brokers, accountants, buyers agents, lawyers, but where are the real property investment experts?

I would just make sure its not all paper work with no real achievement on their own behalf.

 

The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

 

I get that bit, what I don't get is this part: "and you want it for a couple of disparate properties across the country?"

 

I looked into joining PIPA - the course was over $3k, not a real qualification and was nothing new to me at all. I thought it was a waste of money - not a good investment, ironically. I've never had anyone ask if I was a member, either.

 

I thought the exact same thing. Then there is the ongoing membership each year.

 

Imho I don't believe there is any 'qualification' that equals to me a good advisor/mentor etc. I want to know the people I am taking advice from are very successful in their own right with the same type of investments I am looking at. Certain exceptions for highly specialized professionals in their own fields.

 

PIPA, another way of advertising, maybe

 

True, but you could just add 'property adviser' to your title!

 

I've met a few good people with a PIPA background. I've also met a few that were quite average at what they do and didn't have a nose for property at all. As in all things, it comes down to who you're actually talking too, not the logo they put on their advertising.

One individual I met was claiming to put together comprehensive strategies for investment plans. What she was really doing was selling off-the-plan rubbish in a location that was doing well at the tail end the mining boom. The properties were of a type completely out of character to the location and the location had nothing to support it other than the mining industry. The really appalling part is this was well after the property crashes of the mining boom, the writing should have been on the wall for the inevitable crash that did actually occur soon after.

If you talk to many of the professionals on this forum you'll find that many of us have looked into joining PIPA at one point or another, then decided that it doesn't add a lot of value to what we do. It's not a stretch to believe that as a mortgage broker I know far more about home loans than they'd ever teach in a general course. I've also had significant exposure to tax, legal, planning, management, sales and other property related things which I have not qualification to advise on, but have had plenty of direct exposure and experience to.

Sorry, but I think PIPA is a broad reaching but shallow coverage of the property industry, that really only gives people the opportunity to promote themselves as something a little different. It's useful for new entrants to various industries to get an overview, but fairly useless to the more experienced property professionals.

 

When I am working for a large stakeholder, then they have the resources on tap whether that be a lawyer specialising in land holder's rights under the Telco Act, compulsory acquisition (state or federal Authorities), planning law or an acquisition specialist performing modelling.

There is simply not the reward (or consumers wouldn't pay what they're worth) for a one stop shop to deal with small stakeholders who have $1-2m in assets.

 

I wasn’t having a dig because I fit that category too, just saying not all but most. Good decision not having kids they make you broke!

 

kids are not expensive at all, use a good public school, get the toys and clothes (all used are near new as they grow out of it) from second hand or share and swap with friends. Once they hit 16, they can go and work at Woolworths for their pocket money.

 

Medical alone can be expensive. This month one of mine has cost me over $1200 after Medicare rebates for specialist appointments. On top of that braces are costing me $800 a month for two kids.

 

yeah, we spend about a $100 on creams per month (eczema) but that's about it for now. Family private is around $120 a month to cover four of us, would be about the same if I had if for just me and my wife.

 

I gave up health insurance as we never got anywhere close back from it compared to what we paid, and even had we still had it we would still be worse off. Kids in general aren’t expensive, just when they need stuff out of the ordinary. One thing they are expensive for is taking them on holidays (of course this is optional!) but it’s so much cheaper when you leave them at home!

 

You made a mistake. Surely there's no decimal point & the cost is really $1995?

 

Its normally $1995 but for the first 10 people its a special price. Hurry because places are limited!!!!!!!!!

 

I agree - they don’t have to be expensive. Education and uniforms are by far the most expensive thing for us but we could send them public and cut that instantly.