Empower Blog

My Greatest Fear, Disappointment & Possible Regret

In taking a moment to reflect on what Jane (my wife) and I have been able to achieve financially over our 16 years of investing in residential property and amassing a multi-million dollar property portfolio before the age of 40, it once again highlights to me a couple of valuable lessons that have resulted in our household becoming financially inde...

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RBA Rates Decision – May 2011

The RBA has left the official cash rate on hold again in May, making it 6 months since the last cash rate movement.  Minutes from the previous RBA board meeting certainly indicated that the board position was that rates remained adequate for the near term, as subdued consumer spending and the impacts of major disasters still filter through the eco...

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Five Tips for a Happier Rental Property

To ensure your tenants are enjoying renting your property, and looking after it too, it’s important to remember a couple of things so that your relationship with your tenants and property manager is a prosperous one. So I thought I’d pen a few tips to help remind fellow landlords that if they undertake these recommendations then owning their...

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What is the outlook for Melbourne?

On occasion I get asked if it’s time to start considering our interstate capitals now that Melbourne has had a recent and fabulous run. Naturally many investors are keen to identify the next booming city to perform for their portfolio. Before they take our beloved city off the shopping list, I bring their attention to a few compelling reasons why...

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PROPERTY BUBBLE? ….Really… Please!

The property doomsayers ‘noise’ has settled a little since interest rates have stopped increasing for now.  However, with price values stabilising or showing decreases in some markets in the early months of 2011, I’m expecting this media ‘noise’ to start getting louder as logic is not going to get in the way of a good story that sells pa...

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RBA Rates Decision – April 2011

For the x month in a row the cash rate has remained on hold as the RBA looks for further indications that the economy is continuing to grow following the recent major flood and cyclone disasters that hit our shores earlier this year. If the economy rebounds quickly and the insurance works provide inflationary pressures on materials and labour, p...

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RBA Rates Decision – March 2011

The cash rate remained on hold again this month as the RBA awaits more critical data on the performance of the economy before looking to adjust the cash rate. Most economists expect further rate rises in 2011, with many tipping an increase in the cash rate of around 0.5% over the course of the year. Events in the Middle East region could play a ...

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Property — Everyone is an Expert

You have just been off to see your GP who diagnosed a problem, so you’ve being referred to a specialist who’s going to help you.  You agree without any hesitation as you want to get back to full health. You tell a few people about your situation and they provide support and the odd person some advice, but you know inside you are going to li...

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RBA Rates Decision – February 2011

As unanimously tipped by all forecasters and commentators, the RBA chose to leave the official cash rate on hold this month at 4.75%. Although the majority of sentiment is that the cash rate will move higher over the coming year, if our economy and the global economic recovery continue to build momentum. The consensus on the flood in Queensland ...

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Predictability Investing — My Essential Ingredient

So you have some surplus income coming into your household and you don’t know what the best use of this money is? You’ve got choices: Spend it Save it Put it on the Mortgage Payoff debts Use it to borrow more to Acquire another appreciating Asset (Gear or Leverage it). The article is going to focus on the last point, but what...

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A Million Dollar Plus Call

You’ve talked about it, but you are just unsure about what's the right decision? For some it’s do we: 1. Buy another investment Property 2. Hold the existing home and turn it into an investment property and buy the new home 3. Sell existing property to buy an upsize property or reduce debt 4. Sell our current home and investment...

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Can we Predict the Future?

It’s crazy to think that anyone can predict the future, but plenty of people are paid good money to try: Economists, Weather Forecasters, Fortune tellers, Treasury, Technology companies, etc. Even though no one can predict the road ahead, it’s absolutely vital that we pay attention to what lies ahead of us. If we look at the future from a pe...

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Did You Make Any Headway To Retirement Last Year?

A new year has arrived and it’s usually this time of the year that one reflects on the past year and reviews the good, the bad and the ugly. A lot of great things happened for me, my family and business in 2010 and very little bad news came our way. For most of you the ugly might have been Collingwood winning the flag, but for me that event was o...

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