mrd

Maturity has more to do with your Life Experience and what you have learned “in the trenches”… than simply the number of birthdays you have celebrated.

Consider the following…

• If wisdom comes with hindsight… why does history keep repeating itself?
• Why is it that we are always better prepared for an event… after it’s over?
• How come most parents master the art of raising children… after they have finished raising their children?
• Why during the last property boom did so many people wish they had invested in property while the market had been quiet; yet now that it’s quiet again they seem to have “forgotten the lesson” and find themselves in a “holding position”… deferring any decision to invest in property until they see the market take off again?
• How come we already know what those people will be saying to their friends a year from now? You guessed it… if only?
• Why do the parents of babies learning to walk constantly encourage their little toddler to “get up and have another go” each time they fall… yet many times those same parents live life by a “once bitten twice shy” attitude that fails to get up and have another go when they get knocked down by a new Life Experience?
• Why is it that those who are most afraid of failing, tend to guarantee failure… by never trying?

More…

March 18, 2009

Australia experiences high population growth: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)

Australia is continuing to record high population growth, according to figures released today by the ABS.

A total population growth rate of 1.8% was recorded for the year ending September 2008, up from the 1.2% recorded five years ago. The last time Australia experienced higher growth rates was in the 50′s and 60′s (above 2%) as a result of post war migration and high birth rates.

As at 30 September 2008, Australia’s population had grown to 21,542,000 an increase of 389,000 people over the previous year. Australia’s net overseas migration contributed to more than half of this growth at 61% or 235,900 people. Natural increase (the excess of births over deaths) contributed 153,400 (39%).

In the same period, Western Australia continues to record the fastest population growth at 2.9%, followed by Queensland (2.5%), the Northern Territory (2.2%), Victoria (1.8%), the Australian Capital Territory (1.4%), New South Wales (1.3%), South Australia (1.1%) and Tasmania (0.9%).

Queensland and Western Australia received the most people from net interstate migration, gaining 22,700 and 5,600 people respectively from the other states and territories. The states that lost the most people to interstate migration include New South Wales (down 22,400), South Australia (down 4,700) and Victoria (down 2,400).

Buy in the correct ownership split. Many married couples automatically buy in a 50/50 split. This is fine if your taxable incomes are similar but if they are not you could be losing a lot of money to the tax office.

Marion and I started buying in a 90/10 split because my income was $42k and hers was $18k. Later we ran our own business and income split so property purchases then were made at 50/50. It is important and can save you thousands of dollars a year.

More…

Over the past 8 years or so speaking with all types of people on the subject of investing in property, many, generally new to investing, ask me the “what if” questions. My broad base of experience has meant my answers have generally put their minds at ease. Two questions, however, that I lacked a good solid answer for were:

1. How good will your portfolio be if we have another world war?
2. How good will your portfolio be if we have a worldwide recession or depression?

Well, with regards to Q 1, I still have no concrete answer for, and hopefully never will. With respect to Q 2, however, I can now (i.e. only now) say from experience… “It’s all ok”!

More…

People of integrity expect to be believed; and when they are not, they let time prove them right! It’s exactly the same with wisdom.

Parents expect (or at least hope) their teenagers would listen to and act on their advice. When they don’t, they allow time and experience be the child’s tutor and settle the matter.

Driving to inspect a property the other day, a friend lamented: “The frustrating thing is that you warn your kids against making unwise decisions. They ignore your advice and when everything comes apart, you are left bailing them out”.

From time to time I experience this same frustration in my role as a Property Mentor; except I don’t have to bail anyone out afterwards. I set out to steer individuals away from potential (and sometimes certain) financial peril, to a life of prosperity, possibility and options. BUT when people are not open to hearing anything that differs from that which they have already concluded… sadly, and all too often, I have no option but to stand back and watch the results of their poor decisions unfold.

IMPORTANT Reality Check!!!

As tempting as they may be, “I told you so” are unproductive and unnecessary words. That aside, I’d be lying if I said I haven’t been tempted to use them more than once.

We are currently in a global downturn and while fear and ignorance drive most people to react… my very strong suggestion is that you do not react, but rather respond! How you respond… especially during these uncertain times, will have a major bearing on your quality of life… five, ten and twenty years from now!!!

More…

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

More…

Last month I felt there was a very strong case for the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to cut the official interest rates by a full 1%. I kept my considered views to myself but wished I hadn’t afterwards (as you do).

This month I considered the arguments and reasoning put forward by economists, journalists and commentators; who mostly said that rates were likely to drop by 0.5% (although some argued a case for just 0.24% and others no rate cut). I concluded that the likely rate cut would be 0.75% (or possibly more)…

More…

A well know finance industry figure recently launched a series of seminars. After reading the professionally crafted sales email, designed to invoke fear and panic and have me rushing to attend his paid event, I decided to address what appears to be a case of insincere opportunism.

Studying the world of global finance since last year is his authority for making such predictions. He proposed failure within our financial system is so systemic it is irreversible;  concluding our property market would soon crash.

A man (or a woman) with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an opinion.

More…

Cairns is the major city for Far North Queensland region situated on a natural harbor with a backdrop of rugged mountains and tropical rainforests. The state capital Brisbane is approximately 1800 kilometers by road and 2 hours flying time away. Cairns International Airport (link) is 7.5 hours from Tokyo and 6.5 hours from Singapore.

More…

RP Data – Rismark Property Value Index Release
Released 01 October 2008

The national end of month property indices report released today by RP Data & Rismark International confirms that the supply and demand imbalance currently being experienced in the Australian property market has placed a floor under housing prices, resulting in minimal value falls.

More…