Positioned to take full advantage of the Gold Coast’s stunning scenery, Elston Apartments in Surfers Paradise is flanked by ocean and river views.  Elston is also within comfortable reach of the Gold Coast’s most famous sights and sounds, affording you easy access to all the Gold Coast has to offer.

Comprising one and two bedroom apartments with spacious open plan living and quality finishes and fittings that offers timeless appeal.  With some of the best residential building facilities on the Gold coast, Elston includes a beach lagoon pool, which incorporates a 20m lap pool, a spa on the recreational deck and a fully equipped gym.

With the famed dining and entertainment precinct less than 5 minutes walk from Elston, the heart of Surfers Paradise can be explored on foot.

With an emphasis on easy living, “Lutwyche Apartments” boasts an impressive facade with clever design and beautiful finishes, has a mixture of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, with most bedrooms ensuited, and all apartments have a secure carpark.

The vision for Lutwyche Apartments is to build an affordable landmark apartment complex with beautifully appointed surroundings, whilst being only 5 km away from Brisbane CBD, a few minutes to Royal Brisbane Hospital and within walking distance to local primary and high schools, banks, a post office, fitness clubs and Lutwyche Centro Shopping Centre.

With Australia’s largest infrastructure project due for completion by 30 June 2012, which consists of two major components: The Airport Link and the Northern Busway, Lutwyche will benefit by taking 10′s of 1000′s of cars underground from Lutwyche Road, whilst providing quick access to the Airport Arterial Road via a dedicated access point from Lutwyche.  The Northern Busway is the next link into the South East Queensland’s dedicated Translink Busway system which will transfer Bus traffic to an express style network, thereby increasing reliability and dramatically reducing travel times especially in peak hour traffic.

Already boasting an exceptional public transport system, Lutwyche Bus Station connects to both express and standard bus routes and Wooloowin Train Station and provides a safe pedestrian underpass under Lutwyche Road.

With the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) four years ago has come a constant dribble of opinion and commentary. The more negative the story the more prominent the media features it.

I can put up with the nonsense we have had to listen to from Professor Steve Keen and those prophets of doom like him, but my greatest disappointment has been with the Board of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) who have demonstrated repeatedly how to get monetary policy monumentally wrong.

Flashback to Early 2008

In early 2008 the RBA (destructively) raised rates twice. Our economy was already slowing quickly after the rate rises of 2007 and this one caused it to swing too far the other way. Then Lehman Brother’s collapsed in the USA, triggering the GFC and the rest is history. The RBA scrambled to undo the damage by dramatically slashing rates in the latter part of that year; essentially admitting they had got their earlier decisions wrong!

August 2011 to May 2012 Interest Rate Decisions – WRONG!!!

Maybe they could be forgiven for the events of 2008; although there were many reputable opinions at the time saying they were going too far… but what has transpired over the past nine months, in my opinion, casts a huge question mark over the role the RBA plays today.

Below is a copy of what I said ahead of the RBA Board meeting in February 2012 to decide whether or not to move interest rates that month. This exact copy is of my newsletter article on January 27th last, titled “February Interest Rate Prediction”.

 “On Tuesday week the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will meet for the first time since early December to decide what to do with interest rates. In my opinion it is not a matter of IF they put rates down again… but by how much. As I sit here right now I cannot think of any half-decent argument for keeping rates on hold so I’m predicting another drop. I’ll even go out on a limb and suggest that they should bite the bullet and drop them by 50 basis points (or a full half a percent). BUT… I do not believe the banks will pass the next rate cut on in full; making the argument for an even bigger rate cut (say 60 or 65 basis points) justifiable. What the RBA is more likely to do, however, is go beyond the usual 25 basis points in February (but not more than 50 basis points) and then when the banks don’t pass it all on to consumers… follow it up with another rate cut in March or April.

My disclaimer, however, is that while I have been consistently right with what SHOULD happen (as proved over time)… the RBA board doesn’t always ‘get it‘ at first. So let’s sit back and see what they do. Either way, I am again on the record for you to ‘judge’ over the months ahead.”

Now compare the above with what the RBA Board said after that February 2012 meeting when they left rates unchanged:

“At today’s meeting, the Board noted that interest rates for borrowers have declined to be close to their medium-term average, as a result of the actions at the Board’s previous two meetings. With growth expected to be close to trend and inflation close to target, the Board judged that the setting of monetary policy was appropriate for the moment.”

In my newsletter on 9th March last I was very critical of the RBA Board’s decision (yet again) to leave interest rates unchanged in March. Here are three quotes from their official statement to support their decision:

• “The Australian economy would continue close to trend and inflation close to target”.
• “Looking forward, with growth expected to be close to trend and inflation close to target, the Board has judged that the current monetary policy will be appropriate in the near-term”.
• “The Board noted that the ‘clearest downside risk to the outlook for Australia remained a sudden worsening in the situation in Europe and its flow-on effects to the rest of the world through trade, financial and confidence channels’. Should demand conditions weaken materially; the inflation outlook would provide scope for easier monetary policy”.

That reads to me like I was wrong! With the combined experience of the RBA Board members and their access to crucial data that we don’t have it is understandable that they did what they believed to be correct.

I could accept that… except that it was ‘blatantly obvious’ rates needed to come down earlier. You didn’t have to be an economist looking at fancy charts from behind closed doors… you just had to have some ‘economic street smarts’. Anyway, after the RBA Board last met (on 1st May 2012), after having changed course and cut rates by half a percent, they justified that decision by saying that “the economic outlook was not as good as they had thought three months ago”.

The above aren’t their exact words but are exactly what they essentially said.

In short… the RBA Board was wrong not to move on rates earlier in the year; as most economists now agree.

Get The Right Information

If you and I are going to safely and responsibly navigate our way to prosperity, through the twists and turns that life will throw us along the way, we must be very careful who we allow to influence us. Just because someone has a degree, a fancy title and a fat salary does not make them right!

The seemingly small decision you make today will potentially have huge and lasting outcomes.

• Check out what a complimentary ‘Property Strategy Blueprint‘ session with us would entail >>>here
• For a financial heath check and/or to find out if you qualify to borrow money for a property purchase, complete our ‘My Starting Point’ assessment form >>>here
• Send me your question (economic, financial or property related) >>>here

Happy Investing,

Nick Lockhart
Our Customer Care Program works for you… because investing is personal!

Convenience! Location, Location, Location!!!

Lutwyche sits on Brisbane’s leafy northern inner city fringe with a uniquely characteristic blend of inner city chic and elevated charm. Residents will take full advantage of walking proximity to the Centro shopping centre, cosmopolitan cafés and boutiques, the Kedron Brook bikeway and parkland sanctuary, and an array of easy transport options.

The Northern Busway is the next link into South East Queensland’s dedicated Translink Busway system which is due to open mid in 2012. This project is around the corner from the ‘state of the art’ new Lutwyche Bus Station which connects to both express and standard bus routes and also provides a safe pedestrian underpass of Lutwyche Road.

Brisbane’s CBD is just 7 minutes or 5 km away, whilst the vibrant artistic and cultural pursuits of Fortitude Valley are even closer. Immediate availability to the Royal Brisbane Hospital, the Clem 7 tunnel, Gold and Sunshine Coast and airport links, simplifies those journeys and enriches multiple options for unlimited leisure and rewarding work or play.

Brisbane’s newly emerging ‘northern inner city precinct’ is undeniably one to watch as a rapidly emerging cosmopolitan and commercial hub producing an inherently aspirational lifestyle.

• Contact Us To Express Your Interest Or For More Information >>>here
• Download Full Property Report >>>here

Happy Investing,

Katrina Lockhart
Our Customer Care Program works for you… because investing is personal!

Located in the Redland Shire suburb of Capalaba, a bustling eastern suburb of Brisbane, a short drive from Moreton Bay with all its fishing and boating and just 30 mins from Brisbane CBD.  These townhomes are just a 5 minute walk to the central of Capalaba’s shopping district and is surrounded with infrastructure such as the Capalaba Bus Interchange, childcare centres, Moreton TAFE and primary and high schools withing walking distance.  Capalaba train station is just 8.6km away connected by bus.

Low body corporate rates and high rental yields due to low vacancy rates (1.3% at November 2011) ensure this property is an investor’s dream.

Your environment matters because it shapes your beliefs and they in turn determine your actions… which ultimately produce the life you are heading towards.

As you would probably advise your kids… be careful about who you listen to and hang out with!

That’s a proverb… as well as common sense. Relationships generally fall into one of two categories; replenishing relationships or draining relationships. I bet when you answer a knock at your door from a friend, it could be either one you are excited to see and invite inside… or one who when you see him/her standing there you think “Oh no… there goes my afternoon and everything I had planned”.

Some people have a knack of lighting up any room they enter. We feel better about life and ourselves for having been with them. Others unfortunately only light up a room by leaving it. I’m sure you make time for all your friends… perhaps just a little more for those that refresh and replenish you.

So what about you… think about it; you’re the person that you spend more time listening to than anyone else. Does your self talk leave you replenished or drained?

Maybe there’s a bit of self talk going on right now… ha, ha. You may be asking “What has any of this to do with investing in property”? Great question and the answer is… EVERYTHING – if you want to have success!

Let me explain…

Attitude And Gratitude – Life’s Fertile Breeding Ground

Problems (or challenges as I prefer to call them) are synonymous with life. The day all life’s challenges are at an end… so is your life. How you deal with challenges will play a bigger role in your ability to do well than anything else. As an employer I much prefer having people around me who, when a challenge arises, either take the initiative to solve it or bring both the challenge and their suggested solution to me.

I don’t like my mind being used as a dumping ground for negativity any more than you do yours… and we can easily be our own worst enemies in that regard.

Regardless of how bad things seem you have so much more to be grateful for. Stop for a moment and reflect on 20 things that you can give gratitude for. It’s amazingly true that when we get our attitudes right circumstances around us start to fall into place.

I barrack for the Gold Coast Titans in the NRL… who haven’t been travelling so well since the beginning of the 2011 season. I was saying to my brother last night that it’s frustrating how when a team is playing badly, making lots of simple errors, even the referee’s calls seem to unfairly go against them.

Attitude produces momentum – for better or worse. The ‘trick’ is to maintain a positive attitude so the momentum produced is like a tail wind propelling you forward rather than a head wind pushing you backwards. In the case of the Titans, I watched their game last week where many silly errors seemed to affect their attitudes and before long ‘everything’ seemed to go against them.

Not everyone reading this is a property investor… but no doubt you are a spouse or parent, employer or employee and the principle is exactly the same. Your attitude will determine your success in raising kids or in your performance at work. Likewise it will play a huge impact on your success (or otherwise) as a property investor.

Many companies selling investment property opt for a push system. That is, they work hard to get in people’s faces. Perhaps someone has tele-marketed you after you filled in a coupon for some competition promoted at a shopping centre. At mrd we prefer what is referred to as a ‘pull system’. That is, we let you know about the services we offer and invite those interested to respond and request our support.

Uniquely Individual

I can’t possibly know where individual mrd clients are at… but undoubtedly some may be struggling due to a business downturn while others, earning big bucks, are losing way too much in tax. There would be those ready and eager to take immediate action to keep their dream for financial security moving forward. Others may feel paralysed with fear, uncertain who to listen to and trust. There simply isn’t ‘one size that fits all’… we are all individuals with uniquely different circumstances.

My Invitation To You

I invite you to respond if you think there may be a way for us to add value to your situation at this time. Whether it’s help with debt consolidation, having your existing financial arrangements assessed, furthering your knowledge or securing your next investment property… my team are very capable of delivering you a level of service that you will be extremely pleased with. Interest rates are on the way down and perhaps now is a good time to have us see if you are getting the best deal going.

I’d like to direct you to what we call a “My Starting Point” assessment form which (as the name indicates) we use to gather an accurate snapshot of your current position. Only after we understand your unique ‘starting point’ can we assist you to take the next step. After help in defining your goals your focus should be on making measurable progress in reasonable time.

The antidote for confusion, anxiety and fear is right knowledge and putting an end to the negative self talk that keeps the potential before you… out of reach. I encourage you to ‘put your hand up’ and request a Property Strategy Blueprint session with one of our property mentors. We can do this with you over the internet (no technical knowledge is required, by the way) and assist you to create a personalised workable plan. Remember, it’s always the squeaky hinge that gets the oil… so ‘squeak up’ and let us know how you’d like us to help you.

• Yes Nick! I would like to speak with a property mentor about my personal situation >>>here
• So we can accurately assist you, complete a “My Starting Point” assessment form >>>here
• Check out a short video demonstration of what’s in a “Property Strategy Blueprint” session >>>here

Happy Investing,

Nick Lockhart
Our Customer Care Program works for you… because investing is personal!

Nationally, the average vacancy rate  sits at just 1.7% with Victoria at 3% showing the only capital city to buck the trend.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics CPI rental index reports that weekly rents have been rising by 5.7% nationally since the middle of 2008; with Brisbane at 6% and Melbourne at 4.8%. Rental yields in many parts of Queensland reflect that State’s housing shortfall with the State’s average yield being in excess of 6%.

Median rents over the past 12 months have grown significantly higher in the Queensland’s Hot Spots… with Gladstone up by 45%, Emerald 25%, Mackay 15% and 10% in Brisbane’s inner west.

For those with a capacity to capitalise on the opportunities that currently exist… 2012 is definitely shaping up as the turning point from Queensland’s time ‘flat-lining’.

Opportunity is certainly knocking… (metaphorically speaking) don’t get caught ‘hiding indoors with the TV turned down and the curtains drawn – this guest is worth opening your doors to and embracing with open arms’.

Yes Please Nick… I would like to have my situation assessed to determine if I would qualify to take advantage of the opportunities around at this time >>>here

Happy Investing,

Nick Lockhart
Our Customer Care Program works for you… because investing is personal!

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