mrd

The following graph shows the history of interest rate movements in Australia from March 2001 to March 2009. The official cash rate currently stands at 3.25 per cent, which is a 45 year low.

Some people are simply confused right now. They have heard so many mixed messages in the past 18 months that they are unsure if now is a good time to step out and invest… or hold back and minimise their commitments.

If that’s you, don’t stay confused. It’s only when we have the right information that we can make fully informed decisions.

• Keep asking questions
• “Lash out” and have us prepare a Finance Structure & Cash Flow Health Check (there’s no cost anyway)
• Explore your retirement possibilities; not based on what you have done to date but what is possible in the next 7 to 10 years

To have us assist you, click here

Happy Investing,

Nick Lockhart
mrd Customer Care Program… because investing is personal

To make sense of the property market we must separate opinion from fact. Opinions will always be heard… just in greater numbers now perhaps. If you are prepared to “drill deeper” and dissect the evidence available; the facts will speak for themselves. There’s no reason for allowing the conflicting voices of opinion to keep you confused!

In the current round of Web Seminars we are offering, I highlight four key factors that are a MUST… if you expect to draw any credible conclusions.

1.    Record Population Growth
2.    Investors Have Fled The Market
3.    Home Ownership Unattractive
4.    New Construction Has Stalled Badly

Read more…

Our “What In The World Is Going On With Property” Web Seminar has proven to be so popular that we are going to run it again a few more times between now and the Christmas break.

You can register for next Wednesday evening; December 3rd… or nominate a preferred time when you would like us to host one… and if enough people want a lunch time or weekend one e.g. we’ll arrange it!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THIS FREE EVENT NOW!

You will learn…

• Four important factors that must be considered if you want to accurately analyse the state of our property market
• Rental market equilibrium; how is it reached and what does it mean
• What are balanced and stressed rental markets and what must follow
• Changing property cycle and fresh wealth creation opportunities
• How the US property market works and why they got themselves into so much trouble
• Why the value of your home will NOT follow that of Europe and the USA
• Plus much more (including answers to YOUR questions, at the end)

Read more…

On the evening  of Wednesday 5th November I hosted our 1st ever mrd Web Seminar: “What In The World Is Going On With Property”. The event was a huge success. Two nights ago I hosted this same event again. Such was the enthusiasm that we upgraded our virtual room from 25 to host 50 people. Registrations continued to pour in, so much so, that we ended up unable to accommodate 20 people! BECAUSE of popularity of this complimentary even, I have decided to host it again this coming Wednesday evening; 19th November.

That means that aside from those 20 who missed out last time, we can accommodate another 30 people; actually 27 now as 3 of those spots have already been taken up.

At The Conclusion Of This Event You Will Understand

• The current state of the Australian property market
• Which way property rents & values are likely to head, when… and why?
• What impact the current economic global slowdown will have on the value of your home and your investments

Nothing good is produced by confusion! So when it comes to you successfully navigating your way forward; in these more turbulent times… DON’T BE CONFUSED; it is a sure recipe for disaster!!!

Read more…

The numerous voices screaming at us from government, media commentary and various industry analysts alike have left many people confused or unsure about step they should next take.

Do you have questions about buying, selling, or managing your existing debt… don’t despair; you’re not alone? Dissecting fact from opinion and protecting that which you have worked so hard to accumulate can be like navigating through a mine field. Many of my readers feel the same way.

To help you to understand where the property market is positioned right now and teach you ways to protect your asset base, I am hosting a property market briefing night next month in Melbourne.

This round table event will be held in the boardroom of my accountants office (on Tuesday 19th August) and only open to the first 18 people to register. Sorry, but space is very limited.

If you would benefit from participating in an open discussion that addresses those relevant questions most of us have right now simply click here or call 0424-144-103 to reserve your seat.

Subject to the popularity of this evening we may hold similar evenings in other capital cities. If you are from outside Melbourne but would attend something like this in your city, please send an email with your best contact details (including your address, email & mobile phone number); click here if outside Melbourne.

The media tell us that the ANZ Bank has increased its interest rates forecast and is predicting that the Reserve Bank will lift rates twice before the end of the year.

Westpac say rates will stay on hold this year, while the Commonwealth Bank is tipping one 0.25 of a per cent rise.

TD Securities global chief strategist Stephen Koukoulas has forecast the Australian economy has now started to slow enough to prompt interest rate reductions over the next year. The investment bank has predicted 125 to 175 basis points; between five and seven rate cuts may be lopped from the official cash rate of 7.25% by the end of next year!

Somewhat supporting that view, the National Australia Bank’s chief economist, Alan Oster, said there was a 30% chance the Reserve Bank would begin cutting rates this year as economic growth deteriorated. An interest rate cut this year is a possibility, but there may not be enough of a slowdown,” he said. “But we think that by the late 2009 they will be down to about 6 per cent.”

With so much “background noise”, do you find yourself confused… and wonder who to listen to?

Read more…

An astute investor tends to buy investment properties in those areas that offer higher consistent Capital Growth (and by default, a lesser rental return).

These properties are usually negatively geared, leaving a cashflow shortfall between rental income and outgoings; covered by tax savings and owner contributions.

Contributions from investment property owners are often the subject of misunderstanding by those less informed investors.

I believe building an investment property portfolio ought to be viewed much the same way as one would building a business; with a defined strategy to manage overheads and any cashflow shortfall.

Let’s look at 3 ways to attack this shortfall, so as to allow you to not lose sight of the main goal – Capital Growth!

Read more…