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You didn't miss much. I'm semi retired. Property is churning along quietly. Have only bought one in the past few years - a 1 bedder in Elwood when the Melbourne market was at its lowest ebb. That one has been my biggest gainer in the past year or so, by far. To keep myself busy, I run a small...

Pretty good, actually. For the "big reveal", you'll have to head to the newsagent and have a look at the very back page of this months issue of Your Investment Property magazine.

Like they say ... hell hath no fury .... It's very true (apparently).

I've learned from the best ie. Rixter & Keithj. Then adapted to suit my own circumstances, objectives and risk profile. It's worked well for me and will continue to do so. Thanks (again) Rixter and Keithj for sharing with the Sommersoft community. Thanks to the Sommers for making this forum...

I have considered it, for sure. Partly in an effort to find better value elsewhere and partly to get around land tax issues. However, the last 2 purchases here represented unbeatable value and were a good, long term strategic play, so that kept me on home ground. If I do buy another property...

That wouldn't be very Zen would it :) "Revenge is a poison meant for others that we end up swallowing ourselves. Vengeance is a dark light that blinds all who seek it. The untroubled soul knows there is no justice in revenge. The untroubled soul knows that to seek vengeance is to seek...

Some shares, but the other investments are of another nature altogether. Mezzanine Finance is all I'm prepared to say. I'm open to building the property portfolio to 10, but I'm looking for value. Right now, I'm seeing value elsewhere, that's where I'm investing. Some of my IP's have...

I deal with Amit Sharma in Melbourne. I've found his advice invaluable. I settled number 7 when I started this thread last year. I had planned to buy one in the SMSF and 2 outside of the fund this year, but I'm now more likely to channel my equity release funds and energy into other...

That's the real turning point, the bold decision to leave the comfort zone and actually do something without the safe feeling of it being what the rest of the herd is doing. Well done! Yes, a good broker with a long term game plan is gold! Thanks for the feedback.

I do all of my renewals in January, which is a peak letting season and I try to pitch my rents at slightly under market or a 5% increase, whichever is the greater. At the time I did the renewals, around $260 looked to be market rate for a renovated 2br in that area. There are quite a few 70's...

Hi Steve. Yes I did. The 2 other owners and myself were not happy with the lack of attention shown by the former management company, so we voted to bring it in-house. So far it's working out well.

They are not part of my strategy. For the reasons I outlined in my original post, strata properties give me greater leverage in terms of property management and risk management. I'm buying a location and to buy houses in some of there suburbs where I have my villas could cost me over $1million...

Most recent bank valuation came in at $320k. That would hold up for all three, I believe. Market value could be more, but I only care about bank vals when I'm releasing equity. Paid around $200k for one in 2007, $250,000 for the other two in 2008 & 2009.

Hi Sheryn. I have 3 villas in the group of 5. They have been renovated slightly differently. The best rental return is $260 per week from the one with the new kitchen. The next one rents for $250 per week and has been painted, carpeted but still has the original 1970's kitchen. The other has...

My strategist at Investors Direct is Amit Sharma. He has taught me a lot. I might put together a post detailing what I've learned about loan strategies soon. I've had many requests for this and am working on it. I've even done a couple of seminar presentations detailing some of the things...

Actually, I think I am getting the best tax breaks as things stand at the moment. There has been some dicsussion regarding trusts here: http://www.somersoft.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58773 Trusts are just a tool. Like any tool, it depends what you are trying to achieve. My taxable income...

Absolutely! 12 months ago, I was unable to service another loan, had no cash and heavily reliant on my income to service the shortfall as other investments were long term an not very liquid. 12 months later, the situation has totally changed. More borrowing power. Plenty of cash to use in...

Yes, all held in my name. I'm not re-financing the same properties over and over. Early 2009, I re-financed 2 IP's to raise equity release for a new purchase. I've since re-financed another fixed rate loan on IP 3 to release equity. I'm about to settle on yet another fixed rate loan to relase...

I fund the shortfall from my PAYG income. I can increase that contribution, if required. The buffer will cover it, but the longer I fund it myself, the further into the future my buffer will last. No, not too concerned. Rates have averaged around 7.5% (I think) for the last 10 years or so...

The shortfall has been a moving target. It peaked at around $2,400 from memory. Sa rates declined, I purchased additional properties. As I did that, my tax reduced. During which time, rents were raised. It's very much a dynamic, 3 dimensions thing. I have budgeted on rates going up to 7% in...