Hi all and happy new year!!!
I've been thinking about posting this post for the past two months, so I have finally got off my *** to do so.
My issue is this, I have had this place since mid last year and was thinking of either selling it after 12 months or renting it out after 12 months. If I sell it, it's to buy something better and learn from my mistakes and experience in living in a high rise unit for the first time. No CGT after 12 months.
My issues: no air con can be installed in the main bedroom and it gets rather hot during summer/spring and no air circulation even with the bedroom door open. Unit is near a main highway so a lot of ambient noise, so I cannot leave the window open at night. Plus the fact that every time I open the window, I get cigarette smoke smell coming in from some other unit. Possibly from below if smoke rises. If my window had a balcony outside of it, then the smoke would not hit my window, so get a main bedroom with balcony instead of a window in future.
The second most annoying issue is the foot stomping noise I hear from above, someone?s build in wardrobe door sliding and just regular thumbing noise like someone just slammed the door or moving items around. I've stayed over at friend's units long enough before and never heard such noises, so I must be just in a very unlucky unit where people above or above and adjacent to me are just noisy. The noises cause a lot of stress for me and I can't relax. Sometimes I can on my ceiling to let them know. I wonder if they can hear that from me banging below?
I'm in the process to get access the above and lower floor so I can listen for the noise on their floor when it happens in the common area outside the lift. I need to be 100% on who?s making noise and heavy walking so I can make a complaint. I've tried talking to a couple of units above, one started to say I was harassing them and the noise isn?t then, the other I left my number with and they never called me back. Building manager is suggesting we talk to the agent to talk to the landlord above to have carpets replaced. The underlay is 10 years old above and its pretty much gone, so it?s like carpet on concrete.
I have a good feeling I can sell for what I paid plus the stamp duty on top plus agent fees if I sell mid 2015. This would mean I would come back to where I was in terms of cash flow and start again on another place. This time I know what to look out for.
The other option is to hold on to it, rent somewhere else that is cheaper in hope the property will increase further in value in a few years time. However, I am on the side of view that prices will remain stable over the next 3 to 5 years and a possible correction across Sydney if things change in China. Why China, there is a decent percentage of units owned by overseas investors from China. If the real estate market looks brighter in China in the years to come, they will sell here and buy back in their land. I was in China 2 months ago; a lot of new high rises going up. Most are not selling for a reason but when than reason goes, they will buy back in their land and let go what they have here.
The other driving factor for sale after 12 months is the condition. I just renovated the place so it looks new. It will be very attractive for buyers wanting to occupy it. I rent it out for a couple of years and I?m sure the place will look as old as it looked when I bought it.
The final driving factor for sale is the useless large balcony. A lot of wind and dirt lands on the balcony and no privacy even though I am half way up the high rise. Can?t really store anything or put plants on balcony and it will most likely get blown. I feel dirty just standing on the balcony.
The unit is 9 kms from the city and a 15 min train ride to the city. I?m now starting to think of just buying a house out west near Liverpool district and having more freedom and not worry about noises, etc. It would mean more travel time to work.
I've been thinking about posting this post for the past two months, so I have finally got off my *** to do so.
My issue is this, I have had this place since mid last year and was thinking of either selling it after 12 months or renting it out after 12 months. If I sell it, it's to buy something better and learn from my mistakes and experience in living in a high rise unit for the first time. No CGT after 12 months.
My issues: no air con can be installed in the main bedroom and it gets rather hot during summer/spring and no air circulation even with the bedroom door open. Unit is near a main highway so a lot of ambient noise, so I cannot leave the window open at night. Plus the fact that every time I open the window, I get cigarette smoke smell coming in from some other unit. Possibly from below if smoke rises. If my window had a balcony outside of it, then the smoke would not hit my window, so get a main bedroom with balcony instead of a window in future.
The second most annoying issue is the foot stomping noise I hear from above, someone?s build in wardrobe door sliding and just regular thumbing noise like someone just slammed the door or moving items around. I've stayed over at friend's units long enough before and never heard such noises, so I must be just in a very unlucky unit where people above or above and adjacent to me are just noisy. The noises cause a lot of stress for me and I can't relax. Sometimes I can on my ceiling to let them know. I wonder if they can hear that from me banging below?
I'm in the process to get access the above and lower floor so I can listen for the noise on their floor when it happens in the common area outside the lift. I need to be 100% on who?s making noise and heavy walking so I can make a complaint. I've tried talking to a couple of units above, one started to say I was harassing them and the noise isn?t then, the other I left my number with and they never called me back. Building manager is suggesting we talk to the agent to talk to the landlord above to have carpets replaced. The underlay is 10 years old above and its pretty much gone, so it?s like carpet on concrete.
I have a good feeling I can sell for what I paid plus the stamp duty on top plus agent fees if I sell mid 2015. This would mean I would come back to where I was in terms of cash flow and start again on another place. This time I know what to look out for.
The other option is to hold on to it, rent somewhere else that is cheaper in hope the property will increase further in value in a few years time. However, I am on the side of view that prices will remain stable over the next 3 to 5 years and a possible correction across Sydney if things change in China. Why China, there is a decent percentage of units owned by overseas investors from China. If the real estate market looks brighter in China in the years to come, they will sell here and buy back in their land. I was in China 2 months ago; a lot of new high rises going up. Most are not selling for a reason but when than reason goes, they will buy back in their land and let go what they have here.
The other driving factor for sale after 12 months is the condition. I just renovated the place so it looks new. It will be very attractive for buyers wanting to occupy it. I rent it out for a couple of years and I?m sure the place will look as old as it looked when I bought it.
The final driving factor for sale is the useless large balcony. A lot of wind and dirt lands on the balcony and no privacy even though I am half way up the high rise. Can?t really store anything or put plants on balcony and it will most likely get blown. I feel dirty just standing on the balcony.
The unit is 9 kms from the city and a 15 min train ride to the city. I?m now starting to think of just buying a house out west near Liverpool district and having more freedom and not worry about noises, etc. It would mean more travel time to work.