Recent content by Michael Croft

Basically it is always time to revisit your investment strategy. I suspect for those with high lvr's, little margin for rate rises, and the usual potential risks to serviceability, it is time to sell down to a more comfortable level. Fortunately with property being such a slow moving target...

yep, saw this article and wondered about a couple of things. Personal debt is at an all time high, but ability to service that debt is high due to employment stats (rubbery as they are). 30% unemployment rates during the great depression had an effect on serviceability I would have thought...

Yep, my ppor is always the last to be completed, everything else just happens to be a higher priority. In fact the paint is usually still drying at the first exhibition for sale (my ppor's don't make good rentals). The current ppor reno is in it's 3rd year, my wife has even given up...

GSJ, I can only repeat, 'the exception does not disprove the rule'. It is a reasonable buy at this point in time, in a strategic location, showing a modest return (4.95%). No not good timing, but it is a punt based on a gut feel of what will happen to that area long term (20 years). If...

Have to agree with Keith's synopsis and state it again; it's location and timing that will give the best returns. Not one vs t'other, or either/or. They are not mutually exclusive. It may be the time to buy in Invercargill N.Z. based on local factors. It may also be that the town is immune...

Well I cheerfully disagree, again :). I don't think it is a black or white issue, it's shades of grey, or wheels within wheels. If it were simply a matter of local factors or national factors, it would be dead easy for any half intelligent individual to make a motza of timing the next local...

Well, I was 'playing' in that period. It was an absolute boom time in Canberra. Gough Whitlam was in power and many govt. departments were relocating to the bush capital. So big was the boom that a builder I know was offering offering $29,995 house and land packages in Weston Creek and...

There's always exceptions to every rule. And no, I still don't believe the fundamentals are right. MC

Last buy was in mid 2002, settled early 2003 - so 5 years. I'm not really looking yet, just sniffing the wind. MC

It's sold :D MC

Hi, Just got back from a three day break in Berrima NSW. Stayed at 'Troopers Cottage' for 3 nights and it was great. Heritage listed, low key, self cater, nice reno :) and reasonably priced at $650 for the three nights. Sleeps 6 in two double rooms, open fire, 2 bathrooms and so on. No...

Hello Buzz, it depends on your definition of 'win'. Given the 'me tooism' around climate change, water, the environment, etc., it appears The Greens have already won. The Libs and Labor are chasing 'green' policies as fast as their doctors can spin. MC

Agreed. MC

We can always find stats to back up our pet theory. Perth and Tas have had periods of 8 to 10 years of zero growth, and when inflation is taken into account, they fell in real terms. So if a 'flat' 5 years has a 15% growth spike in the middle, that lasts a year, what is that called? Due...

OK, so let's bring it back on topic. Using your theory, explain the following: A prominent business person, employer to hundreds, votes Labor. She does this because in spite the obvious benefits to her financially of voting Liberal. Just the changes to AWA's alone may cost her tens of...