What you did in 2013? What are the plans for 2014?

[Singo]

Hi all, 2014 in 10 days. It would be interesting to hear what you all have done in 2013 and what are the plans for 2014. Doesn't have to be investment specific. Those who responded to the last year's thread may want to update as well.

For us
2013 : A lot of investment related stuff happened. We bought 3 IPs. Sold PPOR. Did a major renovation, made lots of stupid mistakes and learnt a lot. Did another renovation which went smoothly. Bid at an auction successfully and got another house under contract, both should settle in January 2014 if valuations are ok. Joined Somersoft. Went on a 4 weeks overseas holiday. Bought a vehicle. Partner started part time studies.

2014: Settle the 2 under contract properties. Do some renovations at all 5 IPs. Get medicare card and insurances. Build some buffer. May be make a baby Convert an IP into PPOR or move to another rental. Start some studies. Better time management. And read.

 

[Jen_PFR]

2013: - Bought property #8.
Had a go at teaching myself DIY upholstery
Started up a music business teaching the flute

2014: - Buy the husband a toy - at this stage considering the AMG Mercedes - for his 40th birthday
Start planning what we will do/where we will go for long service leave. (This could easily end up being thirteen weeks of sleeping in and eating out )
Look into renovating one of our investment properties and/or our own home - considering the kitchen, main bathroom and en suite, and flooring throughout.

 

[whiteduck]

2013
1. Passed final college exams for specialist training
2. Paid off PPOR (technically not actually. .. money in offset) and did kitchen reno
3. Bought IP 2 (settled last week)
4. Took well earned holiday (too short )
5. And survived a tumultuous year at work with way too many hours of rostered overtime and difficult junior colleagues
6. Maintained health, fitness and sanity (just) !!

2014
1. Start advanced training in job
2. Support last offspring through school
3. Get married and take honeymoon in Paris
4. Keep eye out for good buy (IP3), take opportunity if it comes along
5. Try to work less... (employ cleaner and gardener, pray for less overtime) ... sleep more, exercise more, do yoga, learn to salsa
6. Maintain health, fitness and sanity!

 

[grand dad]

2013

Having spent several decades working for a number of banks as a Valuer, I finally decided to retire. In early 2013, a report from the Valuer Generals office in Victoria came to my attention. It said that barely 2% of Melbourne houses are on development sized blocks. That same report also said that close to 50% of houses in Frankston, Frankston North and Seaford are on subdivisible blocks. My interest piqued I decided to act.

Risking derision, I cashed in a large chunk of my Super and bought 7 houses in these areas. I plan to hold for a few years and sell out to developers or, if I can find the energy, develop myself.

2014.

I plan to buy a few more cheap houses before my cash runs out.

Will the contrarians triumph? I think so. I am resolute in my belief that its the laggard suburbs that will show the greatest capital gain as the market gets hotter.

 

[D.T.]

2013:
Drastically reduced bad debts
Changed company that I work for, but doing the same thing. Appears to be a very wise move so far
Built a H&L package to be a PPOR and moved into it, furnished it etc

2014:
Sell my car by January
Get PPOR revalued by February (requires some stuff at PPOR to be done, which I've had a lot of trouble organizing so far because Perth tradies arent interested in working)
Study a uni degree whilst working full time
Buy an IP or 2, depending how much equity i can pull from PPOR
Be more consistent with training & eating better
Maybe at the end of the year I'll reward myself with travel if all of the above gets done

 

[Richard Feynman]

2013:
- Purchased IP#1. Bought well.
- Broke fixed loan on PPOR. Copped $17k fee. Dramatically improved serviceability.
- Learned some DIY skills (thanks Scott -- legend!)
- Best year of my life (I've been able to say this for half a decade running)

2014:
- Purchase IP#2, perhaps IP#3 if I see enough growth.
- Have best year of my life. Again.
- Become a better human.

 

[mflying]

2013:

-Purchased 3 IPs (all development sites in metro cities)
-went thru pain of finding right builder
-traveled around country and 3 OS trip
-read some life changing important books
-commenced our first development

2014

-Finish development started in western Sydney
-commence another build
-Possibly look for PPoR
-learn share market gimmicks
-invest time in finding high cash flow business ventures
-help/share knowledge that i gain in property development

 

[Cherry Pro]

2014 - the me I want to be

2013
------
sold IP in Elizabeth, SA and 1 in Mount Druitt
bought 3 - Mount Druitt, Logan Central (SMSF), Wollongong
brief overseas holiday


2014
------
become the best version of myself
lose 5 kgs, yoga, exercise more and feel fitter
bought 1 in Ipswich, to settle in Jan
sell 1 in Logan Central
buy dual occupancy x 2
Europe holiday
celebrate Mum's 80th, India
increase share portfolio by 50%
pay down SMSF Loan to 100k

 

[joeExpat]

2013 - good riddance

2014 - manage unexpected early retirement
- move to Barcelona to help look after kids
- learn Spanish properly, and a bit of catalan
- maybe buy a cheap apartment in Barcelona to live in if it ever looks like bottoming out and price is less than half the peak
- if time permits, start exploring the pyrenees

 

[jim1964]

- Become a better human.

I like this.Should be on everybodys to do list.

 

[EN710]

2013
- Bought IP #1
- Wedding
- Visit Japan
- Reach saving target for 2013
- Prepare for PPOR settlement and furnitures

2014
- Settle PPOR - this has been dragging. It better be soon.
- Buy IP #2
- Visit HK
- Visit one more country for holiday
- Start saving for a car

 

[Richard Feynman]

I like this.Should be on everybodys to do list.

It's a permanent fixture on my list -- something from whose pursuit, and outcomes, much continues to be gained.

 

[Richard Feynman]

-read some life changing important books

Feel free to drop names.

 

[virgo]

What did i do?

Hiya

2013-added another million to net worth, how's that? (on paper that is)

-bought another 2 IPs

-still SAHM and twiddling thumbs (gotta get out)

-found Mr Money Moustache and Financial Samurai blogs

-ran playgroup in church for the 2nd year


2014-do another small development

-continue to pursue dream of early retirement

-getting another (perpetual) income stream

-research index funds for diversification

-running playgroup for another (3rd) year.

-be a humble(r) person and a less shy(er) person

-be a better and less critical friend

-call my Mum and Dad more often

 

[sash]

2013:

Completed Butler 4x2x2 for $357 now valued at $450 and rented for $450pw
Got approval for Wellard 3x2x2....build commences Jan 2014
Currently seeking approval for Lakelands build
Portfolio went up another 10%


2014
Sniffing out opportunities in Brissie.....looking to spend $600-1.5m
LVR to hit 45% from 33%

 

[Spades]

Hi All,

2013 rapt sheet:

Purchased a cf below market good deal in March but got cold feet and pulled out.

Come October found another good deal,purchased and upgraded ppor.

In hindsight if i'd purchased the one in march,i wouldn't have got my ppor.

Reno'd my unit for rent during settlement to which i enjoyed doing.

2014:

Hoping to have enough equity to purchase another IP.

And 1 off Richard Feynman's list-to better myself as a human and to also help those less fortunate.

Cheers Spades.

 

[Mooze]

2013
Had 1st child
Started building another business
Got made permi at work after maternity break
Accepted into masters
Consolidated existing business

2014
Start masters
Build business 1 revenue
Build systems for business 2 - aim exceed business 1 year5 rev by end of 15months
Trip to US ( major trade show)
Trip NZ ( business research)
Support hubby in being a work at home dad
Work on raising a healthy happy little boy
Get fit again and lose 8kgs remaining from pregnancy
Edit to add - hopefully buy ppor during second half of year
Retain sanity

 

[Hados]

2013

Got married in March
Honeymooned in Vietnam and Thailand
Got a second job to pay for the above
Still working both jobs to pay down some debt
Broke my leg playing football in my hundredth game in a GRAND FINAL 2 lots of surgery and 3 months later I'm still not 100%
Exchanged contracts last week on what the wife and I think will be our forever family home

2014
Hopefully start a family
Continue to work 2 jobs and have another lined up part time to pay for the above haha
Settle on the next house in March
Get back into the gym and running when I can walk properly
The wife has said NO to anymore houses so pay down debt and renovate the new PPOR
Continue to enjoy married life

 

[bez23]

2013, yet another good year

2013
Highlight is definitely 3 months off work total- vacation in USA (dream trip- was as good as i expected), Japan, Bali, Malaysia , Vietnam , Thailand and a few interstate trips - port Douglas and Victoria
Bought IP- 1,2,3,4 . 4th being house and land so getting some experience building. Since 1,2,3 is on big subdividable blocks.
Got married- blew a lot of Cash. But happy wife happy life!
Got a few awards from work and biggest bonus so far!
Downs- spent a lot of money - luckily more good debt to outweigh the bad
Got robbed in the US and lacerated finger tendon. Functionally OK now but won't be 100% anymore

2014
Boss promised good raise
Get a second job ( looking at mortgage broking)
Maybe a baby
Get IP - 4,5,6,7 or more depending on growth of current property. Or might look at NRAS to diversify
Keep learning from you guys and reading more books!

Cheers !

 

[westminster]

How was 2012 for you?
AWESOME year!
Changed to full time employment from part-time, part-time developer, part-time nursemaid (DH had 3 back surgeries). Trained and ran my first ever City to Surf (12kms), took our first family holiday and realised that we'd probably been giving up a little too much and that spending money on us was ok.
Our youngest started school - grateful she got a rare spot at an awesome school for kids with significant speech impairment . DS6 and DS13 had good years.

IP Stuff
2012 saw me earn my L plates for development. I demolished a house in 2011 and built 3 villas which were completed in April 2012. I was then firmly addicted.
In July 2012 I purchased a 1224sqm quad block and started the wheels in motion for building 4 villas on it. At the end of December DA approval for the 4.
In December 2012 I purchased a 249sqm high density block which will have 3 apartments built on it.

What do you have planned for 2013?
MASSIVE year to come!
A very ambitious year which will keep me on my toes. 2 family holidays plus a 10th wedding anniversary trip (trying to keep it a surprise from DH).
I want to beat my City to Surf time and keep getting fitter.
Have an awesome year of work
Our youngest will repeat a year at school but go mainstream 4 days + 1 day at Telethon Speech and Hearing school.

IP Stuff
January should see the pads go down for the Quad villas and they should be completed by the end of the year

January we will start planning the apartment block and seek construction loan for it. Then onto Council for DA approval which will take who knows how long.

I dragged out my post from last year to see how I did.

I got ticks for
- 2 family holidays, surprise anniversary holiday
- awesome year at work - promoted to Supervisor/Coordinator
- youngest had awesome year at school even though repeating her grade and will be able to go mainstream school full time next year in conjunction with private OT/Speech/Paed

Gongs for
- City to Surf - didn't compete as I was away on 10yr anniversary trip
- Gwelup finishing
- DA approval for Highgate

Other Stuff
- paid off parents mortgage
- finished some long awaited things on PPOR
- DH had a couple more back surgeries

2014:
Work: slight technical promotion will be finalised.
Holidays: Japan, Bintan Island and Melbourne
Family: DD5 in Prep, DS7 in Grade 3 and DS14 in Year 10.
Learning: Planning to enrol part time in Cert IV Residential Drafting
IPs: finished Gwelup and rent out. WIN the SAT appeal for Highgate#1, Get DA for Highgate #2. Buy something else ?!?!?!?!?