http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/ Hot Property Specialists Buyers Agency Pty Ltd Articles http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=8266 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=8266 The bottom of the property market: general wisdom has it that it is a great place to buy, and a poor place to sell. But gauging when the market has bottomed can be tricky, and following broad rules alone is usually not enough. Numerous media publications and property experts have already pronounced we are at or near the bottom of the property cycle in Australia in 2009. "I don't know if we're going into the bottom, at the bottom,... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7966 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7966 Many people can become confused by Housing Styles. What one style could mean to an Agent can be totally different from what the client requires. So what are the different styles and how can they be distinguished from one another? Our guide to "Housing Styles" will show you what features to look for on a property that makes it a certain style and the correct name of that particular style. Never be confused by Housing... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6467 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6467 Historically, property has been a proven method to increase your wealth and there is no reason for this to change in the future. It’s all about the right property in the right location and purchasing it at the best possible price as you should make money on the way in to the market as well the compounding growth every year you own the property. The compounding effect of property value increases which is so powerful. As each year... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5949 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5949 Whether buying a home to live in or buying investment properties, the key elements remain the same..... Build a team of people around you that are experts in their field. E.g. If you have a tooth ache you would not go to your local pool shop to fix it! Forward planning when purchasing property, whether it is for an investment or your own home, can ensure you achieve the best results possible – minimizing your risks and... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7689 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7689 Why use a Professional Buyers Agent’s help when you are looking to spend $300,000 up to Millions of dollars of your own money? As HPS Buyers Agents, we have seen and heard it all from buyers, regarding the numerous mistakes they have made in the past. Unfortunately, these mistakes have cost buyers of Real Estate many thousands of dollars, and have undoubtedly contributed to significant amount of stress, ill health and yes we have... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7599 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7599 On arrival..... Check out the area to ensure the home conforms to the other homes in the area Ensure the other homes add value to your intended purchase Ensure the land is relatively level Check that drainage is good and that surrounding homes are not all higher than the home being considered for purchase Verify that any outside improvements (eg garden sheds, garages, carports, etc) add value The... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5615 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5615 A Buyers Agent works, and is paid only by the buyer – therefore we only look after the buyers best interests ensuring the right property to meet their personal property goals and outcomes is purchased on their terms, at the lowest possible price, not the sellers. A buyer’s agent is duty bound at law to achieve the lowest possible price for their client. At the same time they also have a duty to fully investigate the... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6707 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6707 Buyers are Sellers Too! Selling your home can be a nightmare of frustration and disappointment. It can cost you thousands of dollars, either in selling too cheaply or in needless expenses. It need not be this way! Selling your home should be a pleasant and rewarding experience. You should receive the highest possible price at the lowest possible cost. 1) The more agents you employ the lower your price becomes Do not list... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7249 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7249 Capital Gains Tax  Capital gains tax will normally apply on the sale of investment properties. There are also circumstances where the capital gain may be exempt (Main Residence exemption) or apportioned (usually due to the Principle place of residence exemption or receipt from deceased estate). Capital Gains can be a very complex topic so advice must be sought for individual circumstances. However, My Tax Zone can explain some... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6636 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6636   Moving hints Ask your local shop for small boxes or consider plastic storage tubs - they are waterproof and you can see what's in them You can even hire boxes from “Hire A Box” this make moving even easier. Use old sheets, blankets or towels to cover and protect furniture If you have to disassemble furniture, place any nuts or bolts in a small plastic bag and tape it to the furniture, this... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7137 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7137 Capital Works Write-off It is similar to depreciation but accounts for the declining value of the building itself (eg house structure, pergola, carport, garage etc.). Building Write-off is 2.5% of the construction cost and is written off over 40 years – on the original construction costs. Some restrictions apply to this Capital Works Write-off: It only applies to residential dwellings constructed after July 1985 4%... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6990 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6990 Here are some interesting facts: Property growth over past several years has averaged 11% pa. There are over 1,5 mil taxpayers who own a rental property 29% of Australians are considering buying an investment property Properties in some areas are selling for more than the listed price Under supply of rental stocks is forcing rents higher and higher There is absolutely no doubt that property in Australia is a HOT... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6818 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6818 The Tax Office is holding on to investors' money! In its simplest form, property gearing is structuring an investment project to generate either an income stream (positive gearing) or generate a net loss (negative gearing).    Under Australia's taxation laws, income derived from a positively geared investment is assessable at marginal rates while a net loss generated from a negatively geared investment... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6767 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6767 Rent growth accelerated to 8.4 per cent in 2008 and will continue to rise strongly over the next two years despite rising unemployment, says BIS Shrapnel. In a note on yesterdays inflation data, BIS senior manager Jason Anderson said rent growth in 2008 was the strongest since 1988, and predicted growth of about 8 percent in 2009 and 2010. He said unemployment meant rents would rise, partly because people who lost their jobs and were... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6637 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6637 Boom, bust, doom, gloom. No matter which paper you pick up at any point in time you will see various opinions about the state of the market. Selling agents will talk up the buoyancy of the market. Researchers will interpret their statistics as good and bad – as confusing and contradictory as they are! And financial advisors will tell you to stick to shares or even in long term investment funds. Therefore, here is the... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6634 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6634 Depreciation is sadly often missed by investors, but it is a legitimate tax deduction. The Tax office admits that 52% of investors don’t claim what they are legally entitled to. Don’t let it happen to you!  Just like your body starts to feel the effects of wear and tear, so will your investment property. The difference is that while you will be provided with a 'depreciation allowance' for the effected... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6638 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6638     As Brisbane Property Buyer’s Agent s, Liz is often asked to give advice about the ‘best place to buy’. Our answer is not a straight forward one because it depends on your budget, whether you are an investor or owner occupier, your financial goals and your lifestyle considerations.   Let’s look at a couple of case studies where our clients have had similar... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6631 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6631  Why use a Professional Buyers Agents help when you are looking to spend $300,000 up to Millions of dollars of your own money?   As Hot Property Specialists Buyers Agents, we have seen and heard it all from buyers, regarding the numerous mistakes they have made in the past. Unfortunately, these mistakes have cost buyers of Real Estate many thousands of dollars, and have undoubtedly contributed to significant amount of... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6675 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6675   The latest housing finance data from the ABS shows the number of loans being committed for housing is now trending up after diving during most of the 2008 calendar year.  On a seasonally adjusted basis, housing finance commitments were up 7.1% in value for owner occupiers. The largest jump in home loan volumes has been for the purchase of new dwellings, where on a seasonally adjusted basis the number of housing loans... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6674 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6674 Coolangatta and Tweed Heads apartment values have reached new heights, defying the economic turmoil impacting property prices across Australia, new research by Colliers International shows. Preliminary figures reveal high-rise apartment resales in the two suburbs averaged $768,535 during 2008, up from $747,127 in 2007, and achieved an average capital growth of 7.1% per annum. The report, compiled by research manager Lynda Campbell,... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6595 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6595 Posted on Feb 7, 2009 at 12:00 AM Homeowners will receive up to $1600 to install ceiling insulation, while investors can receive a $1000 rebate, as part of the Rudd Government's economic stimulus package. The insulation scheme is part of a $42 billion stimulus package announced this week that also includes direct cash payments to millions of families, and large investments in schools and infrastructure. All Australian owner-occupiers who... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6594 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6594 Posted on Feb 7, 2009 at 12:00 AM Rebates of up to $500 are available to households that install a rainwater tank or grey-water system under a Federal Government rebate scheme. Rebates are available for the purchase and installation of a new rainwater tank that's connected for use of the water in the toilet and/or laundry, or a permanent grey-water treatment system. Climate Change and Water Minister Penny Wong said the rebate scheme... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6678 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6678 Foreign investments at record level in Queensland   While Australians have put buying property on the back burner as global commodities markets stabilize, foreigners ploughed a record $621 million into Queensland residential property market during 2007/2008 financial year. $383.5 million out of the $621million was for investment properties the remainder was owner occupation. This is the largest foreign investment figures ever... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6442 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6442 The Federal Government has boosted the First Home Owners Grant  which is administered by the state government.  $1.5 billion will be invested to help first home buyers buy a home. If eligible, the first home buyer will be given an:   ·       additional $7,000 for buying an established home; totalling $14,000 or... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6324 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6324 See Your Property in the Eyes if a Potential Tenant Ask Yourself the Question – ‘Would I lease this property?” PREPARING YOUR PROPERTY FOR LEASE Proper and thoughtful preparation of your rental property could make the difference between achieving the maximum possible rental return and having a poorly performing investment. The main aim of any property investor is to have happy, good quality, long... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6466 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6466 Essentially, property investment performance means minimising your 'out of pocket' expenses and maximising your potential capital growth. Some of the reasons property investments fail to perform as expected can include: •    The loan taken out was structured wrongly; •    The loan was taken out in the wrong name; •   ... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6465 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6465 In plain terms, negative gearing allows people to borrow money to purchase an income producing property, to claim a tax deduction for many expenses they incur running that income producing property ... including loan interest.   Your tax rebates, along with your rental income are used to pay off your loan, reducing your out of pocket expenses.  The end result ... down the track, the tax man and your tenants will have paid... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6125 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6125   Interview selling agents for the position!!!! Tell them that you will be interviewing them for the position of sales person of your property Here are the questions you should be asking: Does your agency have the highest profile for your area? How Many properties did you personally sell last month? How many properties did your agency sell at Auction last month? What professional qualifications do you have? ... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6596 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6596 Looking for this year’s property hotspots – here are the top picks for buying real estate in 2009. Another year is here and many of us are contemplating our future for the next 12 months – do I buy or sell, which suburb or area should I move to, should I buy an investment property? To help you make informed decisions, RP Data has provided us with 2009 hotspots. Regional hotspots   The Australian... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6589 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6589 Suburbs that are likely to outperform during 2009 Is Brisbane your city of choice for 2009? If you are thinking of buying in this Queensland city, we have the real estate hotspots predicted to outperform this year. Redcliffe – is located approximately 28km north of Brisbane City and sits on a waterfront peninsula.  The suburb is well located and shows an affordable pricing relativity when compared to suburbs which are... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5930 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5930 As Buyers Agents in the Queensland Real Estate Market we are privy to alot of information the general public never have the opportunity to access. At the end of last month we were personally invited to a '2008 Year in review' and '2009 Market Prediction' hosted by Herron Todd White, Australias largest independent property valuation and advisory group in Australia.  The general consensus as reported by... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5929 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5929 RP Data – Rismark Property Value Index Release Property Value Index Release   Claims that the Australian property market would in 2008 experience a major downturn have been proven incorrect based on the most recent findings of the RP Data-Rismark Hedonic Property Value Index, which in October again showed that Australian capital city property prices had increased for the second consecutive month. Released today, the RP... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6110 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6110 The rate of population growth in the South East Queensland equates to approximately 630 new residents moving into the area each week. An estimation of housing demand can be derived based on the population growth and average household size of 2.6 people. Using these figures, Greater Brisbane requires 250 new dwellings each week to provide housing for new residents, however realistically this figure is likely to be higher, given the trend... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5594 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5594 This article outlines the process for buyers looking to purchase at Auction Complied by Liz Wilcox from Hot Property Specialists Buyers Agency. The most important aspect of any property transaction, including auctions, is whether you have done your homework before jumping in to a contract. You must know all the facts. Things to look at and consider before buying: (this is where Hot Property Specialists Buyers Agency can help and guide you... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5310 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=5310 When it comes to Real Estate there are a whole lot of terms and phrases that some of us probably have never heard of before. Therefore have we put together a list of these tems and definitions of the terminology used in the real estate market. This Real Estate Dictionary is a your guide into the world of real estate. You can simply look up any words and their meaning, if you are lost in "Real Estate... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6769 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6769 The prevailing tough economic conditions will not hold back the impending recovery in the housing market according to Archicentre, the national building advisory service of the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA). Robert Caulfield, managing director of Archicentre said that while most potential homebuyers are still currently fairly cautious, strong housing demand and lower interest rate environment are likely to fuel a significant... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6766 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6766 Investment property depreciation provides investors with substantial tax benefits, which can help them improve their cash flow and increase their return on investment  Depreciation is the generic accounting term used to describe how an asset declines in value over time.In property investment terms, it’s a legislative allowance made under the Income Tax Assessment Act (1997) to recognise the decline in value of the physical... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7145 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=7145 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6584 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6584 This months decision by the Reserve Bank to cut the Official Cash Rate by 100 basis points is welcome news for both prospective and existing property owners. The combined cuts since September last year translate to a total saving of approximately $800 a month ($9,600) on a $300,000 loan. Which is like getting a pay rise of about $13,000 before tax.   The latest rate cut does present a window of... http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6280 http://www.hotpropertyspecialists.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=6280 Have you ever gone into a store and seen something you really wanted with a big red SALE tag swinging off it and said “No, I’m going to wait until that comes back to full price before I buy it”? Sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it.  However, that is exactly what is happening in the Australian property market right now.  Property never seems cheap (because it is such a large...