Mildly funny...

Thought I'd share...

http://www.somersoft.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58395

It's amusing...for a little while....It's tagged as "funny advertising", but in reality, it's just sort of funny.

A quick shout out to another one of my blogs...

I have just started up another blog and thought you may be interested....1680by1050 is a collection of photography made by either myself or my wife, that is suitable for widescreen wallpapers. It is only amateur photography, but you never know, someone may see the hidden talent. Slowly, day by day, more and more photos will find their way onto the blog, who knows, maybe there's one you like???

Anyway, check it out at http://1680by1050.blogspot.com/

Ciao....

Cheap...

This property is a bit of a bargain. Looks neat, low 400's and probably could get it even cheaper. Check it out..great part of Brissie...

Want cheap land???

This 100 acre block is selling for $1400/acre!!!! This is definitely a go ahead area...if I had the cash I would have snapped this up ages ago...it's been on the market for a little while, I'm sure they're open to offers...

A few weeks later in investment land...

Not a lot has happened in terms of my portfolio this past few weeks and it seems not a lot is happening across Australia, with loan approvals down and from my perspective, a lot of houses sitting idol. This begs the question, if, and I do mean, IF we have an interest rate rise in February/March, will property totally stall? It's possible....demand seems to have dropped, albeit I think on a psychological level more than anything.

I am now constantly thinking of downgrading my investments. At the moment, I am shelling out a fair amount of cash in meeting repayments, insurance costs, rates and the occasional maintenance on my IPs. I know, I know, it's negatively geared, but I'm starting to get a bit sick of it. In the 5 years or so since I started on this journey, at no time have I felt that my efforts are so worthless. At no time did I think of "offloading" property just to increase cash flow. Could it be me, have I changed? Have I listened to the media too much with the doom and gloom predictions? Yeah, sure, Brisbane seems to be going ahead, but my other investments, for example the one in Toowoomba that I am trying to sell, is static. The block of 28 acres I have 40 minutes form the Hobart CBD has not moved an inch since the GFC. I suppose I'm feeling a new feeling, a period of no growth, of uncertainty, except now with interest rate rises.

I have also noticed that I no longer have an urge to bring up the topic as much as I used to and people are not as interested to pick my brain about the topic. This is a good and a bad thing....I always get into the downward spiral of fighting mini battles with hypocritical people who don't invest and then continue on to tell me that houses are too expensive. On the other hand, I like discussing property investing with people because often I get a little insight into someone else's head, someone else's mindset about money and property.

Anyway, I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, I have a little baby on the way, so I probably won't be posting as frequently as I have in the past...

Ciao...

OMG...rates are climbing faster than I thought..

Before I could even finish my favourite 2 piece feed from KFC, interest rates have jumped by a MF HUGE 75 base points. The fact that rates are on the way up does not in itself pose a real issue for my portfolio, or the portfolios of most investors I assume, but the rate of the increases is alarming. Three consecutive rises, three more attempts to subdue the good old inflationary influences and already, people are beginning to question the market. Are we heading for a mini USA (dare I say it) "sub-prime-like" offloading? Possibly...I am looking at discounting one of my properties, just to free up some cash flow, but still....people are buying...the new trend feature on realestate.com.au (which as an investor I absolutely love) is showing increased interest in properties across Australia. So a dilemma....should I wait, with minimal cash flow, or discount and sell....just to have better SANF.

Meh...I'll leave the thinking till after Christmas I think....

I hate lazy REAL ESTATE AGENTS!

This in-depth, thoughtful and utterly true title is brought to you by the letter AGENTS, and the number SUCK!!!

Because, seriously, it's hard to make a phone call for a few thousand dollars, or heaven forbid, a happy client, isn't it???

RANT OVER!!!

Hang on a sec, no it isn't...property managers are worse....FIX THE MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS YOU BLOODY LAZY OFFICE CHICKS!!!!