far I have 2…compared to his 17!!!

Affirmative Action Man9:09 am 01 Nov 10

I agree – do your own research. Look nationally. Check returns in say Derby – WA & Qld mining towns.

If you buy in big cities – check how close it is to public transport always get something close to CBD.

Check out the Investors Club – they have a web site, advise on property investment & are pretty much not for profit.

I have had experience with Dixon Advisory and found them very good – I know they have property investment advisors.

After a quick look at their website I found http://www.dixon.com.au/Services/Property-advice.aspx

They’re originally a Canberra company now with additional offices in Sydney and Melbourne.

I agree with GG, there are a multitude of different strategies that you can use to invest in property and you shouldn’t limit yourself to just residential property if you are serious. Independent advice is expensive and you can do a lot of the work yourself. Every dollar you spend on advice is a dollar less you make in profit. Property investing isn’t for everyone, you need to put in a lot of time to get consistent rewards.

As an example, my parents buy cheap land in areas that are next to areas that are doing well. They hold the property for a number of years and build a house, shed, fencing, landscaping and fruit trees/veggie garden. When the area picks up (because the area next to it becomes overpriced or the area gets new services to make it attractive) they have a fully established home for people to buy. My dad is a builder so he can do most of the work himself to keep it cheap and my mum is pretty handy with a shovel and plants. It is a good strategy for them and has built them up enough money to retire early in a self sufficient house near the coast.

It works because they have the time and skills to make it work. If I tried to do the same I would fail because I don’t have the time. I would prefer to use my knowledge of real estate markets to invest in commercial/industrial properties in major centres.

I agree – save your money and seek advice from the several successful smallscale property investors on this board!
As a first step, if you are on a medium income of $80 – $120,000, make sure you spend three months living exactly as though you are paying for an investment property, including all the risks and insurances and “no tenant” periods. It will probably mean a $300 a week drop in your discretionary income. Less drinking, fewer restaurant meals, possibly no OS holidays, possibly for quite some years.
All those property investors who feature on A Current Affair as having built up a massive property portfolio have been mean & frugal for years.
Personally, although in an OK income bracket to invest in property, I’ve recognised that I couldn’t forgo my cultural and fun spending to buy an investment property or three.
My most important advice though, is do NOT invest in Queensland. There is no cooling off period there, so if a property “guru” wants to fly you to SE Queensland to check out property, it isn’t because you matter. It’s that they want you signing on the dotted line with no recourse.
Good luck!

georgesgenitals4:49 pm 31 Oct 10

I’ve never used independent advice. Frankly, I think you’d be better off getting onto some Australian property investment forums, doing a bunch of reading and asking some questions. You’ll be surprised at just how much information is out there, and how helpful some people can be.

Despite what some people say, I don’t believe there is a ‘magic formula’ – it’s more about working out how you could use an asset class (eg residential property) to push toward your financial goals. Your goals should drive your actions, and there are many different ways to invest in property. Forget all the crap about ‘property always doubles every X years’ and ‘reducing your tax is the most important thing’, if you want to invest in property you’ll need to learn how it all fits together yourself.

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