Ask Toopie!

Renting a house

2011-07-16T20:58:00.002+09:30

Is it possible to rent a house before my arrival? how?

From: Rahmat Shah

Location: Karachi, Pakistan moving to Adelaide

WITH THE OVERSEAS PROPERTIES, WHAT IS THE TAX IMPLICATIONS I

2011-06-29T13:08:00.000+09:30

Question: WITH THE OVERSEAS PROPERTIES, WHAT IS THE TAX IMPLICATIONS IN AUSTRALIA....IS THE CAPITAL GAIN AND RENTAL INCOME AN ISSUE,
CHARLES NORWOOD

From: ANTHONY

What to do with house savings?

2011-06-05T06:23:00.001+09:30

My wife and I have saved $80 000 to finance our first home. Being new to Australia we are not too sure how we go about using this money for our house. Should we pay the stamp duty out of this sum as well as putting $60 000 against the house value? How much should we keep in our savings to offset any unseen problems?

From: Jason Bourned

Location: Adelaide

Owner builder loans

2011-05-17T08:54:00.000+09:30

It appears that banks wont let you pick your own tradies and builder, and demand you get a "package builder" to do everything, at a sometimes highly inflated price. Are there loan providers out there that allow you to owner build - in the sense that you can pick your own tradies and manage the project yourself? (I can't seem to find any) Many thanks in advance

From: Gary

Location: Adelaide

Can you please provide an accurate definition of 'Torrens ti

2011-02-19T21:18:00.000+10:30

Question: Can you please provide an accurate definition of 'Torrens title' with regard to property for sale?

From: Marita

realestate.com.au rental application

2011-02-14T20:04:00.000+10:30

do you think potential tenants should use the generic form and pay $30 to realestate.com.au? Apply on line form sits nicely under the agent logo!!!

From: Tim McCranor

Location: McCranor Property Management

Now that the Christmas/New Year break is behind us, how do y

2011-01-14T09:08:00.001+10:30

Question: Now that the Christmas/New Year break is behind us, how do you see the Adelaide market in terms of seeling a property?

In November, auction clearance rates were about 50%. Is auction still the best way to go given that stat?

From: Peter

Why is my house not sold after 3 months on the market?

2010-12-09T08:21:00.000+10:30

Question: Why is my house not sold after 3 months on the market?

From: Jenny

Building Prices

2010-11-23T11:30:00.001+10:30

Hi there, just wondering what your opinion is on the likelihood of building prices increasing in the next few months? I have been advised by various builders that the prices will go up by February, but I'm not sure if they are just telling me that to push me into building quicker. I have been told by a real estate agent that with the way the economy is at the moment, building costs are in fact expected to fall.

From: Sarah

Location: South Australia

I am looking at renting out my spare room at my PPR, do i ne

2010-11-09T12:46:00.000+10:30

Question: I am looking at renting out my spare room at my PPR, do i need to declare the rent from the tennant as personal income and therefore have to pay tax on this?

From: Marc

If looking to purchase a residential property that has a pre

2010-10-13T15:55:00.002+10:30

Question: If looking to purchase a residential property that has a pre-existing lease, should the agent make the lease available for viewing by the prospective purchaser?

From: Mick

Moving back to Adelaide from the UK

2010-09-14T14:48:00.002+09:30

the time has come for us to think seriously about coming back home to Adeliade (from 10 years of being in the UK).

This process could take 2 months or 2 years, we just dont know.

Ive been told property is going up fast in adelaide. I have been looking for a house in our price bracket of £300,000 to 350,000 as close to the city as poss.

All the rage seems to be enfield and surrounding areas (is this a premium area?)

I like how you can just go straight down main north rd to the city etc..

Do you reckon now is the time to buy and then rent the place out until we come over to live? Or buy somewhere, and then sell when we come over and use the equity into somewhere we wanna live etc?

And advice much apreciated!

Dan

Home owner to renter, troubles

2010-07-24T17:52:00.003+09:30

Question: is it true for when u have bought your own home, then wish to rent interstate, that agencies make it harder for you?
my sistern-in-law got knocked back so many times because of this reason
Am i going to have the same problem?

From: karen

is it better to fully pay your mortgage on your property be

2010-07-14T13:21:00.002+09:30

Question: is it better to fully pay your mortgage on your property before renting it, or is it a better option to have a small mortgage on it, if your thinking of buying another home to live in. Kim.

From: Kit

Purchasing Investment property shortly

2010-07-12T14:46:00.002+09:30

We are looking at purchasing a block and building a house in the Munro Parra Area shortly. What is the return and occupancy like that that area. thanks

From: Robyn

Location: Perth

Buying subject to sale

2010-07-12T13:56:00.002+09:30

Hi Toopie. My wife and I are looking at upgrading from our homette to a larger house as we would like to start a family within the next couple of years. We have been to a few open inspections and the agents have not been interested in a 'subject to' sale, basically because we have to sell our property to buy another. As other eager buyers do not have this problem we feel that we are getting left behind due to the added complexity of the sale process that we would be creating. My question is this normal behaviour at this time and is it better to sell first, rent and then look once we have no barriers in the way to a quicker sale?

From: Grant

Location: North Brighton

A mate has several investment properties (each property wort

2010-05-02T10:11:00.000+09:30

Question: A mate has several investment properties (each property worth around $450,000-) where he makes a net yield of around 3%. On the other hand I've noted some quality ASX listed companies (eg. CBA, WBC, QBE, NAB, ANZ, WDC, AMC, etc) most with gross yields above 6%. Assuming there is no capital growth over the next 5 or so years for the above shares or property, then do you agree that I would be better off buying the above shares because the yields are much higher?

From: charles

I would like to sell my property however I was advised by th

2010-04-22T13:08:00.002+09:30

Question: I would like to sell my property however I was advised by the Real Estate Agent that came thru my house this week that her commission would be 2.2% of the sale price of my house, that is a great deal of money? Is this the current rate all real eastate agents are charging ? Can I do any better?

From: wendy

Market in Victor Harbor

2010-03-25T12:08:00.003+10:30

Name: John Callaghan

Question: My wife and I (in our mid/late 50s) are thinking of selling our inner south-eastern suburbs home and moving to Victor Harbor to "semi-retirement". The equation of selling in Adelaide and buying in VH looks good - what are your views of the current buyers market in Victor Harbor, and potential for capital growth?

Cost to sub divide

2010-03-19T08:56:00.002+10:30

what is the cost to sub divide a block of land into two

Name: jim

Question: what is the cost to sub divide a block of land into two

Calculate Return on Investment for Property

2010-02-18T14:01:00.003+10:30

Ive noticed people commonly throw around percentages regarding 'return on investment' for investment properties...
I currently have an investment property thats been tennanted for a few years now... how do i work out my 'return on investment %' for it?

From: Dan

Location: Mitcham

house staging

2010-02-06T08:13:00.002+10:30

Do you have contacts for staging house and garden

From: denise kelly

Location: glengowrie

Bank Evaluations

2010-02-04T14:00:00.002+10:30

Im needing to get a bank evaluation as im going to use my current home as equity in a new home loan. Are there things I can do to maximise the bank eval ? How do they work out a value of my home ? and would this more likely be less or more than what I could get if I were to sell the house ?

From: Nathan

Location: Adelaide

Your agents

2010-01-05T11:49:00.002+10:30

Why are they all leaving the company?

From: Shaun

Location: Adelaide

Any Suburb

2009-11-02T20:35:00.002+10:30

Could you please give me 3 suburbs to buy & investment property & someone told me Taperoo would be a good place to buy Budget $300-$400k

From: Travis Ward

Location: Fulham Gardens

Modbury house values

2009-11-01T16:56:00.002+10:30

Is Modbury undervalued? It has great infraatructure but the surrounding suburbs have apper to be more expensive. What do you think?

From: Phil

Location: Adelaide

Responce to Real Estate .com..emails

2009-10-26T15:30:00.002+10:30

Request reply to email re 6A Parham Eden Hills

From: R.Rogers

Location: Highgate

Your agent fees

2009-09-24T12:46:00.002+09:30

What are your fees in selling a family home?

From: Jason

Location: Allenby Gardens

Home Improvement

2009-08-26T16:03:00.002+09:30

Hi Toopie, isn't it great that a free home improvement magazine , Transform Magazine, is coming onto the market in October - and Toop and Toop is featured. Not really a question, more a statement.

from: Bek

location: Hahndorf

community title sewer and electricity

2009-08-16T21:11:00.002+09:30

what do they mean by community title on sewer and electricity?we had a look at a property with its own land title,previously one block of land,been subdivided,owner built his own house at the back of the property,with fencing around totally separate but with community title on sewer,electricity...what are the disadvantages and how it would affect us if we purchase the property?thank you very much.

From: maria

Location: paradise

Suburban Values!!

2009-08-15T10:01:00.002+09:30

G'day Toopie..Ijust bought a 3 bdroom place in Dudley Park for 290k..wondering what you think of the suburbs future potential..Im hoping that it was a good buy!!!

From: Peter Acton

Location: Prospect

Driveway

2009-08-13T14:31:00.002+09:30

Hello - is it worth the investment to pave/concrete the gravel driveway of our 1970s era house? It's a large area and could cost several thousand dollars so we're seeking advice on whether or not the return would justify the upfront expense.

From: Andrew

Location: Wynn Vale

Median Price

2009-07-21T19:15:00.002+09:30

Which Adelaide suburb do you believe will have the highest median price in 20 years time and why? Thx

From: Justin

Location: Sydney

Sales growth in Mawson lakes

2009-07-20T16:17:00.002+09:30

How do you view the current price levels in mawson lakes. (shoalhaven) Do you see room for further growth or would you see it as over priced. Basically, is it a good area to be looking in?

From: Stu

Location: Adelaide

Training and Qualifications:

2009-05-30T21:25:00.002+09:30

What courses/companies/universities do you recommend for the best training? Im hoping to become a real estate agent within 2 years, however i am un sure of what course to take part in. Whether it be a private course like the College Of Real Estate, or a Tafe SA course. Im wondering what is most highly regarded upon in the real estate industry.

From: Matthew Lipzker

Location: Kensington Park, Adelaide

stamp duty

2009-05-24T19:10:00.002+09:30

purchase price extras such as stamp duty

From: william

Location: adelaide

Employment

2009-05-19T16:24:00.001+09:30

Hi Anthony. I have a desire to enter the Real Estate Sales field. My question is, is the Seek Oten online certificate course (Cert 4 real estate) looked on as an acceptable training / qualification course. My background is mainly sales and management. Cheers

From: Rae Miller

Location: Wynn Vale

How do I know what street is the best

2009-05-17T21:53:00.002+09:30

Could Carlton Street in Highgate and Hampton Street in Hawthorn be considered the best streets in the best suburbs?

From: Kris

Location: South Plympton

whichagent.com.au (wow!!!!)

2009-03-21T11:58:00.001+10:30

Hi Anthony. I have been told to look at a website called whichagent.com.au. I am looking for a real estate agent at the moment and was told that this is a great site to find information about real estate agents on. My girlfriend recently used a report from this site to chose her agent and I want to do the same. I located sales people from your office and agents from other offices. I bought a report on one of your agents and it was fantastic to find out about the houses they had for sale in the past. I particularly wanted to find an agent of yours that specialised in my suburb. I guess you are well aware of this site. How long has this been around for?

From: Stef

Location: Adelaide

Investment Property

2009-03-01T16:15:00.001+10:30

I would like to buy an investment / holiday property. What do I need to look out for?

From: Fiona

Location: Somerton Park

Property Values

2009-01-08T16:58:00.001+10:30

Dear Anthony, is Surrey downs/Fairview Park a good area to invest in?

From: James

Location: Surrey downs

building

2008-12-09T10:23:00.001+10:30

are we able to demolish our existing home and build two or three homes on the same block

From: Brenton Macklin

Location: 2 harold street para hills 5096

Recent Letter

2008-11-29T11:45:00.002+10:30

I received a letter recently saying that there is an error in the agreement that I signed with my agent saying I do not have to pay any commission or expenses - who should I speak to about this issue?

From: William Howell

Location: Seaton

Auction

2008-11-16T13:17:00.001+10:30

What happens if no one bids at an auction? Will the auctioneer put in a vendor bid and will it be the reserve price?

From: Adrian Webb

Location: Firle

making an offer

2008-09-14T11:31:00.002+09:30

Can I make an offer on a property lower than the asking price?

From: Cate kipridis

Location: kurralta park

Adelaide's property market future

2008-09-11T11:53:00.002+09:30

What does the future hold for Adelaide's property market? Is it 'recession proof' with the pending mining and defence boom? Or is there likely to be a few quarters of negative movement in the median house price?.

From: Ben Hyde

Location: Fullarton

when to buy?

2008-07-30T10:51:00.004+09:30

I am looking to buy in the next 6 to 12 months. Is there a certain month which is better to buy then others?

From: Todd Grima

Location: Glenelg

Why the new changes in legislation?

2008-07-30T10:44:00.004+09:30

Hi
I noticed there are so many changes that agents must now implement, due to this new legislation. To me, a lot of these seem to have come out of left field...
Just wondering why has this new legislation been introduced ? Was there major problems before ?

Name: Nathan

Location: Adelaide