mrd

You will either decide to change or have change forced upon you… either way it’s coming! Like it or not there are shifts occurring internationally, nationally, industrially and individually. One way or the other you’re going to be affected; so as the saying goes… “Toughen Up Precious”.

Change brings with it opportunity and only those who resist it have anything to fear. The problem with the good times is that people think they will never end. Likewise, the problem with the bad times is that people think they’ll never end. Success comes from making forward progress in all times.

Newton’s law of motion tells us that every action produces an opposite and equal reaction… we call this cause and effect. That means all change is both good and bad. Anybody can identify a problem… the ‘trick’ is to find the good (or opportunity) from every situation and benefit from it. Obstacles are stepping-stones disguised as stumbling blocks!

International Change

Global economic power is shifting from Europe and the US to Asia. The foresight of former Prime Minister Paul Keating to align our nation more closely with Asia has already begun to pay great dividends. The greatest opportunities are still ahead of us, however.

National Change

Australia is one of the most resource rich nations on earth. China and India continue to emerge as economic superpowers lifting millions of people from poverty to the middle class. Our mining industry is guaranteed continued growth and success supplying (what seems) a never-ending cycle of demand.

The high Australian dollar is here to stay for a while yet meaning those industries reliant on a low exchange rate MUST adapt or risk extinction. As always there are winners and losers with such change.

Read more…

Gladstone is home to some of the biggest “mega-projects” in the country that have sent ripples through the property market and will bring in thousands of new jobs which will result in strong demand for property.

A massive $66 billion in mining related projects have been approved with another $14B waiting for approval.

According to the Queensland Government the three so far approved projects are capable of creating up to 18,000 jobs in Gladstone.

With the onset of the GST building approvals dropped in Gladstone and over the 12 month period ending January 2011, only 572 new residential houses were approved.  Without a huge increase in activity the shortfall in housing would be 44,937 dwellings.

This has created the “perfect storm” for property investing and as such Gladstone is usually seen on the top Hotspot lists for the country.

Next week we will be releasing more information on Gladstone and some excellent property investment opportunities.

If you would like to have 48 hours prior notice and first right to refusal become a VIP valued client here >>>

Construction of Wynd Villas is nearing completion, progessing well and is ahead of schedule with some nice dry months to allow continuous construction. We are pleased to announce one of the Villas has been fast tracked to create a display and we are in the process of applying the finishing touches before the designer furniture arrives next week. The entry features are starting to take shape with the ordering of the Wynd Villas transparent lazer cut sign and up lighting today plus the laying of the mosaic water line tiles in the pool.

With construction on track for completion in October this is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the $10,000 Qld Government Building Boost and invest in quality residential property that is very well located and set for the future rise of the Queensland property market.

Find out more about these modern Gold Coast 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom townhomes here >>>>

Check out all the latest photographs of Wynd Villas here >>>>   (Note: view the full size of each photo)

For a complimentary Cash Flow Analysis Report on Wynd Villas – contact mrd here >>>>  OR call us on 07 5580 8888 (out of office hours messages will be received)

Our daughter, Natasha Lockhart, ‘brought the house down’ at her Brisbane audition for “The X Factor”.

The 2011 show kicks off this coming Monday 26th August; which I believe will feature the Brisbane auditions (TBC).

If you are interested tune in to Channel 7 from 7:30 pm this coming Monday and Tuesday.

Enjoy your week end,

Nick Lockhart

Reviews and Recommendations | Courier Mail

AUSTRALIANS still believe bigger is better, despite the international financial turmoil, with new data showing they are continuing to build the largest homes in the world.

The average floor area of new homes built in the nine months to March, including houses and apartments, was 214.1sq m, data commissioned from the Australian Bureau of Statistics by CommSec showed.

Despite that, more smaller apartments have been built during the past two years, a trend likely to continue as Generation Y starts to buy more real estate.

“They have a preference for smaller apartments close to the CBD. It is very different to their parents and grandparents who were looking for a quarter-acre block of land,” CommSec chief economist Craig James said.

“Generation Y does not want the huge house to look after. They are more inclined to maximise lifestyle.” Read more…

Forced national savings are a good thing; it just makes sense to put something aside for your retirement. Twenty years ago former Prime Minister and then Treasurer Paul Keating announced compulsory “Superannuation”. Starting at 3% and increasing to 9% of wages paid, this employer paid system along with its generous tax incentives was sold as the answer to the problem we faced funding an ageing population.

How’s it working out for you so far?

Does 38%+ per annum returns, no capital gains tax and with GREATLY REDUCED RISK grab your interest… even a little? If so, reading this to the end is a MUST!

Back then I was working for Westpac. I was a financial planner and a serious ‘super sceptic’… for reasons that now vindicate me. That said, I see much benefit in super today… not because I have changed but because the legislation has.

Let me deal with something up front before I lose those who think I am just a property person taking a pot shot at another asset class! Just about all Australians are locked into superannuation, so the argument isn’t whether to participate or not… but rather how to manage your super to increase the likelihood of getting the result you want. And for the record, as a Westpac employee I convinced many people to not make extra contributions into super when they had personal debt big enough to choke a horse! Yes, suggesting they pay down non deductible debt (like their home loan) and leverage into investment property did nothing for my income… but that was never the point. It was the right advice to give these people… period! Needless to say I moved out of that industry (my choice) gravitating to where I am now.

Today, I don’t promote property because I’m in the property industry. NO; Today I’m in the property industry because I believe property is our best vehicle for building wealth!

20 years on from Keating’s reforms questions still hang over superannuation and the critical need to fund our ageing population. The stock market may have performed reasonably but ‘failure’ best describes the ability of fund managers when measuring personal superannuation returns.

But it doesn’t have to stay this bad!

Contact mrd >>>here

Most people:

• Have their retirement funds tied to the (extremely volatile) stock market
• Have no real say in their fund’s investment strategy
• Have no ability to leverage their super balance

The current Gillard government wants to introduce legislation to increase the employer contribution from 9% to 12% and then to 15%. This is tied to the mining tax and a whole lot of political ’cause and effect’ that I won’t touch on today. Suffice to say I assume you want the best returns, with the least possible risk, on whatever goes into your super.

FACT: Industry and retail super funds have averaged over the past decade an annual return exactly equal to the annual average inflation rate for the same 10 year period… 3.2%! So your money has effectively done nothing!

STOP for a moment and think about your superannuation. Given you have to participate in the system, are there better options from underperforming funds in volatile markets?

As an example only… Read more…

If you haven’t yet seen Nick Lockhart’s DVD (available online) check out this 82 second grab!

Read more…

A 72 year old who loves to fish was sitting in his boat the other day when he heard a voice say “Pick me up.”

He looked around but couldn’t see anyone. He thought he was dreaming when again he heard the voice say “Pick me up.”

Startled, he saw a frog floating on water. “Are you talking to me” the man enquired?

“Yes, I’m talking to you” replied the frog! “Pick me up and kiss me and I’ll turn into the most beautiful woman you have ever seen. I’ll become your bride and you will be the envy of your friends.”

The man looked at the frog for a short time then reached over the side of his boat, picked up the frog and carefully placed it in his front pocket.

“What… are you nuts” shouted the frog? “I said kiss me and I will be your beautiful bride.”

He opened his pocket, looked at the frog and said…

Read more…

At about 6:21 pm on Tuesday I received an internal email from Doug, our Senior Property Mentor. He simply wrote ‘The RBA is following your lead‘. He included a link to an article he came across titled “Double Interest Rate Cut Tipped For September“. Mixed messages fuel confusion and fear and that’s when people are more prone to making mistakes, so when I received Doug’s comments (although a little tongue in cheek) I wanted to expand on my economic views here today.

Interest Rates To Fall

In last Friday’s newsletter I made the bold prediction that the Reserve Bank (RBA) would soon cut interest rates… and by 0.5% (or 50 basis points). With the exception of Bill Evans from Westpac who said the next interest rate movement would be down, at the time I was pretty much a lone voice. Other economists and commentators were still predicting another couple of rate rises this year; a view that is almost universally now seen as ‘ancient history’. These knee jerk reactions and changes of heart (in this case in under a week) typify one of the very points I was making!

Contact mrd >>>here

Keynesian Economics

Keynesian Economics is the term given to an economic theory stating that active government intervention in the marketplace and monetary policy is the best method of ensuring economic growth and stability. Supporters of Keynesian economics believe it is the job of (bigger) government to smooth out the bumps in business cycles. On a practical level this usually results in higher taxes and more government spending. Unlike the Howard/Costello government, the Rudd/Swan and now Gillard/Swan governments are seen to embrace Keynesian Economics.

Stagflation & My Views

The current financial crisis is NOT so current and the underlying reasons why fear has this week been driving stock markets have actually been around for some time.

Australia risks going into a time of stagflation; that’s where we have negative economic growth and rising inflation at the same time; it’s said to be the result of Keynesian Economics. I think stagflation has been ‘incubating’ in the Australian economy for sometime already and to combat it (a lot easier said than done) we need our government to lower taxes and encourage individuals and businesses to spend more and stimulate economic growth.

Read more…

 BIG 4 Bedroom Townhouses

Coast Homes – an exciting new 4 x bedroom townhouse development where nature meets modern architecture – a perfect blend of location & lifestyle + urban & natural environments.

Coast Homes is within close proximity to Harbour Town and Runaway Bay Shopping Centres, the new Gold Coast Hospital and the Labrador commercial hub. Read more…