wealthruproperty

Emerging suburbs in Sydney and Melbourne

Posted on November 18, 2010 by Admin

According to economic forecaster BIS Shrapnel, renters will have to get used to annual increases of between 5 – 7% in Perth, Brisbane and Sydney, 3 – 5% in Melbourne, Hobart and Adelaide over the next 24 to 36 months. BIS Shrapnel analyst Angie Zigomanis said new dwelling construction had not been adequate over the past 12 months and expect rental growth to pick up again. Housing analyst have forecast rent to rise across all Australian capital cities as new home construction fails to keep up with demand, home borrowing stabilises at weaker levels and population continues to grow.

For obvious reasons, many renters choose to live in popular inner city suburbs which are close to public transport, amenities, shopping with lifestyle. These choices have enabled inner city precincts to record strong growths compared to areas which are further away from CBDs.

On the other hand, there are pockets within inner city areas in many capital cities which have been “over-shadowed” by their more illustrious neighbours. Suburbs such as Narraweena and Wareemba in Sydney are only a hop and jump away from its more well-known neighbours of Dee Why and Drummoyne. A couple of strategies in dealing with rising rents may be to locate these inner city pockets with good public transport links and amenities which have been ignored time and again. Another strategy is to look a little in suburbs which may be a little further but still enjoy good transport links into the city. It is important if buying into these suburbs which offer relatively more affordable entry points and cheaper rent to ensure they have a strong track record of growth.

The important criteria is these suburbs MUST have recorded growth rates of at least 12% over the boom in the last 18 months and an average growth rate over the last 10 years of not less than 10% per annum. Suburbs which did not experience significant growth over the last 18-month boom is indication the suburb is short of important growth drivers such as transport links, distance from CBD, public amenities and conveniences such as schools, hospitals and universities and general public appeal.

The reports above identify key investment propositions such as emerging trends, new infrastructure developments, private investments in emerging suburbs and puts its capital growth rates and records to the test.

Posted in Suburbs & Locations | Tagged emerging hotspots, high growth suburbs, hot suurbs, melbourne, strong capital growth suburbs, sydney, where is best suburb to buy, where is best suburb to rent | Leave a comment

2 Coulson street, Erskineville, Sydney 2043

Posted on November 18, 2010 by Admin

FOR LEASE: 2 Coulson street, Erskineville, Sydney

THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN LEASED

Property for lease: 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 2 car spaces (side-by-side secure garage)

Rent: $675 per week

Bond: $2,740

Availability: 8 December 2010

Lease availability: 6 months

Inspection times: Please call to arrange

This sun-lit north-west facing two-bedroom apartment is located within the Verve Apartments which is 4 km from Sydney CBD

Features:

Split unit reverse cycle air-conditioning
European and gas kitchen appliances
Large living areas and master bedroom opening into full length entertainment balcony

Facilities:

Underground secure car space with swipe card system
3 sqm separate storage facility in basement

Conveniences:

5-minute walk to Sydney Park and St Peters train station – 3 stops to Central station (10-minute train ride)
10-minute drive to Broadway Shopping Centre, Sydney CBD, Chinatown, University of Sydney, Newtown cafe and restaurant precinct

Lease application form: Download copy

Contact: Mr Albert Wong, mobile 0413 660909

2 Coulson street, Erskineville

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Posted in For Lease | Tagged apartments for lease erskineville, apartments for rent in Erskineivlle, rental units Erskineville | Leave a comment

49B Chelsey street, Ardeer, Victoria

Posted on November 16, 2010 by Admin

Asking price: $165,000 – $185,000

Property: 300 sqm vacant land

Agent: Robert Christakakis, Bells Real Estate Sunshine, Mobile: 0407 517 761

This is an opportunity to build a townhouse on street frontage allotment of approximately 300 sqm.The plans are for a 2 bedroom, study, open kitchen, meals and living areas, large walk-in-robes, 2 toilets and a single garage. This property is brilliantly located only minutes from Sunshine Shopping Centre, Brimbank Shopping Centre, schools and the Western Ring road.

49B Chelsey street, Ardeer, Victoria

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78 Blanche street, Ardeer, Victoria

Posted on November 16, 2010 by Admin

FOR SALE: 78 Blanche street, Ardeer

3 bedroom 1 bathroom 1 car space

Auction: 12.30pm Saturday, 30 October 2010

Price range: $370,000 +

Agent: Martin Artigas, Bell Real Estate, Sunshine Mobile: 0407 808 932

Update: This property was sold prior to auction at an undisclosed price of more than $400,000.

This brick veneer residence is located within a quality residential pocket with an allotment of approximately 690 sqm with potential for re-development (STCA) in the future.

It has 3 large bedrooms, sun-filled formal lounge and dining, kitchen with meals area, central bathroom and large laundry facilities with second shower.

This property is located close to amenities, with easy access to the Western Ring road and Kororoit Creek walking trails.

78 Blanche street, Ardeer

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What makes a property developer?

Posted on November 16, 2010 by lee

Harry Triguboff of Meriton - Australia's largest apartment builder

The following article is written and contributed by Ross Voci, Director of Property Subdivision

The Creative spirit

I’ve been asked many times why I love developing and as much as I love the life style and financial freedom it brings the thing I love the most about this hobby turned life style, is the creative spirit it allows to flow through me. You see, whether it’s designing a single level home, a multi-level development or a subdivision site, I am able to bring an uninviting piece of dirt to life and create something that both its inhabitants and visitors will enjoy for years to come.

I truly believe we all have a creative spirit within us and everyone should have an opportunity to allow this spirit to flow to its maximum capacity. For some it is in gardening, for others in the arts, and for yet others it is in design; for me it flows in the developing of land, and I love every bit of it. But as much as I love turning dirt into cash I probably couldn’t do what I love if it didn’t offer the financial rewards. It would then become a nightmare rather than a dream come true. Doing something you love and having the financial reward that comes with it, gives you the freedom to keep doing what you love.

What breed is a developer?

If you ask most people the question, ‘what does a developer do’, they will tell you they build buildings and sell for a profit. This description is true for some developers but there are some developers who do not do the building themselves as they do not hold the license that allows them to build; there are also developers who are not builders, but who are visionaries and who have never been interested in the building side of things, but who are able to bring a project to fruition. Then you get the developers who do build, but the thing that is common to them all, is that they also investigate potential sites, the areas surrounding them, the relevant Councils and demographics. The developer will engage and manage a myriad of qualified consultants and professionals. A developer who completes the whole development cycle, is at the top of the food chain when it comes to starting from a piece of dirt, creating a building that is sold to the right demographics, and all the while keeping in mind there must be a financial profit at the end. A developer encapsulates all of these things. This development process also involves ensuring the project is marketed correctly and successfully, having created the right type of product for the right type of demographic in the right area. The developer needs to maximize the sale price without compromising quality. This can be done by reducing the cost of construction and making sure the right sales and marketing consultants are engaged. As you will have begun to see, developers also require good people skills. If, after reading this, you are thinking you only have a few of the necessary qualities to become a developer, don’t worry. All of these qualities can be developed as you go through the process and where you may be weaker in one area, you can engage the consultant who is strong in that area. Remember, that overall, a developer needs to be a go-getter and a well-rounded individual who can see outside the box and he must also be solution orientated.

The problem solver

My definition of the breed of property developer extends further to include problem solving, as much of development consists of exactly that – problem solving. You must have the mindset to be able to solve problems and deal with potentially difficult situations every day – day in and day out. Whether it is a multi-rise building, a small two-lot subdivision, or just simply building a single home, problems will arise daily and you must be able to come up with solutions. Problems can arise from all types of things such as tradesmen making mistakes; Council’s shutting sites down; objections to your plans; rain and heat right through to bad architectural drawings. The list goes on and on. If, however, you can eliminate as many problems right from the start with knowledge and a creative mind set you will reap a developer’s rewards.

The Developer’s mind set

A developer must have a particular mindset. As a developer, you have to be able to get up every morning and understand if there’s going to be a problem, and there more than likely will be, you need to walk into it with a solution orientated mindset. If your mindset is not solution orientated, then developing is definitely not for you because no matter how good a developer you are, all development sites will have issues – whether it be from the large development to the small, site problems anywhere from the middle to the edge or from the east to the west and the north to the south, or simply down to people, such as your consultants and trades people – there will be issues to deal with and it’s the developer’s job to not only work through these issues and provide satisfactory solutions but to eliminate as many problems as possible, before they arise.

Posted in Subdivision / Development | Tagged Home Subdivision, House Subdivision, Land Development, Property Developers, property investment, Property Subdivision, Real Estate Subdivision, subdivision, Subdivision Victoria | 1 Comment

Land prices surge in Melbourne’s outer areas

Posted on November 11, 2010 by Admin

New land release, Belle Gardens on Exford Road, Melton South

Although Melbourne’s outer suburbs remain some of the most affordable housing areas, an influx of new residents to these areas have significantly pushed up property values over the last 12 months. Housing affordability has been a key issue in recent times as a result of surging house prices despite continuous rises in interest rates. According to research from property group Oliver Hume, the cost of land in Melbourne’s outer growth areas is likely to eclipse the cost of building a house.

The median land price in Melbourne’s growth precincts of Wyndham, Casey, Whittlesea and Melton rocketed 24% in the past 12 months to $212, 750 last quarter. The average cost of building a new home has risen to $216,097, leaving a gap of just over $3,000 between land price and construction cost.

Rising land cost in Melbourne’s most affordable suburbs were likely to exacerbate the housing affordability crisis where the average price for a house and land package on the city’s fringes is around $430,000. Oliver Hume research founs that rental vacancy rates in outer suburbs dropped to 0.8% which is lower than other metropolitan areas while the average weekly rent for a three bedroom home rose by 8%.

In June, the Brumby state government released 43,600 hectares of land out of which 24,000 hectares are suitable for development along the growth corridors to boost land supply and pave way for $134,000 extra dwellings. Master Builders Association chief executive Brian Welch said there was a lack of awareness of the housing affordability crisis. “The most basic thing, which is accommodation, is not given the attention it deserves,” he said. Despite the urban growth boundary expansion, the state government failed to maintain an adequate buffer of land supply, he said.

The above are excerpts from the article Surge in outer area land costs, The Age, 10 November 2010

Related articles:

Time for Melbourne to think about the population growth, News.com.au, 19 October 2010

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Gladstone – investors size up the housing market

Posted on November 9, 2010 by Admin

According to ABC News on 1 November 2010, the BG Group’s $15 billion coal seam gas project is well underway and the city of Gladstone is bracing itself for an influx of workers over the next few years. This project is only one out of a total of up to 16 multi-billion dollar infrastructure projects totalling $66 billion to supply Liquefied Natural Gas to the world over the next 15 – 20 years.

Already some developers are cashing in on a influx of investors who are more than keen to put money into this city which is expected to see up to 10,000 workers and their families relocate to various construction and project sites as a result of these mega investments.

This 12-page report outlines the key projects and its impact on Gladstone together with an analysis of median house prices, historic capital growth and rental rates of 14 surrounding suburbs around Gladstone.

Related posts:

Posted in Suburbs & Locations | Tagged is Gladstone a good investment, LNG projects in Gladstone, median house prices Gladstone, where is the next mining boom | Leave a comment

Stuart Zadel – People builder and Life changer

Posted on November 8, 2010 by Admin

Stuart Zadel

Stuart Zadel is a sought-after speaker on developing leadership, sales success, health and peak performance and building championship teams. For many years, he’s been sharing the powerful secrets of how to use your mind to manifest new improved results in your personal and professional life.

I first met Stuart when I attended one of the Think & Grow Rich seminars which opened up my mind about property investment. The successful property investor does a lot more than picking the right property to buy and wait for capital gains which may or may not eventuate. I have personally benefited from a host of experts whom I have learnt new techniques for creating wealth through property. The invaluable advice helped me create this blog in 2009 where I have documented research techniques, investment strategies, getting finance approval and ultimately taking that crucial step in securing the right properties in the right location at the right time and at the right price. Hindsight is always easy but my renewed foray into the property markets over the last two years have significantly increased wealth for both my clients and myself.

As an avid student of the subconscious mind, Stuart has featured on national television and in major newspapers and has worked with many of Australia’s leading companies, entrepreneurs and management teams in a variety of fields including business, hospitality, finance, direct sales and real estate. He is the author of ‘Think and Grow Rich Cashflow‘ and also ‘Think and Grow Rich in Property‘ as well as the co-author of three separate books on Sales and Leadership and Public Speaking.

He first got a glimpse of the secret powers of success as a teenager when he was introduced to such classic books as; As a Man Thinketh by James Allen, Acres of Diamonds by Dr. Russell Conwell, and of course, Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.

Although containing good basic information, these original ‘public domain’ books were written so long ago they missed critical new discoveries. Through years of trial and error Stuart has overcome their short comings and developed his own systems that helped to build and run a successful health and fitness club for 11 years, to travel the world several times, to compete at elite level sports, to achieve a 2nd Dan black belt in martial arts, to become a professional speaker and best-selling author several times over, as well as reach many personal goals, including generating a huge passive cashflow.

Stuart’s systems prove one can truly ‘think and grow rich’, and so when he decided to start this company and registered its trademark, he called it just that, Think & Grow Rich. Not to be confused with the original ‘public domain’ book title, Stuart Zadel’s trademark Think & Grow Rich seminars teach people new thinking and strategies in property, internet, business and shares to manifest profitable new results.

To supplement ‘specialised knowledge’ which the book calls for but did not provide since it was written so many decades ago, Stuart has lined up a plethora of people who have achieved immense success and wealth by adopting a mental attitude that is built to strive for and achieve peak performance and outstanding results. These successful people are driven by a burning desire to fulfil a purpose which they can truly identify to be their life goals. And it is the journey towards success that has built these people to be “bigger” in their perspectives in life and their contribution have changed thousands of lives for the better. Among these people, I have chosen Cherie Barber‘s strategy which suits me best personally. It could be a different strategy for you as each of us have our preferred strategy to create wealth.

Cherie Barber is a full-time professional renovator and highly sought after public speaker. In 2001, Cherie threw in her full-time marketing job at the end of her first renovation, which saw her earn more money on the weekends renovating than her full-time employment.

In 2009, she established Renovating For Profit, a company designed to teach everyday Australian’s the nuts and bolts of renovation as a profession. She now juggles full-time renovating with her national public speaking and business commitments and believes that once you have the right knowledge, anyone can do this!

I have personally implemented her strategies to increase wealth for myself and my clients over the last two years through the first step of securing the right properties for this particular purpose.

Cherie Barber

As a valued client and visitor to this site, you are entitled to a FREE TICKET valued at $497.00 to The Ultimate Property Entrepreneurs Conference where experts each talk about their unique approach to creating immense wealth from having the specialised knowledge and experience in their chosen vocation in life.

Start your wealth creation journey by getting your free ticket here.

Posted in Wealth Creation Strategies | Tagged stuart zadel, Think & Grow Rich seminars | 1 Comment

Aussie $ hits another record high

Posted on November 5, 2010 by Admin

Quantitative easing in the US, or more commonly known to the layman as “printing money” has sent the Aussie dollar soaring to a new record high against the greenback at US$1.0176. The currency was worth half a US dollar just nine years ago.

The Federal Reserve announced yesterday that it will pump a further US$600 billion into the US economy by buying Treasury bonds over the next few months. This move is in addition to some US$2.6 trillion already spent in trying to kickstart the waning US economy since the Global Financial Crisis.

Interest rates in the US are already close to zero percent which is a similar situation to most countries in the developed world. As the Australian economy continues to strengthen on the back of strong trading with its majors partners in China and India, The Reserve Bank of Australia took the conservative move on Tuesday 2 November 2010 to increase its cash rate by a further 25 basis points, its first since May 2010 and its seventh since September 2010, bring the official cash rate to 4.75%. The RBA said key factors affecting this prudent measure included:

The global economy grew faster than trend in the year to June 2010
Expectations of a slowing Chinese economy have lessened recently
Most commodity prices have firmed after earlier falls during the year
Demand for labour has continued to firm and envisaged further strengthening based on trends in job vacancies.
The terms of trade are at their highest levels since the early 1950s and is reflected by the strong exchange rate

HSBC said emerging markets and commodity exporters such as Australia are opting for “quantitative tightening” to offset the effects of quantitative easing in the US, which is causing a flood of money to flow into faster growing economies.

Meanwhile, India’s central bank has also tightened monetary policy by raising interest rates by 25 basis points to 6.25%. It has imposed draconian housing curbs to reduce “excessive leveraging” and prick the bubble, limiting mortgages to 80% of property values.

Related posts:

Statement by Glenn Stevens, Governor on Monetary Policy Decision, 2 November 2010
Melbourne Cup Blues
Aussie dollar hits parity with greenback

Posted in A$ & Exchange rates, News & Statistics | Leave a comment

Why is renovation so popular in Australia?

Posted on November 4, 2010 by Admin

Passive vs Active approach to creating value

Renovating a property is about upgrading, repairing, refreshing and creating perceived value that is greater than the actual cost of the renovation. Many Australians renovate their homes firstly to provide a more comfortable and usually larger living areas. The secondary purpose is usually to increase the capital value of the home upon a successful renovation. The traditional and still the most popular form of property investment is to buy and hold, in the hope of capital growth over the long term. However, there is a new breed of active property investors in the market who are actively looking for tired and old houses which present good opportunities to upgrade and increase the value. These investors have a systematic approach to ensure the risk of making mistakes are minimised and hence, they maximise their chances of returning tidy profits from each renovation project they undertake.

Cherie Barber - "I couldn't afford a job!"

Cherie Barber’s 8 Systematic Steps of the Renovation Process

Cherie Barber, popularly known as Australia’s “Renovation Queen” is arguably the most successful professional renovator in the country. attributes. She threw in her full time job some 10 years ago when she renovated and sold 6 houses in her first year as a professional renovator which turned in a profit of $1.15 million. With 10 years of solid experience and many millions dollars in profits later, Barber attributes her success to an 8 Systematic Steps of the Renovation Process. This process is meticulously followed to ensure a consistent approach to the renovation process which attempts to eliminate most of the big risks associated with each project, regardless of size and complexity.

1. Target an area / location to specialise

2. Conduct suburb due diligence

3. Conduct property due diligence

4. Analyse potential and project feasibility

5. Acquire the property

6. Create higher and better use

7. The renovation process

8. Project completion and sell-off

Cherie has also written a chapter entitled Renovating for Profit in the book Think and Grow Rich in Property.

Posted in Renovating | Tagged cherie barber, how to find renovation property, How to renovate my house, how to upgrade my property, renovation mistakes, stephen tolle | Leave a comment

Wollongong – gateway to the South Coast of New South Wales

Posted on November 3, 2010 by Admin

In a recent report by the Real Estate Institute of New South Wales, a chronic shortage of available rental homes is now a permanent fact of life in New South Wales major metropolitan areas.

Residential vacancy rates tumbled to their lowest levels in 12 months in Sydney and Newcastle in September, slipping 1.2% in both cities. The situation in Wollongong is similar where vacancy rates fell in most regional centres, the Illawara and Central Coast, according to REINSW figures. It described the situation in cities as “grim indeed”.

“Unfortunately the rental market in our major metropolitan centres has worsened in September and the prospects for renters, no matter where they choose to live are grim indeed,” REINSW president Wayne Stewart said. He called on the state government to reduce property related taxes and to simplify planning laws.

In response to the above, we have released our latest report, Wollongong – Gateway to the South Coast of New South Wales.

Being the third largest city in New South Wales behind Sydney and Newcastle, Wollongong is 80 km south of Sydney CBD and a leisurely one hour drive by car. Affectionately known as “the Gong”, this seaside city is the gateway to a multitude of small towns dotted along the South Coast of New South Wales.

Due to the rising price of Sydney’s real estate, the close proximity of Wollongong offers relatively affordable housing where the median house price is $500,000 compared to Sydney’s $635,000. Wollongong has stretches of long sandy beaches running the length of its eastern fringes and also boasts a reputable learning institution in the University of Wollongong.

Nestled half way between the attractions of the South Coast and the big Sydney capital makes Wollongong an intriguing investment prospect that gets the best of both worlds. This 15-page report examines the key investment propositions for Wollongong and also reviews the price, rental returns and capital growth history of 12 of its surrounding suburbs.

Related posts:

Fewer rental homes available in NSW cities, The Australian, 27 October 2010
Rents will rise nationwide, says RBA surveys, Perth Now, 25 October 2010

Posted in Suburbs & Locations | Tagged apartment prices wollongong, investment property wollongong, is wollongong a good investment, rental return rates wollongong, wollongong apartments for sale, wollongong investment guide, wollongong property report. wollongong real estate review | Leave a comment

Melbourne Cup blues

Posted on November 2, 2010 by Admin

Two newsletters ago on 21 October 2010, I cautioned readers to think about issues affecting the property markets before popping the bubbly on Melbourne Cup day. The Reserve Bank pre-empted a bucking of the form book by defying analysts predictions today and raised the official cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.75%, the seventh rate hike since October 2009.

Therefore, it should not come as a shock that Bart Cumming’s favourite pedigree So You Think failed to win the Cup as much as the Commonwealth Bank’s decision to raise their standard variable home loan rate by 45 basis points an hour after the announcement. Notwithstanding their 2010 net profit of $5.7 billion and CEO Ralph Norris’ salary of $16 million, we should not be suprised the bank is crying foul that rates need to go up due to rising cost of funds.

On the one hand, this decision demonstrates the strength of the Australian economy on the back of economic gloom in the US and Europe. It also underlies Australia’s decreasing dependency on the US as our major trading partner with the Australian dollar moving to a high of 99.89 US cents during the afternoon trading session.

Then again, who gives a damn about interest rates on a day where glamour and celebration takes centre stage. What’s a day in spring racing without champagne and frolic, albeit under dark and gloomy Melbourne weather. Then again, perhaps it may well be this dark and gloomy stage in 2011 upon which we reminisce the 2010 Melbourne Cup, albeit with much cheaper plonk in the glass.

For those nursing the Melbourne Cup blues both in the head and wallet, I have compiled the most competitive standard variable rates and fixed rates per Rate City’s top 5 to be as follows:

Variable Rates

1. Carrington National Online Power Home Loan – 6.29%
2. Collins Home Loans Standard Variable – 6.37%
3. Match Home Lonas Altitude Loan Variable – 6.38%
4. State Custodians Standard Variable – 6.39%
5. Homestar Finance Superstar – 6.47%

Fixed Rates
1. Heritage Building Society – 6.89%
2. Holiday Coast Credit Union – 6.97%
3. Resi Mortgage Corporation – 6.98%
4. Greater Building Society – 7.09%
5. MECU – 7.09%

It may be good to nudge your bank to see how much it will cost to switch but do remember there will also be establishment fees for the new loan in the new bank, they get you either way. Just like the Melbourne Cup, even if you don’t get hit in the wallet, celebrations would have given the head a beating by tomorrow morning.

Related posts:

Statement by Glenn Stevens, Governor on Monetary Policy Decision, 2 November 2010

Posted in Cash & Mortgage Rates, News & Statistics | Leave a comment

Cherie Barber – Australia’s queen of property renovation

Posted on November 1, 2010 by Admin

"I cannot afford to have a job!" - Cherie Barber

Cherie Barber is a full-time professional renovator and highly sought after public speaker. In 2001, Cherie threw in her full-time marketing job at the end of her first renovation, which saw her earn more money on the weekends renovating than her full-time employment.

Albert Wong with Cherie Barber

In her first year of her professional renovating career, Cherie bought, renovated and sold six houses with a combined value of $6.3 million. She did this with no stable income, no job and little money behind her. Having gained a first year profit of $1.15 million, this phenomenal result lead Cherie to taking on property investment, renovation and development as a serious business. With a solid decade behind her as a full-time renovator, Cherie has personally renovated 26 properties and have been involved in countless property deals well in excess of $50 million. The tremendous success achieved by Cherie is attributed to a disciplined, business-like approach to her property projects, complimented by a systematic step-by-step approach which she personally developed to enable her to follow a logical process in the projects she undertakes. She developed her own unique due-diligence system, has intimate knowledge on property values in her targeted suburbs and is skilled at adding maximum value for the least cost possible. She consistently breaks sales records in her area and says the key to achieving this is by identifying market needs, delivering a product to satisfy that demand and creating the “wow factor” in properties that get owner occupiers emotionally attached to the property prior to auction.

Cherie’s passion and skills in property make her a favourite contributor in the Australian property media. She is constantly featured in television, live radio, national and suburban newspapers, front covers of countless property investment and renovation magazines, internet, expo’s and talk show programs. She appeared as a regular TV renovator for Channel Seven’s Today Tonight program and is widely acclaimed as “Australia’s Renovation Queen”. In 2004, she completed a 6 episode renovation series with Channel Seven which put her skills and knowledge to the test in full public display to a nationwide audience. Cherie has also authored and co-authored several books. Unrivalled in what she does, Cherie is Australia’s top renovator, continuously averaging a staggering $300,000 to $600,000 profit on every property she touches. With each property taking just 3 to 5 months to complete, she firmly proves that lucrative profits can be made if you know how to renovate the right way.

I met Cherie recently and what is inspiring despite her obvious skills and success in her work is her passion to help others who are in need. Her love for children and animals has seen her make direct contribution, whether financial or otherwise to the RSPCA, buying wheelchairs for hospital patients and helping out needy families and children with health disorders.
.

Cherie has also written a chapter entitled Renovating for Profit in the book Think and Grow Rich in Property. This book brings together six experts in creating wealth through property.

Posted in Renovating | Tagged bad mistakes in renovations, how to avoid bad renovation, how to find a builder, how to find reno, How to renovate my house, reno disasters, renovating for profit, renovation mistakes, stephen tolle, where to find a builder | Leave a comment

10 Sturdee Parade, Dee Why, Sydney 2099

Posted on October 30, 2010 by Admin

FOR LEASE: 10 Sturdee Parade, Dee Why, Sydney

THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN LEASED!

Property for lease: 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 1 car space

Rent: $490 per week

Bond: $1,960

Availability: From 29 October 2010

This north-east facing one bedroom apartment is located within the brand new Dee Why Grand apartment complex in the northern beaches of Sydney.

Features:

Split-level apartment will private balcony and district water views of Dee Why beach
Living areas open to balcony over-looking internal gardens
Private study area with internet connection on upper level
Bedroom with built-in-robes and private balcony
European and gas kitchen appliances
Enormous total living area of 81sqm

Facilities:

Gymnasium, spa and 25-metre outdoor swimming pool
2 sqm separate storage facility in basement
Underground secure car space with swipe card system
On-site building manager and 24-hour security

Conveniences:

1-minute walk to retail and shopping facilities in Dee Why Grand complex which include Coles, Harris Farm, local butcher, green grocer, seafood, medical centre, post office and banks
800 metre to the sand and rolling surf of iconic Dee Why beach, cafes and restaurants
10-minute drive to Warringah Mall Shopping Centre
30-minute drive to Narrabeen lakes and attractions in Palm Beach
25-minute drive to Sydney CBD via Spit Bridge and Sydney Harbour Tunnel
Express bus service to Circular Quay

Lease application form: Download copy

Contact: Mr Albert Wong, mobile 0413 660909

10 Sturdee, Parade, Dee Why 2099

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Posted in For Lease | Tagged apartments for rent Dee Why, apartments for sale Dee Why, northern beaches rental properties | Leave a comment

Macquarie Telecom announces $60 million North Ryde data centre

Posted on October 27, 2010 by Admin

The announcement two days ago that telecommunications hosting giant Macquarie Telecom plans to construct a new $60 million data centre facility in Sydney’s North Ryde after securing a land deal for $10.8 million further exemplifies the evolving facade of North Ryde.

In response to the changing environment of these three suburbs, we have updated this 21-page report to cover key investment propositions for residential property investors. Such factors include the increasingly blurring gap between commercial, retail and residential developments and how investors are taking advantage of mixed-used developments where increased conveniences and public amenities means more quality time for the family. New transport links are also creating strategic investment opportunities which are not immediately obvious.

Savvy investors recognise the increasingly competitive tenant market (notwithstanding record low vacancy rates in certain popular suburbs) and how extra amenities and the growing need to be closer to our workplace is changing the way we think about property investment. In response to this changing trend, I have also written a post about investment strategies to tap the benefits of mixed-used developments which is becoming a stronger trend, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne.

Related post:

Top investment strategies for Sydney’s growing urban trend

Posted in Suburbs & Locations | Leave a comment

Leading Real Estate Agents in Orange, New South Wales

Posted on October 26, 2010 by Admin

Orange has recently been identified by leading property analysts to be the next booming regional city in the Central West of New South Wales.

This 27-page Property Investment and Tree Change Guide is jam-packed with information about:

Demographics – population growth, household income, type of jobs, resident profiles
Key investment propositions – why you should consider investing in Orange real estate
Median home prices – annual, 3 and 5 year growth rates, rental rates and yields
Key industries – gold mining, health care, education, tourism and agriculture
Booming businesses - tourism, hospitality and wine making industries
Interview with Stephen Sykes, Chair of Evocities - why Orange is a great place to live
Contains 100 URL hyperlinks for easy reference to:
- Employment agencies and job-seeker sites
- Leading real estate agents, their websites and all contact details
- Solicitors, accountants, brokers, conveyancers
- Architects, builders, plumbers, electricians and tradespoeople
- Google maps for location analysis and street views
- Council, schools, hospitals, emergency services and other public amenities
- Local food, dining, fresh local produce and providore businesses and clubs
Picture gallery - photographs on lifestyle, places of attraction, food and wine and many more

EXTRA: Research spreadsheets – Excel spreadsheets with key demographics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics

Make sure you are equipped with this interative property investment tool before you go on your property hunt.

Find out more about Orange – the sweet heart of New South Wales here.

Take advantage of the professional services of leading real estate agents in Orange for your property investment and management requirements.

	Gary Blowes, Principal 245 Summer Street, Orange, NSW 2800 Ph: 02 6362 1233 Mobile: 0418 635 248
	Chris Gryllis, Principal 312 Summer Street, Orange, NSW 2800 Ph: 02 6362 5999
	Paul Cox, Proprietor 180 Lords Place, Orange, NSW 2800 Ph: 02 6361 8433 Mobile: 0419 262978
	123 Peisley Street, Orange, NSW 2800 Ph: 02 6361 8249
	Darryl Ford, Managing Director / Business Owner 28A Sales Street, Orange, NSW, 2800 Ph: 02 5310 6166
	John Cook, Principal 153 Lords Place, Orange, NSW, 2800 Ph: 02 6361 0133
	Pat Cutcliffe 23 Sale Street, Orange, NSW, 2800 Ph 02 6361 7622 Mobile: 0417 481 158
	Peter Eccleston, Principal 119 Peisley Street, Orange, NSW, 2800 Ph: 02 6362 4755 Mobile: 0427 026 306
	Peter McCormack, Director 5/18 Sale Street, Orange, NSW, 2800 Ph: 02 6362 6566
	Graham Ridley, Principal 39 Sale Street, Orange, NSW, 2800 Ph: 02 6363 1000
	Peter Mitchell 241 Lords Place, Orange, NSW, 2800 Ph: 02 6362 9966
	Nigel Strutt, Principal Corner Sale and Summer streetsOrange, NSW, 2800 Ph: 6393 5700 Mobile: 0427 824 211
	Roger Eddy, Principal 206 Lords Place, Orange, NSW, 2800 Ph: 02 6362 1366 Mobile: 0419 625 196
	26 Sale Street, Orange, NSW 2800 Ph: 02 6362 0211
	Greg Toner, Licensee in Charge 211 Anson Street, Orange, NSW 2800 Ph: 02 6362 8386
	John Rowland, Director 37 Sale Street, Orange, NSW, 2800 Ph: 02 6362 6966

Posted in Suburbs & Locations | Leave a comment

Affordable waterfront and resort style living

Posted on October 22, 2010 by Admin

FOR SALE: 732/4 Marquet street, RHODES, Sydney

Property: 732/4 Marquet street, Rhodes, Sydney

Asking price: $590,000

2 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 1 car space

Unit 732 at 4 Marquet street, Rhodes

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Located on the eastern side of the Rhodes peninsular, this apartment is part of Meriton’s Sienna By the Bay development which was completed two and a half years ago.

Homebush Bay at Rhodes

Why I like this property:

Near new apartment of two and a half years old with mod cons
The floorplan has good design and use of space with an east facing balcony
Toilet separated from the bathroom with hand basin doubles as powder room for guests
24-hour security and on-site building manager to attend to maintenance and service for occupants
secured car space with separate 4 sqm storage cage facility
Strong maintenance and service level by Meriton ensure immaculately kept gardens, gymnasium, pool, sauna and spa for residents
3 minute walk to water foreshores of Homebush Bay
3 minute walk to Rhodes train station which is 6 stops to Central station in the heart of Sydney CBD
5 minute walk to the conveniences of childcare, banks, post office supermarket and shops at Rhodes Shopping Centre
Located within the Rhodes Business Park precinct which now includes multinationals such as Hewlett Packard, National Australia Bank, Nestle, Australand, Unisys, Alcatel Lucent and Lion Nathan which would provide strong tenant proposition for investors.
Public amenities and local attractions which include water foreshore parks like McLiwaine Park, King George V Park, Bicentennial Park, Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway along Brays Bay Reserve, Sydney Olympic Park facilities and Concord Repatriation General Hospital.

Agent: Ross Musso of Raine & Horne Concord. Ph 02 9736 3877 Mobile 0413 093 139

The video below illustrates the conveniences of this property:

Posted in Featured Properties | Leave a comment

Affordable Sydney suburbs – do they still exist?

Posted on October 21, 2010 by Admin

In the midst of searching for that ideal inner city suburb in Sydney, many home buyers and investors have overlooked certain suburbs which are relatively low profile or better still, unheard of.

Consider these suburbs for example – Wareemba, Narraweena, Banksmeadow and Turrella. These suburbs are not often spoken about either by home buyers, investors or real estate agents.

Wareemba is a small suburb next to the more high profile Abbotsford and Breakfast Point where there are million dollar water front properties. Narraweena is in the northern beaches next to Dee Why. Although it is inland, it is relatively more affordable than its neighbouring suburbs. Banksmeadow is near Sydney airport and is often confused with Meadowbank.

The report above identifies three suburbs in Sydney which are relatively low key but are very affordable at under $700,000.

First home buyers will find these suburbs as viable options because of the following issues:

Relatively affordable and help get them “a foot in the door” whilst beginning to own a first home
Great location under 15 km from Sydney CBD
Strong capital growth upside whilst they start their property investment cycle
Good public amenities and conveniences, transport links into the city

Investors will like these suburbs because of the following issues:

Solid tenant propositions due to proximity to the CBD, public amenties and transport links
Strong private investments into the suburb
Strong capital growth upside due to on-going gentrification and strong price growth of neighbouring suburbs.
Relatively low vacancy rates
Good potential and opportunities to upgrade, renovate, create equity and wealth

Posted in Suburbs & Locations | Tagged affordable suburbs in Sydney | Leave a comment

The Ugly Truth behind Housing Affordability

Posted on October 19, 2010 by Admin

Successive interest rate hikes and surging home prices in 2009 and early 2010 have brought housing affordability close to a record low in the June 2010 quarter.

“There has been a dire lack of commitment in this Federal Election campaign to address the substantial hurdles aspiring home owners face. Helping Australians afford a roof over their head is surely a fundamental responsibility of government” said chief economist of the HIA Harley Dale.

“As housing affordability slips away, so too does the chance for many Australians to realise their dream of owning a home,” Dale added.

The HIA / CBA Housing Affordability Index, which combines interest rates, household income and home prices to determine affordability conditions, fell by 9.5% over the June 2010 quarter across the nation’s capital cities and was down by 6.7% in regional Australia. The largest falls were:

Sydney -9.1%
Regional Victoria -9.0%
Regional Tasmania -8.8%
Adelaide -8.7%

First Home Buyers dilemma

First home buyers are again facing the brunt of surging home prices, rising interest rates and the end of the First Home Owner’s Grant last year. Already facing the prospects of further interest rate rises next month, this group of buyers are often confronted with whether to delay buying, if at all affordable even in the current market which appears to be slowing down after the bull-run last year. Saving for a deposit may sometimes appear totally futile when home prices are surging faster than income growth.

The Ugly Truth

Many first home buyers now comprise X and Y generation young professionals who may have double incomes and a young family. Compared to their baby boomer parents a generation ago where single income was the norm, then surely these couples can afford to buy a first home. However, home prices in Australia have grown at a much faster pace than wages and those home buyers and investors who invested fifteen years ago would have seen solid capital appreciation and soaring prices for their properties.

There is always a lesser urgency to buy for those investors who have already made tidy profits and have the luxury to scout for bargains with some built-up equity in the pocket. In contrast, first home buyers feel the urgency but are yet unable to get into the market due to crippling prices and will continue to be squeezed out of the market.

Investors will continue to scout to increase their wealth and unless first home buyers act wisely, the ugly truth about the rich getting richer and poor getting poorer as in most developed nations will perpetuate.

Implications for first home buyers

Most of the young first home buyers have grown up whilst living with their parents in inner city suburbs in major capital cities around Australia. These choice locations have accorded a certain way of life, familiarity and experience to these young people who would continue to aspire to live close to the CBD and within choice locations.

Unless they receive financial help from parents or join efforts with siblings and friends, it is extremely difficult to find affordable housing because these choice locations with fond memories embedded are now almost unaffordable if loosely compared to average national wages of about $65,000.

There is no one simple solution for first home buyers. As the most popular locations within major capital cities where supply is scarce and demand continue to be steady and consistent, property prices will continue to rise. First home buyers may have no choice but to settle for suburbs which are slightly further away from the most popular areas and get in first. This may mean longer commuting times, relatively less public amenities and further distances from family and friends. On this same note, I believe that first home buyers cannot afford to continuously “aspire” without a commitment to action, which involves studying and researching about second and third-tier suburbs with the eventual intention of purchasing.

The fundamentals of eventually getting to that choice location have changed and may involve more creative avenues.

Check out Special Reports

Related posts:

How to get off the rental rut – Jason Fritsch, first home owner at 18 years old
Most affordable suburbs to buy a house in Australia

Posted in First Home Buyers, News & Statistics | Tagged HIA-CBA index, Housing Affordability Index 2010, housing industry association | Leave a comment

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