CREATING WEALTH AND LIFESTYLE THROUGH

by Grant & Christina Penrose

Issue 22

No to Low-CostWays to Warm

Your Home in theWinter Chill…

Billions inLost Super –

Could Some ofit Be Yours?

QLD Property Prices Finallyon the Rise!

Ten Top Waysto Spot anInvestmentOpportunitythat’s Hot…

Making SmoothMoves…Top Tips forEasy Moving

Helping you understand Real Estate

PROFILE REAL ESTATE

Winter has been a great time for us, the cold made all the morebearable by the warm glow of sharing special time with family.Grant's dad, Don, recently visited from New Zealand for threeweeks and the absolute highlight was his 80th birthday partywhere a family reunion of four generations enjoyed being togetheragain. Two of Grant's brothers flew over especially from NewZealand to surprise him - it was the first time all four brothers havebeen together in six years and the little boys were ecstatic to haveso many uncles in a single room!

Don certainly timed it well as hegot to see Jade sing in her end-of-term music concert: she wasfabulous and we were all soproud of her! (He got to see theboys sing at their concert too...perhaps not quite as good... butin true grandfather-style, Dongrinned and coped!)

We also slipped away to the beachand for these particular work lovers, itdefinitely made the holiday that much more enjoyable to havecontracts pouring in while we were away! Lucky we have such asensational team to keep everything flowing smoothly. We hadglorious days of beautiful sunshine, the boys loved makingsandcastles on the beach and enjoyed having Mum, Dad andGranddad at their fingertips for stories and one-on-one attention.At Underwater World they loved being allowed to touch a starfish,and enjoyed checking out the sharks, with the sea lions and ottersproving favourites too. The school holidays finished only too soonfor the them, as did Don’s visit, and we're so appreciative to haveshared such precious family time.

We hope that the new financial year ended well for you and thenew one has kicked off as promisingly for you as it has us. Salesand rental applications have been rolling in. Perhaps the reducedinterest rates and stamp duty are having a positive effect. Likeevery industry there are always challenges for us and we could dowith more listings to sell and rent, as we are not at our capacity. Sowe would appreciate any referrals you might like to make. Theynever go unnoticed and you can be sure there will be a nice gift foryou for taking the time to give us a name!

Wishing you health, happiness and prosperity,

Christina Penrose

In this edition� The Wealth and Warmth of Family in Winter...

� No to Low-Cost Ways to Warm Your Home in theWinter Chill...

� QLD Property Prices Finally on the Rise!

� Billions in Lost Super – Could Some of it BeYours?

� Making Smooth Moves… Top Tips for Easy Moving

� Feeling the Heat: How to Avoid Burns and Scaldsin Your Homes...

� Finally, Insurers Innovate to Help Disaster VictimsFaster!

� Ten Top Ways to Spot an Investment Opportunitythat’s Hot...

� Wondering What’s Draining Your Energy?

� Fix it or Fight… How Ignored Repairs Can BecomeTenancy Disputes

2 RE/MAX PROFILE REAL ESTATE creating wealth and lifestyle through property

The Wealth and Warmth of Family in Winter...

The boys making sandcastles

Jade on stage

Don and the boys

The winter chill is certainly starting to bite. Here are 5 ways to warm up your home, without huge expense.

1. Prune those sun-suckers

Shady plants are great insummer, especially on thenorth and western sides ofyour property. But at this timeof the year you want to get asmuch sun into your house asyou can. Now is the time toprune plants blocking outyour sunlight, if possible.

2. Let the sun inWhen the sun is shining, remember to open curtains and blindsduring the day, especially on the northern side of your home, butalso the east (in the morning) and the west (in the afternoon).

However, you might consider leaving south-facing blinds andcurtains closed on days when it is colder outside than in, as thesun won’t hit those windows. It’s very common to see homes shutup all day long with the curtains drawn. But before you head off towork or out for the day, opening the blinds and curtains onwindows that get the sun can mean coming home to a muchwarmer property.

3. Draughts be goneGaps around doors and windows can let in a lot of draughts. Blockthem up with an appropriate draught-sealer. Your local hardwarestore will have plenty of options.

Consider also a goodold-fashioned doorsnake if you find ithard to seal thebottom of doors,which is often thecase in older houseswhere steps may haveworn, or doors are notquite square.

If you have particularly cold rooms in the home – the sparebedroom or laundry, for example, consider draught-sealing thedoor that separates that room or rooms from the rest of the home.

However, it is important to note that if you use unflued gas heatingor an open fire, you will need to ensure you have adequateventilation at home.

4. Cook up a stormIt really is a time of year for baking and slow cooking. The housewill definitely warm up, but will you be able to resist all that yummyfood?

5. Control the thermostatRunning your heater at 18-21 degrees will keep you comfortablewithout toasting, and will also keep your winter heating bills down.Just one degree more in temperature can increase your heatingcosts by 15 per cent.Source : www.domain.com.au (15 May 2012)

Grant & Christina Penrose www.propertysalesbrisbane.com 3Materials and articles in this publication are general comment, not advice. The information is believed to be accurateand reliable but no responsibility is taken for any opinions expressed or for errors or omissions. Readers should notact on the basis of the material without taking professional advice relating to their particular circumstances.

No to Low-Cost Ways to Warm YourHome in the Winter Chill…

Median property prices roseacross numerous parts ofQueensland in the Marchquarter, new data shows.

The Real Estate Institute ofQueensland (REIQ) March quartermedian house price report foundproperty prices across the majority ofQueensland increasing with salesnumbers also up - in some casessignificantly.

“Three months ago when we analysedthe December quarter data it seemedto indicate we had reached the bottom of the market becauseprices were stabilising,” REIQ CEO Anton Kardash said.

“We predicted at the time that the March quarter data would beeven more positive and it certainly is that. Property prices havegrown in most areas and some regions have also experiencedsubstantial increases in sales activity, which is a hugely welcometurn around.

“And while the March quarter figures contain plenty of goodnews, perhaps the best piece of news is some very healthyresults in our tourism centres, which have struggled more thanmost over the past two years.”

The REIQ said the top performer of all major regions across Qldwas Fraser Coast, which posted median house price growth of7.8 per cent to $290,000 over the March quarter. The numbersof preliminary house sales were also up 42 per cent.

The second best performer was Cairns,which recorded median house pricegrowth of 4.5 per cent to $350,000.

Another tourism region to perform wellwas the Whitsundays, where its medianhouse price increased 4.1 per cent to$350,000 over the March quarter withsales numbers up 28 per cent as well.The Sunshine Coast also experienced asignificant increase in sales activity - up24 per cent compared to the Decemberquarter.

Queensland’s resource centres continueto experience strong demand from buyers however propertyprice growth in Gladstone appears to have plateaued this quarter- albeit after posting median house price increase of 16.5 percent over the year ending March.

‘‘Historically, it has been our resource centres that have led thecharge during Queensland property cycles, closely followed byBrisbane, then our tourism centres and this pattern does seemto be repeating,’’ Mr Kardash said.

‘‘It’s still too early to tell whether this renewed confidence is hereto stay, but a number of economic indicators, as well as lowerinterest rates, mean the future of our property market is certainlylooking up.’’

The median house price in Brisbane increased 1.2 per cent to$505,000 over the March quarter.Source : Real Estate Business Bulletin (21 May 2012)

QLD Property Prices Finally on the Rise!

4 RE/MAX PROFILE REAL ESTATE creating wealth and lifestyle through property

Billions in Lost Super – Could Some of it Be Yours?A major lender has said mortgage brokers could becritical in assisting clients to reconnect with $17.4 billion worth of lost superannuation.

Westpac has released its Westpac Lost Super Report, whichfound that 61.8% of Australians under 40 have lost super, andthat the majority of those affected were not actively looking for it.

The problem is being accentuated by a rise in job mobility -particularly among those under 40 - with 42% of respondents tothe survey saying they have had four or more employers over 10 years.

Westpac head of mortgage broker distribution Tony MacRae saidmortgage brokers could play a role in assisting their clients toreunite with their super. “When you look at the $17.4 billion inlost super, that is a lot of money, and when you think thatbrokers now have about 45% of the lending market, a big chunkof that $17.4bn would be from broker customers.”

MacRae said the bank was focused on raising awareness of theissue among brokers, their customers and their staff, and

extended the invitation for all these parties to visit a Westpacbranch to track it down or talk to their Broker. Brokers couldhighlight and promote the issue when they are interviewingclients, he said. “In the customer interview, as they are goingthrough gathering information for a home loan, it’s a goodquestion to ask where their super is, and have they changedjobs regularly in the last five to ten years.”

Just over 40% of those aged between 40 and 59 years werefound to have lost super, reducing to 21% when an individualwas aged over 60.Australia has $17.4 billion worthof lost super in total.

Source: RFS FinancePty Ltd. PhoneMichael Kelly on 0408 189 138 formore information

Materials and articles in this publication are general comment, not advice. The information is believed to be accurateand reliable but no responsibility is taken for any opinions expressed or for errors or omissions. Readers should not

act on the basis of the material without taking professional advice relating to their particular circumstances.

Making Smooth Moves… Top Tips for Easy Moving No matter how many times you do it or how organised you try to be, theprocess of moving rarely ends up being a simple exercise.

You may find it easier to go through everything yourself in the first instance, determiningquickly what stays and what goes. Once you have decided what you are taking with you,then you can call in help to quickly and easily pack it all up.

Don’t underestimate timeIt’s usually pretty safe to say that a move will take longer than you think, particularly thetime it takes you to pack your belongings up. The reason for this? People forget how muchthey have accumulated over the years. However long you think it may take, add a day ortwo, or start earlier. This will help to prevent stress along the way.

Plan your disposal As you prepare to move homes, there will no doubt be a few things that won’t be coming with you, that you will need todispose of, sell, or give away. After culling, you may find that you suddenly have a build-up of possessions that aredifficult to move all at once. In order to avoid this issue, try to stagger your disposal - separate items for differentdestinations (e.g. rubbish/charity/friends) as you go and aim to clear away at the end of each day.

Clean prior to arriving and unpacking Starting with a clean space should make your move-in easier in the long run. Once furniture is in place it becomes much harder tovacuum the floor and wipe down surfaces such as window sills. While you will no doubt need to do more cleaning once your furniture hasbeen moved in - clearing away dust and grime etc - having a fresh space to begin with is ideal.

Make it a priority to connect phones, electricity and other servicesPeople may not realise that it can take time for some of the services in your new home, such as telephones,internet, electricity etc, to be reconnected, as it’s not always simply a matter of phoning up and having aninstantaneous activation. Try to plan your reconnections in advance to avoid inconvenient situations whenyou first move in. Talk to us for the details of a company we use, to do them all for you at one time.

Unpack stage by stage While it can be tempting to unpack a box here and there as items are needed in various rooms of your newproperty, according to my friends, the most efficient and least time consuming way to unpack was toapproach it room by room. The important and most necessary rooms should be unpacked first, such as thekitchen, main bedrooms and bathroom, with the less crucial rooms coming afterwards.

Clean as you goThe entire unpacking process can take some time and many people find that theyare living amidst a sea of boxes and mess for a little while after a move. Clutter canoften prove to be somewhat overwhelming, but if you can set some time aside toclean away mess (such as packing materials) as you go, the remaining boxes to beunpacked should feel less burdensome.

For those of you who are about to go through a move, we wish you all the very best of luck. And if thingsget stressful, just remember the new home that you have waiting for you at the other end.Source : Life@ Home (April 2012)

In response to widespreadflooding, Suncorp (includingits AAMI, GIO and APIAbrands) has come up with away to provide claimantswith faster access to thegoods they need to getback on their feet.

How it works

Within 24 hours of an event taking place, theprovider sends a mobile on-the-ground staffteam to assess your claim and issue funds ona prepaid Visa card.

The optional PIN-protected card will either be available to useimmediately, or you may need to activate it online beforehand(let’s hope your computer was above the waterline). You canthen use the card to purchase necessities at Australian storesand online but you can’t use the card to withdraw cash. Thecard does come with an expiry date.

You don’t need to be a flood victim to use this feature – thosemaking routine home and contents claims will also be able toaccess the service.

The cards will be issued across all the Suncorp brands, includingAAMI, GIO and APIA. The service has been rolled out to 20flood-affected customers in Wagga Wagga and Roma so far, andthe average card value was $2,500.

Suncorp’s Marcus Taylor says the customer feedback has beenpositive. “It’s empowering for customers and provides them withinstant access to funds,” he says. “Local businesses andcouncils support the initiative because customers are using thecards are to buy clothes or go to the supermarket. The money isgoing into the community.”

A positive stepfor the industry

Michael Arnold,managing director ofInsurance ClaimsServices, gives theservice a thumbs-up.

The insurance industry has faced criticism over its handling ofrecent natural disasters which have hit extensive areas of thecountry. From 2009-10 to 2010-11, the number of disputesrelating to general insurance rose by 12%.

A recent report released by a House of Representativescommittee made a number of recommendations to the FederalGovernment to improve the industry’s response to disasterevents, such as developing a standardised definition of ‘flood’and setting clear deadlines for the time it takes an insurer tohandle a claim.Source : Your Money Magazine (20 March 2012)

Grant & Christina Penrose www.propertysalesbrisbane.com 5Materials and articles in this publication are general comment, not advice. The information is believed to be accurateand reliable but no responsibility is taken for any opinions expressed or for errors or omissions. Readers should notact on the basis of the material without taking professional advice relating to their particular circumstances.

Hot water burns are a potential risk to be managed in allhomes including rental properties. A medical practitioner, DrBarker gives this example:

“An 18-month-old child in the bath of a rental property grabbed the hotwater tap and turned it on before her mother had a chance to react,” DrBarker said.

“The girl sustained deep burns to her chest. At 60 degrees Celsius it takesjust one to five seconds for a scald to cause full thickness burns.”

Dr Barker said at 55 degrees it makes more than 10 seconds to sustain afull thickness burn, yet at 50 degrees it takes a full five minutes to sustaina similar burn.

For this reason, Queensland law requires new and renovated buildings to have water outlets used for personalhygiene, such as bathroom taps and showers, regulated to 50 degrees.

New instant hot water systems are factory pre-set to 50 degrees.

Existing instant hot water units can be turned down to 50 degrees, saving money and, potentially, lives.

Storage hot water systems are required to operate at 60 degrees Celsius due to the risk of Legionnaire’s disease, however propertyOwners can install tempering devices to reduce the post-storage hot water temperature.Source : RTA Newsletter (December 2011/January 2012)

Finally, Insurers Innovate to HelpDisaster Victims Faster!

Feeling the Heat: How to AvoidBurns and Scalds in Your Homes…

Materials and articles in this publication are general comment, not advice. The information is believed to be accurateand reliable but no responsibility is taken for any opinions expressed or for errors or omissions. Readers should not

act on the basis of the material without taking professional advice relating to their particular circumstances.6 RE/MAX PROFILE REAL ESTATE creating wealth and lifestyle through property

Ten Top Ways to Spot anInvestment Opportunity that’s Hot…The biggest skill an investor can have is to know how to predict the market.

Obviously no one has a crystal ball and no one can predict with 100% certainty what’s goingto happen, but there are ways to form an educated opinion. And let’s face it, choosing aninvestment based on an educated opinion is better than taking a stab in the dark, which iswhat many investors do.

So how can you predict the property market?The best way to make money in real estate is by investing in the hot spots. That is,essentially, choosing an area where the value of the investment is going to rise significantlyin the foreseeable future.

Terry Ryder, director of ‘hotspotting’ - a property research advisory website, has identified10 categories that influence the values of any particular location. In order for an area to beclassified as a ‘hot spot’, they have to have at least three of these 10 factors.

Sea changeWe Australians have always had a fascination with the sea, which kind of makes sense considering we’re surrounded by the stuff.However, this trend has never been more apparent than in recent years - it seems the masses are moving from inland areas to securetheir own piece of waterfront property. In fact eight out of 10 Australians currently live within 50km of the shoreline, according to a reportby Ryder.

Hill changeJust because everyone wants a waterfront home doesn’t mean everyone can get a waterfront home. Somepeople opt for more affordable inland dwellings. The key thing here is the location of these inland dwellings.“They need to be in striking distance of the city or the beach,” Ryder says.

The stayers There are certain places that always perform well and grow steadily over time. They are typically inner-citysuburbs with trendy cafes, restaurants and shopping centres with nearby amenities like schools, hospitalsand transport.

The ripple effectWhen there’s a boom, it starts with the prime suburbs. When the prime suburbs become tooexpensive for people to afford, they go to neighbouring areas that are more affordable, and whenthey get too expensive people move into the next neighbouring suburb and so on. This is theripple effect.

Transport InfrastructureAccessibility is one of the most important features a suburb can have. The quicker and easier itis to get from a suburb to the CBD and surrounding regions, the more value that suburb willhave. So things like trains, buses, bridges and particularly motorways can add big value to asuburb.

Blue skyThese are the prime locations of any city, located either on the outskirts of the CBD or on the beaches. They have upmarket retail outlets,high-class restaurants and a generally affluent culture. Usually there’s an exclusive school nearby as well. The thing about these areas isthat even when the market is on the slide, these areas will be the least affected, if they’re affected at all.

Lifestyle featuresAgain it’s no surprise that the most valuable lifestyle factor in real estate is water. This means beaches and to a lesser extent lakes, riversand canals. “The nearest thing to a recession-proof investment is property fronting water,” Ryder says. Nearby golf courses are also bonuslifestyle features.

Ugly ducklings As the name suggests, these are the suburbs that were once shunned by property buyers as they were run-down and old. However, ifthey’re well positioned, they can transform into swans and become trendy inner-city hubs. The key factor here is the potential for thesuburb to change. “Richmond in inner-city Melbourne has made that change, as has Bulimba in near-city Brisbane, not through aconscious government urban renewal program but through market metamorphosis,” Ryder explains.

Boom towns These are towns that take off for one-off reasons. Examples of this have beenparticularly apparent in regions in Western Australia and South Australia where miningtowns have enjoyed the rub-off effect of the resources boom.

Urban renewal and government decisions

These are generally areas that are transformed by government agencies from beingrun down or even industrial areas into vibrant and prestigious residential hubs.Common examples are waterside industrial areas that are turned into waterfrontapartments.Source : Your Investment Property (March 2012)

Wondering What’s Draining Your Energy?Most of us have little idea how much energy is used to run different home appliances. Some people goaround obsessively turning off lights in every unused room, while leaving the TV running 24/7.

There are products now emerging on the market such as Kill A Watt or Watts Up? that can help you trackthe energy consumption of appliances and electronic devices when plugged into them.

Then there are wireless sensors such as the Clipsal Cent-a-Metre, Watts Clever or the Wattson thatmeasure overall energy use as well as the consumption of individual appliances when moved around todifferent areas.

Put to good use, this information could help save on your electricity bill. It can also be used to motivateother members of the household to turn off appliances after use, or reduce consumption at peak times.Source : Quartile Property Network (31 May 2012)

Fix it or Fight… How Ignored Repairs Can BecomeTenancy Disputes.Poorly completed repairs have sparked an increase indispute resolution requests between Tenants and Lessors.

A Brisbane Tenant, Siobhan, spent weeks trying to resolve aproblem with an owner before asking the RTA for help.

Shortly after moving into her apartment, Tenant Siobhan noticedthat the dial on the oven was worn. As she could not be sure ofthe oven’s temperature or setting, she wasn’t able to use the oven.

Siobhan told her Agent about the problem, and it took 6 monthsfor the oven dial to be replaced.

The oven broke down completely. Siobhan phoned the Agent, anda few weeks later sent him a written maintenance request.

The following month anelectrician came and said thethermostat had to bereplaced. Six weeks after that,the oven was repaired, butthe face plate overheated andrisked burning anyone whoaccidentally touched it.

Siobhan immediately notifiedthe Agent. The electricianreturned 2 weeks later and

determined the oven needed a new face plate.

At this point, Siobhan lodged a Dispute Resolution Request (Form16) with the RTA and an RTA conciliator facilitated discussionbetween the Tenant and Agent.

Siobhan sought $55 per week rent reduction, dated from herwritten notification to the Agent and continuing until the oven wasfixed or the Tenancy Agreement ended.

After negotiations in which offers were put forward by both sides,the Owner said he was willing to allow a rent reduction of $38 perweek for the agreed period.

Siobhan accepted the offer and theconciliator drew up a ConciliationAgreement, which became legallybinding once it had been signed bySiobhan, the Agent and the Owner.

RTA Senior Conciliator Mandi Lewissaid this case was part of a growingnumber of disputes prompted bygeneral repairs and maintenance.

“It is the Lessor or Agent’sresponsibility to maintain the propertyin good condition, while the Tenant

must keep the Property clean and undamaged,” Ms Lewis said.

“If repairs are needed, most Agents require the Tenant to log amaintenance request.”

She said that if the problemwasn’t fixed the Tenant couldissue the Lessor/Agent aNotice to Remedy Breach(Form 11).

If no agreement is reachedduring the RTA’s free disputerresolution process, anapplication could be lodged tohave the matter heard by the Queensland Civil and AdministrativeTribunal (the Tribunal) where an adjudicator would determine theoutcome.Source : RTA Newsletter (April – May 2012)

Materials and articles in this publication are general comment, not advice. The information is believed to be accurateand reliable but no responsibility is taken for any opinions expressed or for errors or omissions. Readers should notact on the basis of the material without taking professional advice relating to their particular circumstances.

Grant & Christina Penrose www.propertysalesbrisbane.com 7

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PROFILE REAL ESTATE

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Materials and articles in this publication are general comment, not advice. The information is believed to be accurate and reliable but no responsibility is taken for any opinions expressed or for errors or omissions. Readers should not act on the basis of the material without taking professional advice relating to their particular circumstances.

P: 07 3510 5256 M: 0418 747 997E: grantpenrose@remax.com.au christinapenrose@remax.com.auA: PO Box 388, Paddington QLD 4064W: www.propertysalesbrisbane.com

Selling? Order a Free Book Today.Call us or SMS “Free Book” with your name and address to0418 747 997, or go to www.propertysalesbrisbane.com/our-bookand we will rush you a copy.

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