Michael has been once again voted Australia’s leading property investment advisor by the readers of ‘Your Investment Property Magazine’, but he’s not a theorist… He has been successfully investing in property since 1971 and is a leading property commentator and Australia’s most widely read property investment blogger. Join over 115,000 others who get their updates from Michael and his group of expert guest bloggers and benefit from their perspective.
Have you watched too many episodes of popular television shows like The Block? Feeling inspired to take a run-down wreck and make it new again? It all looks so simple and glamorous, with random ‘beautiful people’ tucking their perfectly styled hair into oddly flattering hard hats. But the reality of a large-scale renovation project is very…
Recently one of my nephews, who has taken a keen interest in property investment, asked: What’s the worst advice you’ve ever been given on real estate investing and what’s the best advice you could give me? The worst advice I explained that the worst real estate investment advice I was given was that property investment…
If just one state of Australia, New South Wales, scrapped its stamp duty on real estate transactions, about 100,000 more Australians would move homes each year, according to our best estimates. Stamp duty is an unquestioned part of buying a home in Australia – you put your details in an online mortgage calculator, and stamp…
From granny flats to kitchen renovations and even new driveways, Aussies love to look for property upgrades that will increase the overall value of their property. After all, renovations are a great way to make your home more functional, comfortable and liveable. Have you ever wondered if adding a swimming pool is one of the…
I’ve often said that any problem money can solve isn’t a problem – it’s just a question of how motivated you are to find the funds and get it sorted. But there are lots of things that money can’t buy, and when we’re so focused on those dollar signs we can find ourselves missing out…
“Rapid population growth – at rates above 2 per cent, common in most developing countries today – acts as a brake on development. Up to a point, population growth can be accommodated… but the goal of development extends beyond accommodation of an even larger population; it is to improve people’s lives. Rapid population growth in…
We live in uncertain times. Just look at all the financial and economic challenges caused by inflation and the rising cost of living as well as relatively high interest rates; the social and political problems around the world. Amid all this, we must go about our business, our investing, and live our lives. And to…
It is a common misconception that insurance covers absolutely everything. Landlords may think they will be reimbursed by an insurer for any kind of rental loss or damage. But, this is not the case. Why? Because the overload in risk would make insurance unaffordable. Insurers need to strike a balance between providing cover for the…
It’s going to be a busy week for most of us – a short week at work and lots to organise. So to help kick your week off, here’s 10 inspirational quotes from some of the masters of investment, business and personal development. 1. “In expert tennis, 80% of the points are won, while in…
I’m a huge advocate of the “no shame, no blame” rule when it comes to money. But I think there’s some confusion about how the rule works. It’s not that you won’t feel guilt. It’s also not about avoiding responsibility. Instead, it’s about recognizing the zero-sum game of relying on shame and blame to make better money…
