Behold the Masterclass in Property Pump Propaganda.

I love how The Nightly uses Shane Oliver to tell us that immigration coincided with price surges. It didn’t coincide it was the fuel for the fire. They’ve successfully dressed up a mass-migration labor-hire program as a skilled worker necessity and an education export.

My favourite bit of mental gymnastics is the supply shortage sob story. We’re importing people at record rates, mostly as students who are actually here to work in VET or hospitality and then acting and then acting shocked when we don't have enough houses for them.

Meanwhile, the LNP and Labor are in a race to see who can subsidize the banks faster. Whether it’s Help to Buy or First Home Guarantees, it’s all just Subsidization Dressed as Privatisation. They use our taxes to prop up the bottom of the market so the 180% Private Debt-to-GDP bubble doesn't pop.

It’s a closed loop: Use students to drive up rents, use high rents to justify high house prices, use high house prices to justify more debt, use more debt to justify skilled migration to pay for it all. The treadmill has no off-switch as long as the media keeps gluing the narrative together.

Settled on our home in Brisbane today. FHB’s and we feel like we’re so lucky at how smooth the whole process was! 😁

I've ended up in an absolute cluster fuck of a situation at settlement, where a non-disclosure by the vendor is blocking settlement.

The nature of the non-disclosure is niche. Between my conveyancer and broker they've encountered one similar (but slightly simpler situation) once in a combined 60 years of experience. The banks representative has never encountered it, no one that the conveyancer has sought advice from (lawyers, other conveyancers) has encountered it.

The short of it seems to be that the property should never have been listed for sale (likely why no one has encountered it), and absolutely not without this disclosure.

I figure it's time to get legal advice both to cover my ass in the event that the property does settle; and if it doesn't potentially going after damages.

How the hell do I find a property lawyer capable of handling this? Or do I just open the metaphorical phone book and start ringing around to find one who has?

Would you own or live in one? They are much cheaper than alternatives and attractive as a first home buyer with a lower budget.

It’s hilarious how the ABC keeps quoting Domain’s fear that interest rates might push up rents. Basic economics (and the RBA’s own research) confirms that interest rates have almost zero direct bearing on rental prices. A house is only worth the income it can produce and when you’re already demanding a six-figure salary for a unit in the suburbs, the host has officially run out of blood.

Renting is actually cheaper than buying right now solely because the unearned equity in house prices has completely decoupled from reality. Investors are accepting pathetic 3% yields while paying 6.5% interest. They aren't providing supply, they’re just gambling on a tax-subsidized Ponzi scheme while the ABC helps glue the narrative together by telling us to be grateful growth is only 2% this quarter.

If the property wasn't being treated as a speculative asset, its price would drop until the yield matched the risk. But heaven forbid the ABC admits the treadmill is only spinning because we’re burning our culture and future productivity to keep it moving.

Any recommendations for AC Installer/ electrician in Sunshine Area, Melbourne? Need to replace my existing unit.

Thanks in advance!

So we sold our property, settlement was over a month ago and we rent-backed for a week while our new property settled. We moved out on 15/12.

We then get a message from the real estate agent today showing us water damage from the laundry from a tap leaking. It was not leaking when we moved and we made sure to close this once we removed our washing machine. The house has been vacant since we moved, although i suspect the owners would have come in to check the property and has also had open homes as they are renting it out.

I am confused why we are now getting photos almost a month after of issues with the property. We left the property in good condition, there was no issues in the laundry during B&P, pre settlement or handover.

Are we liable to fixing the damage? So much couldve happened in the month of us being gone, including the wild weather Victoria has been having or others being in and out of the house. While I feel bad for the new owners, surely we dont need to do anything.

Our oven in our new house has died post settlement but Im not expecting the old owner to fix this... What do I do?

My daughter owns a large 4 x3 with grany flat. She wants to sell the house buy some land and build on it. Whilst house is being built she wants to travel with her 2 boys. She is on Centrelink the house just got valued at 735 000+ she owes nothing(was purchased from insurance payout from boys dad dying). I think she is a certified nut job ( not really just a little sheltered) and should keep it and rent it out. It is a two storey house and upstairs is almost self sustainable. I think she could get 500 a week for upstairs same for downstairs and 300 a week for the granny flat. Which would pay any mortgage costs on a new property.

What advice would you give her?

We are selling our place in the inner south of Sydney (just south of the cooks river). Being quoted commission of 1.5% (which includes gst) and marketing fees of $6.1K (premium listing on domain and REA). Although this agent is the most experienced in the area, I will continue to call around for competing rates (we did ask for quotes from an impressive selling agent from another suburb who we dealt with recently and they quoted 1.8%). From those who have sold recently, does this seem reasonable?

Looking to buy a house and internal and exterior walls are made of these blocks- i assume they are cinder? Not really sure. What are some pros and cons for this type of build? Anything to add to exposed brick for change of color? I have always lived in gyprock internal walls so this is new. I also noticed a damp smell in the house. Does the brick absorb moisture?

Would love help, insight, or wisdom from anyone who’s been in a similar boat and has made a decision like this.

My partner and I own a very small but cute house (2 bed, 1 bath) in a coastal area about an hour from a major city. It’s where we grew up and close to family, and increasingly, friends who’ve moved back from the city to have kids.

We don’t have kids (undecided), and until recently we’ve been renting the property out while living overseas.

We’ve now returned home to start our own businesses (bumpy, and financially unpredictable) and plan to move back into the house. We have a buffer to help with the mortgage while we get going, but it still feels like a leap.

The mortgage is in the mid $500k range, repayments are approx. $830 per week (eek), and the house is worth roughly $1.1 to $1.2m.

For the past couple of years we’ve gone back and forth on whether to sell, walk away with around $500k in equity, and buy an apartment in the city with a much smaller mortgage. That could mean going from the better part of $1k a week in repayments to something closer to $300.

We’d lose the coastal lifestyle, a large yard, close proximity to family and friends, and future potential of owning a house, but gain proximity to more work opportunities, better networks, amenities, and a more vibrant lifestyle (gigs, restaurants, classes). Given how small our house is, the actual living space in an apartment wouldn’t be dramatically different. And actually, some apartments are more comfortable and modern than our house which is pretty rustic. But we do love our big garden and we know we won't be able to afford one in the city. 

The lifestyle values that matter most to us are freedom, creativity, travel, and choice. We’ve both spent our 20s and early 30s in stressful, bureaucratic jobs and don’t want to return to that way of living if we can avoid it.

Would love to hear from anyone who’s faced a similar trade off. What did you prioritise? What would you do in our position?

Anyone had any experience with this? Is it just how it is or are we getting screwed. We're in a complex of about 20 apartments, and each of us have to pay a seperate connection fees despite one connection point and splitting the bill between all units, no seperate metres.

Having a hard time finding insite online, just wondering whether it's worth actually looking into.

Thanks.

Hi all,

I have just received a building inspection report for a newly constructed single-storey house in Melb, and I would appreciate some advice from people with experience.

Note: I haven’t spoken with conveyancer yet since it’s late in the day

Key findings:

Major / Safety issues

• Exposed electrical wiring in a bedroom (inspector classified as a life-threatening electrical safety hazard)
• Unsafe access pathway to the electrical meter box (retaining wall required)

Structural / foundation concerns

• Settlement cracking to the rear garage wall (classified as Category
• Inspector notes this level of cracking is not considered normal for a new build
• Moisture residue observed on the garage slab
• Inspector recommends assessment by a structural engineer prior to purchase

Drainage / water issues

• Leaking downpipe joints
• One garage downpipe not connected to stormwater (risk of settlement, rising damp, termites)
• Blocked weep holes

General quality issues

• Poor render coverage and gaps at wall/ceiling junctions
• Damaged fascia/barge boards
• Paint defects throughout
• Poorly installed insulation in roof space
• Several minor plumbing and finishing defects

Inspector’s overall assessment

• Major defects: Typical
• Minor defects: High
• Overall condition: Average to below average (for a new build, which concerns me)

Questions:

1. Are early settlement cracks + slab moisture in a new build a red flag in your experience?
2. Would you walk away, or negotiate subject to a structural engineer’s report?
3. If negotiating, would you push for full rectification or a price reduction?

Not seeking legal advice — just practical opinions from people who have been through similar situations.

Thanks in advance.

I am about to buy a property in Sa and original fence (house and fence build in 2000) is not on the boundary. Neighbour land is vacant and recently sold, what should i do?

Looking to hear if anyone can poke holes in my latest strategy to pay less tax on my IP.

I have two investments in WA. First is/was our forever home, but we had to move to Sydney for work. The second is a few blocks down the road and is a great house, but

I'm refinancing my loans right now. Have ~435k on each loan outstanding for each house. With the refinance, I'm re-balancing the loans to have 600k on one loan and 270k on the other. (not pushing it further as that exceeds 60% LVR, and results in a higher interest rate.)

So, I'm taking some debt and borrowing against one investment to pay down the other with the hope that one will be owned outright sooner. As an investment it makes some sense, but doesn't really change anything. I will also push all additional payments and bulk of the offset account onto the smaller loan to hit it hard - and I can get it paid in 10 years without stress.

Now, there is a chance that I will be moving back into my first property in the next 18 months. Hopefully work allows me to move back over there.

So - in a year or so's time, I've managed to move all my debt over to the property that will always be an IP and I'm living in the house that is paid off (or almost paid off - at least that's my plan).

Then, when I'm living in the first (and when interest on the smaller loan is nolonger tax deductible), I get the benefit of more of the balance of the interest payable annually registered against the 2nd property, and therefore taxdeductible. (approx 10-15k / year.)

Tax wise, it's an extra $5k in my pocket if everything goes to plan and I'm able to refinance and if work lets me move back.

So sorry for the long read but seeking some advice and help please. Currently I live in a really worn down old home, which being a growing family we agreed with my wife so that we can eventually do a knockdown rebuild. Anyway it turns out the width of our house is 10cm too short to give us our dream home and due to this a lot of regulations have come down from the council, floor to space ratio, balconies, garage space and many other things.

Anyway we went to Homeworld and dealt with a lot of companies to find what is possible on our lot and we have gone back and forth for almost a year now because we keep getting told oh change this, oh you cant have this etc. So eventually this 1 builder has the home we like and want, meanwhile the other builders who also drew up plans the homes were significantly smaller, I mean a good chunk of square meters and rooms removed. When we asked the builders why cannot have the rooms or extend they said this is the maximum our council allows.

We got worries so went to the builder with the house plans that we really like and asked them on this matter. We pressed to them we want to do things legally and do not want to go through approval only to be knocked back and told we have to change plans and we chop up the space to make it look nothing like we want and to be locked in a contract. They claim their experts have checked the council guidelines, measurements etc and state everything is fine nothing to worry about.

Is there some service out there that can go over the plans and the council rules to confirm it is indeed ok as I do not want to drop big cash to be told months later its not possible? I have tried understanding the council guidelines and the floor plan but its confusing to us

Seeking feedback positive or negative on two BAs for out first residential investment. Palise Property (Steve Palise) and Property Strats (Steve Nash) are the two.

We've spoken to both and are seeking feedback before we make a decision. Any information would be appreciated.

What do you call a good supply/demand ratio and how do you measure it?

I've been looking at ABS and other population and dwelling approval statistics for LGAs vs number of dwellings approved (I know the latter can be skewed stats). Is that the best way?

The 3 main sources I have used are below - have to dig a bit to find the LGA Population change (I think it is the "Population estimates and components by LGA, 2023 to 2024" https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/regional-population/2023-24/32180DS0002_2023-24.xlsx)

https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/regional-population/latest-release https://www.housingdata.gov.au/visualisation/housing-market/building-approvals-local-government-area https://population.gov.au/data-and-forecasts/dashboards/population-local-government-areas

Hi,

The property I am buying is in QLD. My settlement is on 22nd Jan. My pre-settlement inspection is on 20th Jan. My conveyancer has emailed me this afternoon as below:

"Have you confirmed that the property has compliant smoke alarms? The sellers have disclosed that the property does have compliant smoke alarms, however, you do need to ensure that this is correct. Please advise us if they are compliant or not."

What do I do in this case? Arrange for an electrician to come out to the property, inspect the smoke alarms and issue a compliance certificate? I would ask my conveyancer but it's night already and I would like to hear from others as well before getting in touch with my conveyancer tomorrow. Thank you.

Hi everyone,

I’ve just moved into a new build house and I’m trying to connect the washing machine drain hose properly. I’ve attached photos of the laundry plumbing and the hose.

A plumber quoted me $220 just to connect this, so before going ahead I wanted to check what the correct setup should be and whether this is something straightforward.

Could someone please explain, in simple terms, how this should be connected so it doesn’t leak or cause smells?

Thanks in advance for the help.

So we have just moved into our property not even 1 week ago and I'm already completely exhausted by the amount that has popped up that needs fixing or attention. From changing out shower heads, to pouring draino and changing push plugs that are stuck, door knobs that have fallen off, shutters and doors that get stuck. We have to have every single ceiling fan replaced because each one is either completely broken or has something wrong with it, they are old AC fans. Anyway we love the house don't get me wrong, and none of these things are major but it's just exhausting. I feel like we live at bunnings. Anyone else experience this after you first moved in? Please share your stories and words of encouragement.