Hi all

This week, I have been to see council and discussed each property with them. My big tip is: before investing in any area, visit the council and talk to the planning section about what you want to do. You want a really helpful attitude from the staff and if you don't live in the area and can't visit them in person, find out what you can from their website and then ring them.

Finding some local property developers to talk to as well or engineering or architect firms may give you more insight as well. The council I spoke with this week are just so helpful, it absolutely makes working with them a pleasure and I feel really confident about choosing the right property to get started with.

I have also had a prelimenary meeting with my builder and will talk with him next about each of the properties to get his choice and then it will be time to make some offers! Wish me luck!
Fran

Hi all! It's been a while what with Christmas and then for me a wonderful motorcycle holiday in Tasmania. What an awesome place it is!. There's a lot of great real estate buying down there too.

I'm inspired to write of my current project so that you can learn and follow along as I go. Feel free to send me any questions you have. If you have some equity, I recommend this as an easy way to make a nice return in a year and there is no reason why you couldn't make a 6 figure sum on your first project.

Here's where I am at. I have refinanced and am ready to purchase a property on a minimum of 800sqm block up to a maximum of $300,000. Hint: Check with the local council as to the minimum size block you will need to be able to split it into 2. I have found one that is 2000m2 and 2 that are around 1000m2. The main criteria then is to be able to build a 2nd dwelling on the block, so the original house must be in a position to leave a 400m2 block for me to do that. By splitting the block into two I have now created a free block of land that might be worth $100,000 or more.

Next week, I'll let you know how I get on with council.
Cheers
Fran