Long-time lurker, infrequent poster, Sydney

I've been reading this forum for ages (including via Somersoft), but rarely post.

I write about property for Domain (formerly Property Observer and way before that at a property investing magazine).

Currently have PPOR with granny flat in Whalan (Mount Druitt) and a block of land in regional NSW (for future retirement/animal sanctuary/money suckage for the next 40 plus years). Working on an IP as our next step, probably once we have finished renovations on our home - so far have done the kitchen, with bathroom and a few other bits and pieces to go.

My wife is substantially older than I am, so we have a lot to accomplish in not very much time... but we're both pretty risk averse.

Love property, but can't say I enjoy landlording (we self-managed the Mount Druitt place for a while during a 2 year stint in Melbourne and it was stressful - will only ever use a PM from now on).

Anyway. Keen to chat property whenever, wherever .

 

You are posting as Jennifer but you have a wife?........o........k

Congrats on the house & g/flat in Whalan - it would have had substantial growth in the last 2 years.

You're right about landlording. Property investment would be great if it weren't for tenants

 

Yes - I'm gay and as close to married as this damn government will allow.

Thank you! We were intending to sell when we went to Melbourne, but thankfully held onto it!

I'm sure tenants are fine but self-managing is very silly (for novices like myself!)

 

Hi Jennifer - I've seen your articles. Love property also. Have you been to one of the Wenty meet ups?

 

That thought never occurred to me (my apologies) - although I don't know why as we have had lots of G&L clients over the years.

Personally, I made the decision at the outset of investing, to never self-manage. I wanted a life and you don't get one if tenants feel like you are on-tap to their every whim or emergency (real or imagined).

 

It's all good .

I think that's the right decision to have made - we decided to rent it to friends who needed a place and it was this heart-wrenching thing when we gave them notice and were moving back as they had a dog and we didn't know where they were going to go (so we gave them a month's free rent as we're bleeding hearts etc). It's too much for me! I need someone to handle those awkward conversations.

 

No I haven't! I went to a Somersoft meeting in Melbourne once and that has been about it. I should definitely come along to a Wenty one. When is the next one? Would be keen to meet everyone.

 

January 20th I believe

 

Excellent, will add it to my calendar and come along .

 

So does mean we finally get to meet you ?

Nice bunch of people out there , as long as you can stop them talking about property ...

Cliff

 

Haha @monalisa and I were there July & September! It's more like we get to finally meet you!! @See Change

 

I am loving your article on Mt Druitt... Loving the Starbucks. I am there with my wife and daughter every fortnightly or so. While alot of Starbucks scaled back few years ago, the one of a kind drive thru Starbucks survived...

7 things to love about living in Mount Druitt

 

Thank you! Must admit there was quite a lot of office giggling, but I do actually love the place . It's so busy these days though - you basically have to fight for a seat...

 

@skater @MsAli, maybe mix up the meetup next year... Instead of property talk over a beer, perhaps property chat over a latte weekend (at Starbucks @ Mt Druitt)...make sure you do send invite to sash

 

Happy to come....will you be there...or will you pike out.....?

I promise...I am really only a skinny little guy..........though I a well versed in hand to hand combat fighting the taliban.

 

Haha, I'll keep the Wenty ones, as they seem quite successful.....but I'll also come along to Starbucks, especially as it's a lot closer for me than Wenty's.

 

Hey Jen

Nice to see you posting more often and trust you're enjoying being back in the better state LOL
Self-managing only works if you can stay impartial but I'm sure you've figured that out already
We had a tenant years ago who was initially the ideal tenant but then turned rogue on me... we were managing ok but, like you, I ended up hiring a good PM to intervene and put the hard word on. Getting too close never a great idea

 

Hehe I love that you have adopted the marriage lingo! Stuff the Gov who are dragging their feat.

Anyways, welcome to the forum!

I love self managing! Have you had many issues?

 

Funny thing is .....you and Mona came to the July one and September. ...Cliff didn't that I recall. ...then you guys couldn't make November but Cliff did....lol....you keep on missing each other. ..

 

I've been to two . obviously the two the twins didn't turn up two ... oops too

obviously falling down on my timing ... might have to go back and be an apprentice again

cliff