Search results

  1. joeExpat

    Rewarding good tenants

    I used to reward them in Sydney by just never increasing the rent, only doing that between tenancies. As a renter (mostly overseas but Sydney and Brisbane also) I've never experienced inspections, the owners have never asked to see inside the property I live in unless there is some maintenance...
  2. joeExpat

    critique my business idea: alcohol

    Depends what country you are coming from but usually the answer is ZERO. You are not allowed to take liquids on the plane at all, including duty free zipped up alcohol. It WILL be confiscated. Only Australia and the USA do this. Thailand duty free does not sell to people on flights to...
  3. joeExpat

    Changes / tightening on servicing for investors

    They need to be regulated hard as soon as possible. This is what party happened in Spain, although the major banks were well regulated and among the most prudent in Europe (lesser so at the peak of the bubble) they were sideswiped by the smaller regional banks which were funded from abroad (eg...
  4. joeExpat

    Fifa controversy

    Surely cricket takes the prize as the most boring sport. A lot of countries are scared of FIFA.
  5. joeExpat

    Negative Gearing

    The voting population using Negative Gearing is huge, over 1.2 million. This is the main reason why NG remains and was reinstated in the 1980s, nothing to do with affordability or rents. A lot of these NG voters would be more marginal / central than the current NG opposition, which is picking up...
  6. joeExpat

    Negative Gearing

    This is law in some countries. when rates dropped in Switzerland when I lived there tenants could apply for rent reduction and the owner was usually legally required to oblige.
  7. joeExpat

    Do you know your neighbours names?

    Sometimes yes, usually no... now in Spain yes (they introduced themselves to me). In London slightly. In Switzerland yes. In USA no. In Sydney no, except when Ken Done was my neighbor in Mosman (Sydney), I knew him but he didnt know me.
  8. joeExpat

    What is your (extra) day off worth?

    Me too, I chucked in a 200K job in Switzerland (A country I love and lived in for 10 years) to be unemployed in Spain (where my kids live). Dont regret it a bit, although when possible I still go back to CH sometimes.
  9. joeExpat

    How much do you spend a year (living expenses)?

    In AUD Rent 12K Child support 20K (biggie for a lot of blokes I reckon) Health insurance 3K (inc. kids) Basics 12K (food, transport, clothes, utilities) Extras 8K (holidays, beer, restaurants, presents, etc) total expenditure >> income, going backwards but will probably last this...
  10. joeExpat

    The B word.

    John Paulson http://www.amazon.com/Greatest-Trade-Ever-Behind-Scenes/dp/0385529945
  11. joeExpat

    Changes / tightening on servicing for investors

    Restricting LVR to investors is a prudent move but maybe a little too late. 20% across the board is pretty reasonable. Many other countries use similar maximum LVRs now to investors to control rampant speculation, Switzerland is 80%, UK 75%, Ireland and Spain 70 to 75%.
  12. joeExpat

    Potential negative gearing changes

    The Capital Gains tax discount was withdrawn suddenly for non residents in 2012. It was the main reason I sold a while later as the non-discounted period was eating into the capital gain as time passed (pre May 2012 remained discounted). I expect the same will happen for residents before...
  13. joeExpat

    Nepal Earthquake

    Link to Red Cross is solicitation ? oh well... Well over 7000 dead now, and 75% of Kathmandu damaged. Some villages completely wiped out. Spare a thought and some cash (tax deductible !), it makes most of our problems look quite trivial.
  14. joeExpat

    May 2015 rate cut leaked?

    "The RBA saw improving trends in household demand and growth in the employment sector, hinting that the chances of further easing in the upcoming months may be relatively low" - DailyFX
  15. joeExpat

    May 2015 rate cut leaked?

    The AUD has strengthened quite well after this cut, not weakened. They have cut enough, no more please. Would prefer to see rates rising again sooner than later.
  16. joeExpat

    Nepal Earthquake

    Couldn't find another thread so thought I would start one... Nepal has always been a special place to me, some of my best holiday memories from various hiking, climbing and kayaking trips there, the locals were always very friendly, honest and welcoming. The news of this devastating earthquake...
  17. joeExpat

    No more property investing.

    The government or companies own them, as is common in many countries.
  18. joeExpat

    No more property investing.

    They just take them. Friends wife is from Venezuela, her uncle lost a few properties to Ch?vez.
  19. joeExpat

    REPEATED: What advice would you give yourself 10 years ago that you know now?

    Stick mostly with investments you know best, not any exotic stuff. Do not short any markets or stocks. Do not buy property in a falling price environment (eg Spain after falling 35% like I did). Do not increase the rent on good tenants. Do not always go with the cheapest conveyancer or real...
  20. joeExpat

    Are you left or right handed

    Ambidextrous, can drink beer in either hand. Most things right hand, but PC mouse and play pool left handed.
Back
Top