The Sa Wasteland

[scandyflick]

ahaha, break stuff. f**k i love the video clip for that.

[SLED]

Can definitely see the advantage of a smaller block ie. less maintenance etc but the larger block will always be more appealing for the average family and investor especially if it's more than double the size. 300m2 is tiny as though.....my side yard alone is much bigger and situated in the Adelaide Metro just 8km from the CBD. I'm guessing the new home would be smaller than the older one as well. Also if you're talking about an old bungalow or character house that can be restored, it will eventually be worth double the new home......other thought would be to knock it down, build 2 or 3 townhouses, sell 1 or 2 and live in the other if you don't like too much land.

If you were talking about a new home on a 450 - 500m2 block minimum, then that would be your perfect scenario.

Devine are renown for overcharging on squatty little house & land packages then using the FHBG as a tool to sell their little doll houses.

Do your sums, what is a 300m2 block worth in that area??,,,,,add the cost of a 3 br spec home,,,,,,and I'm guessing it'll be less than what Devine want for their packages.

Speak to a developer, residential builder or even a real estate agent if you know one that won't just be looking at you thru $$$ signs.

[RubyRS4]

Coventry Fasteners if you know the dimensions and thread. Mate got some off em for his calipers, make sure they're high grade ones though.

Well its settled then. My brother works at Coventry Fasteners

No offence to anyone who lives there, I'm not judging anyone, Im not that dude.

I would just need a lock up double garage if I was there.

The northies are softer now. I went thru high school and grew up quite a bit there over the last 20 years. It was more rough then. Now its a bit more "polished turd".

I vote for old homes on large blocks. My current house is situated on a 813m2 block. Compared to my first home 323m2 and our current new home we are selling with 334m2. Don't like gardening, let the vegetation die ... simple.

My last 2 places were small and cramped, and bugger all options to erect garages and sheds

Now I have my 1960s home on a massive block. I've installed a large pool and currently working on my 102m2 house extension, and I still have nearly 200m2 of back yard!!! Next is my double garage.

Large blocks ftmfw!

[ontheranch]

Can definitely see the advantage of a smaller block ie. less maintenance etc but the larger block will always be more appealing for the average family and investor especially if it's more than double the size. 300m2 is tiny as though.....my side yard alone is much bigger and situated in the Adelaide Metro just 8km from the CBD. I'm guessing the new home would be smaller than the older one as well. Also if you're talking about an old bungalow or character house that can be restored, it will eventually be worth double the new home......other thought would be to knock it down, build 2 or 3 townhouses, sell 1 or 2 and live in the other if you don't like too much land.

If you were talking about a new home on a 450 - 500m2 block minimum, then that would be your perfect scenario.

Devine are renown for overcharging on squatty little house & land packages then using the FHBG as a tool to sell their little doll houses.

Do your sums, what is a 300m2 block worth in that area??,,,,,add the cost of a 3 br spec home,,,,,,and I'm guessing it'll be less than what Devine want for their packages.

Speak to a developer, residential builder or even a real estate agent if you know one that won't just be looking at you thru $$$ signs.

I have checked land value around there around the 100-115,000 mark for 300sq meters, devine are charging 110,000 so I thought that was pretty fair.

The house is a 3bedroom with ensuite and walk in robe for the main bedroom. The price includes footings, front landscaping, kitchen appliances, floor coverings and all that stuff.

I asked about if they hit rock or need retaining and they said they cover that in the fixed price.

I have looked at established houses for the same price and although on bigger blocks I will need to spend probably a good 20k extra to get it looking half decent, im going to look at another one this weekend tho.

I'm trying to take out the smallest loan possible really. If only this land was a bit bigger.

[ontheranch]

Well its settled then. My brother works at Coventry Fasteners

The northies are softer now. I went thru high school and grew up quite a bit there over the last 20 years. It was more rough then. Now its a bit more "polished turd".

I vote for old homes on large blocks. My current house is situated on a 813m2 block. Compared to my first home 323m2 and our current new home we are selling with 334m2. Don't like gardening, let the vegetation die ... simple.

My last 2 places were small and cramped, and bugger all options to erect garages and sheds

Now I have my 1960s home on a massive block. I've installed a large pool and currently working on my 102m2 house extension, and I still have nearly 200m2 of back yard!!! Next is my double garage.

Large blocks ftmfw!

Did starting with the smaller houses help you afford the bigger one in the end?

Also, What I see getting on the train is far from polished turd. I wouldnt even call them slightley buffed.

Brand new houses are covered in graffiti and windows all smashed. Not my cup of tea...

[RubyRS4]

I much prefer older homes on bigger blocks ... but I had built with Devine and I had NO issues with them whatsoever. I do recommend them if you want to build, rather than buy already established.

I got scared off building again this time round. Land in the area I live in starts at $200K for 318m2 avg ... when I purchased my fully renovated established home for $340K on a 813m2 block! Plus I got my 323m2 block 7 years ago for $43,500 in Sheidow Park!!! The land was worth 5 times that in 5 years! Do the maths. Good for me for selling, but bad for buying again.

Currently putting our 7yo Ferryden Park home on the market. Cost $165K to build inc land. Selling around the $340-350K mark. I've got the house I want now for the next 15 years ... with big pool, extension (5 bedrooms total) and a double garage to come.

[writeoff]

I formed the opinion years ago that all these small block homes in housing estates with no trees over 3 feet high, where everyone is packed in together and neighbours are less than 1m from each others walls would be a breeding ground for serial killers. This may be a little naive given that houses in pretty much every major city in the world share walls but Adelaide produces quite a few serial killers already... this may just increase their development.

Anyway... I totally understand the appeal of a new home as I am facing considerable renovations to my current place that was built in 1985 and I have no tools, knowledge, inclination or physical ability to do the repairs/renovations myself. However, I always want some space between myself and my neighbours. One garage would be real inconvenient and it is nice to have some sort of outdoor area to have a BBQ in summer and sit and enjoy the evening.

But to help with your own decision Penny you need to consider your own circumstances and perhaps answer some of these questions.

How long do you intend to live in the house for?

How many people will be living there? How many bedrooms, bathrooms, storage, carport/garage will they need?

Do you currently have or intend to get a pet? A big dog will need some space to move around in &/or will need to be properly exercised twice a day (beyond a simple walk).

Do you plan on expanding your family in years to come?

Remember that this is your first home, not your dream home.

Economic predictions are that homes at or below the $250k mark may artificially rise in price in the next 2 months as demand increases by first home buyers trying to take advantage of the grant. After June 30 these homes will most likely drop in price as the demand suddenly drops and Adelaide's real estate market is predicted to plateau or decrease in price for another 6-12 months.

Edited May 7, 2009 by writeoff

[ontheranch]

I dont particually want to be in a small block in an estate but if its the way to get into the market and get my dream home in the end then I thought it would be a good stepping stone.

How long do you intend to live in the house for? - If its this small one, probably about 5 years

How many people will be living there? 2 people, my partner and I.

Do you currently have or intend to get a pet? I have a staffy, he has lived in a smaller area before and I walk him for over 30mins a day.

Do you plan on expanding your family in years to come? - Not within the next 5 years.. not ever.. but some people say I will change my mind later in life.

BTW I really value all of these opinions, good and bad. Thanks x

[AXTX]

arrh, speaking to my father about when he first brought an investment.. (land in woodcroft farm ages ago) he brought in economical hard times (early 90s....) he borrowed near his limit (not so much) and once the rates went up he couldnt and had to sell.. only if he had it know would be worth big $$!!

just think about it if interest rates get jacked back up.. or something happens to your job

[ontheranch]

Im planning on borrowing half of what my limit is for those reasons.

My job is pretty secure as I am a PSM act government employee (pretty much cant get fired) and my partner a roof tiler for my uncle. Were renting at the moment and it just seems like such a waste...

[RubyRS4]

Did starting with the smaller houses help you afford the bigger one in the end?

Also, What I see getting on the train is far from polished turd. I wouldnt even call them slightley buffed.

Brand new houses are covered in graffiti and windows all smashed. Not my cup of tea...

Yes. Starting small and playing the real estate market got me to where I am now. Build new, sell and walk into bank with a clear $100K deposit for another home ... they won't say 'no'.

I enjoyed the smell of a new home ... but extra money always gets spent anyway, on landscaping, garage, interior etc. The first 6 months in my new home, I ripped up the carpets and put in timber flooring, repainted the walls. In the end, its just the same as renovating a 1960s home. I prefer large spaces nowdays. My needs and wants have changed over the years.

Just like I'm selling one of our houses, because its a struggle to manage. We have property worth over $750K combined. Its not the money, its just hard to work fulltime, study parttime in the evenings, do the extension to one house, whilst managing the property of another. I want things simpler at the moment. I can always buy another house when I'm ready. We've got equity worth over $200,000 already ... but can't do anything with it as we've exceeded our borrowing power.

Edited May 7, 2009 by RubyRS4

[Normsta]

http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi?Amount=1...p;template=CRM1

It's the highest it's been in over 6 months now.

Edited May 7, 2009 by Normsta

[TALBO]

lol im a northie to

deveron park is a bit scary, few bikies and fista cuffs at the bar, some parts of eliz are bad to with grafetti all ova houses. but other than that tuffen up it aint that bad

ive had ppl talk to me like ive had a ruff child hood growing up in the salisbury area. it aint no south central los angles ya'll need to settle down harden up or something

ppl do have cars/public transport you know the same fools in these subs are the 1s that drive up to mawson lakes and golden grove to rob houses.

GG has almost become an extension of Salisbury imo..... I'm not a snob at all but a few mates and I went into the Village Tavern about 6 months ago for the first time in probably 7-8 years and couldn't believe the patronage

[SLED]

I dont particually want to be in a small block in an estate but if its the way to get into the market and get my dream home in the end then I thought it would be a good stepping stone.

thats the answer I was looking for and in effect, you've just answered your own question..

Very wise to do just that, cause too many peeps procrastinate for years and opportunities go begging, then when they finally get the guts to do something, prices have double or tripled.

Great stepping stone IMO.

[Damo_R34]

you only find what you go looking for in the suburbs. im sure if you visited burnside shops, youd wonder what some of them are doing in there.

[TALBO]

Sorry can't agree with that

[SLED]

lol, some of the biggest druggy kids in Adelaide live in Burnside, and pinch money from mum & dad's millions to buy their stash!

[ontheranch]

GG has almost become an extension of Salisbury imo..... I'm not a snob at all but a few mates and I went into the Village Tavern about 6 months ago for the first time in probably 7-8 years and couldn't believe the patronage

Agreed, I lived in golden grove 3 or 4 years ago and it wasn't so golden then.

Thanks again peeps. I have the weekend to decide so I'm just going to keep researching and thinking. I'm the worst at deciding on things, let alone something as big as this!

[TALBO]

lol, some of the biggest druggy kids in Adelaide live in Burnside, and pinch money from mum & dad's millions to buy their stash!

No doubt about it. When I was younger and partying hard the girls that took the most drugs/drink and easiest were almost all exclusively from private schools like Pembroke, St Peters, Wilderness ect ect ect.

These aren't however the types who will approach you in a bar trying to start fights or intimidate you with tatoo's, missing teeth and tough talk bullshit....

[SLED]

No doubt about it. When I was younger and partying hard the girls that took the most drugs/drink and easiest were almost all exclusively from private schools like Pembroke, St Peters, Wilderness ect ect ect.

These aren't however the types who will approach you in a bar trying to start fights or intimidate you with tatoo's, missing teeth and tough talk bullshit....

LOL Steve have we met?!

Seriously though, you may come across the odd Mr Nemer who thinks he's a gangsta cause he has the pistol he pinched from grandpa though.