This brief summary will enable you to get a sense of Australian property investment and how Australian off-plan or established [investment] properties can be a great asset to your investment portfolio.
Since of the popularity of Cairns as a residential hub, a lot of Australians, interstate/overseas property buyers/investors are looking to buy re-locate to this wonderful unique tropical world heritage gateway to the reef and rainforest.
Australian Property Investment a specialist in finding advising of Houses & land in the Cairns area. These can range from luxury villas, apartments, townhouses and penthouses to plots of land for you to choose from. Or built and bought by a landlord for someone else to live in. Owning the land and houses is a bonus. We provide information on exclusive investment property which are unavailable packages in the Cairns Northern Beaches one of the best places to be and...to buy or long term invest .
Aside from the wealth effect from the terms of trade, population growth in Australia has also been higher than other advance economies, mainly because of strong immigration. Australian Investment Institute: Wealth, Retirement, Superannuation.
Retirement Planning: Wealth Creation and Superannuation Strategies.
Australian Investment Institute through associates are advising to more and more people about how to manage their own wealth creation strategies as the government struggles to fund Australia's ageing population.
If you are planning investing in Australian property - take the time and do your own research: sure use local knowledge, hire your own lawyers and valuers so that they work for you. Often you can get important key figures and advice from local licensed real-estate agents.
We advice to find out information on tax planning to help make your investment in Australian property a successful one i.e. Australia's Investment Industry, Investment Opportunities, Financial Planning, Accountants, Banks, Fund Managers, Market Reports, Research, Investment Properties, Risk Management. Superannuation planning and wealth creation for your retirement strategy is complex.
Future:
Australia's unique ecology, vast swathes of wilderness and rich environmental diversity and the urgent need to protect it, have made it a world leader in the rapidly growing market in environmental and clean energy technologies. AIP offers exclusive plots in some of Australia's property hotspots.
Population
Strong population growth and high real income growth in the wake of record-high commodity prices this year will continue to support house prices. Aside from the wealth effect from the terms of trade, population growth in Australia has also been higher than other advance economies, mainly because of strong immigration. Population growth and rising incomes ensure the demand for housing outpaces current supply, causing prices to rise.
For more information or enquiry please contact API
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Important facts to ponder on before buying Australian property
Thursday, January 20, 2011
General Australian Travel Tips
Weather and the Environment
Guard against sunburn at all times, but particularly in summer. Use a wide brimmed hat, 15+ sunscreen, sunglasses, protecting clothes and shoes. Australian sunlight has very high UV levels and skin damage occurs quickly, especially during the middle of the day.
Check future storm fronts for signs of a greenish tinge. This often indicates a hail storm that may cause damage to persons and property.
Always observe correct beach safety. Swim only at patrolled beaches. Only swim between flagged areas. If in doubt, ask. Always check for caution signs.
If you intend to swim in shallow coastal waters north of Gladstone, make it your business to be educated about box jellyfish (marine stingers). Usually found in shallow waters near creek or river mouths, more likely after local rain, usually absent in rough water. Not usually found over deep water or coral. Stinger season is usually from December to March in the Gladstone (south) area and longer, from October to June, in the Cairns (north) area. Most popular beaches in the stinger areas are netted to give swimmer protection.
At all times wear thick soled shoes when walking in shallow tropical waters or reef walking as protection against the highly disguised stonefish. It has dorsal spikes which will rupture the skin of the foot and inject poison causing extreme swelling and agony. Deaths have been occurred as a result of stonefish poisoning.
There are other venomous creatures on the reef such as some of the cone shell species and coral snakes, both of which are capable of causing death. If you intend spending time on the Barrier Reef without expert guidance, ensure you have a good knowledge of what can harm you before you start.
Road Travel
Australian traffic drives on the left hand side of the road.
If you are in doubt about your driving license being acknowledged in Australia, obtain an International License from your local automobile association prior to your departure.
Road speed limits differ between states but are usually 100-110kph on the highways and 50-60kph in built-up areas. Interstate highways are not of the same standard as USA and European highway systems but nor do they carry the same traffic volumes.
Don't hitch-hike, it is illegal.
Never leave small children or animals locked in vehicles in very hot weather. Dehydration occurs very rapidly. This practice is illegal.
The most serious danger on the road is fatigue. Look for driver refreshment stations and pull off and rest after driving for some hours.
Be cautious when driving on country roads at night in cold weather. Cattle and native animals such as kangaroos lie on the bitumen road surface which holds the warmth of the sun. Car lights blind and mesmerise the animals and they may just as easily run into your vehicle as run away from it.
When traveling on remote outback roads/tracks, always tell someone at the destination of your expected arrival time and number of people in your party. If you fail to arrive within a reasonable time, help procedures can be started. Do NOT leave your vehicle as a missing vehicle is much easier to find that a missing person.
When traveling on unsurfaced or poor quality roads, always carry out a vehicle check before starting off on the next sector.
Extra care is needed when sharing the road with road-trains. These are main movers with multiple trailers of cattle attached and are about 50 metres (170 feet) long. Always give them plenty of space as the buffeting from displaced air as you pass in opposite directions can be quite severe. Allow at least 1 kilometre (3000 feet) of clear road before overtaking a road train.
Do not try to cross flooded rivers and causeways unless you are sure of the water depth and road surface damage. Most flash floods recede within 24 hours.
Dirt from passing vehicles on outback roads can obscure your vision. Don't take risks, slow down or stop until it settles.
Air Travel
Steer clear of flying early morning and late afternoon on the eastern seaboard routes. These flights are usually heavily booked by business people traveling between the capital cities.
Require extra leg room? Ask to be seated in a row that serves the exit doors as these rows seem to have more room.
When checking in and getting seat allocation, ask if your seat is in the first row immediately adjacent one of the large central video screens. You may wish to ask for a different spot, especially if on a long international flight.
A departure tax of A$30 per adult is payable when leaving Australia.
Language and Religion
There is no official religion in Australia. Churches can be located in most towns for both the Catholic and Church of England faith. Other general religions are Methodist, Presbyterian and Uniting Church. Places of worship for Jewish, Moslem, Buddist and other religious denominations not frequent to Australia will only be found in the major towns and cities.
Need an interpreter? The telecommunications provider Telstra offers a 24 hour translation and interpreter service for an extensive range of languages. Dial 13 14 50. The local white pages telephone book will give more information.
Medical and Pharmaecutical
Australian nationals and New Zealand visitors are covered by Medicare, the national health cover scheme. It does not apply to visitors from any other country.
Visitors should always get medical cover insurance prior to departure from their home country.
Visitors will only require specific vaccinations if they have traveled through an area infected with yellow fever. Visitors passing through other countries when entering or leaving Australia should check the vaccination needs of those countries.
All cities and most towns offer 24 hour medical facilities by way of private practice clinics or government run hospital amenities. They will be listed in the telephone book of the area you are visiting.
Chemists are located in all towns and cities all over Australia. The Australian chemist does not operate the "soda fountain" type of drug store found in the USA.
Telephone and Communications
In an emergency dial 000 (not 999). This will connect you to the ambulance, fire and police services.
Phone cards are a popular way of accessing the public phone system. Cards are obtainable from selected newsagents and stores. Select public phones also accept credit cards. Public phone call assistance is available by dialing 013.
Tips and Gratuities
Australians working in the tourist, hospitality and transport industries are paid a minimum salary. Tipping is not normal practice but is generally considered a suitable gesture of approval when the level of service has exceeded expectations. A tip of around 10% would be considered appropriate.
Customs, Quarantine and Visas
To enter Australia you will need an up to date passport valid for the duration of your stay and a valid tourist visa issued in your own country and entered into the passport prior to the travel date. New Zealand visitors are exempt from these requirements and are granted an entry permit on arrival. Visa applications are made to the Australian Embassy, Consulate or High Commission, as applicable, in your home country. Make sure you apply for the correct visa type. For example, if you plan to work, you will need to apply for a work permit which is generally limited to singles under 25 and which only allows for casual work to be performed for up to 3 months. Tourist visas are usually valid for a stay of 3 or 6 months. At the time of making your visa application you will have to sign an undertaking that you have an outward bound ticket and sufficient funds for the period of your stay.
No duty is payable on personal effects. Adults may carry up to 250 cigarettes and 1 litre of alcoholic liquor in their personal effects provided it is carried with them. Duty and sales tax is applied to dutiable goods exceeding A$400. Strict regulations apply to narcotics and prohibited substances.
When entering Australia you will have to surrender all fresh food, animal and plant products and any unprocessed foodstuffs. You will be required to sign a statement to this effect. This is a quarantine regulation to prevent the entry of foreign organisms that may have a harmful effect on Australia's native vegetation, wildlife and farming goods.
Strict policys apply to the import and export of protected wildlife and items made from protected species. Any such items will be seized by customs officials upon arrival.
Currency, Banks and Shops
Major shopping centres do not open on Sundays. Tourism oriented outlets do have a 7 day trade as do convenience stores supplying essential needs.
Banks are only open Mondays through Fridays and usually only between the hours of 9.00 to 4.00. Most towns have automatic teller machines to cater for after-hours transactions.
Australian currency consists of 5c 10c 20c 50c $1 $2 as coins. Notes are $5 $10 $20 $50 and $100.
Electrical Appliances
Australian electricity supply is 220-240 volts. Most electronics stores stock adaptors for 110v appliances as well as adaptors for 220-240v appliances with different plug types.
Samuel Richardson
Seasons Travel
Finding The Right Dog For You
Choosing the right dog for your lifestyle is a bit of a challenge. Our lives are very busy and as adults we have formed our own opinions on how we want to live and what we want in our lives.
At one point or another the thought of a pet creeps into our thinking and usually the types of pet we choose is either a cat or dog.
Cats as a general rule can fit into a lifestyle quite nicely. Dogs on the other hand require a bit more thought as they do require more space, time, and general care.
The purpose of this article is to alert you to some of the types of breeds there are and how their demands might fit into your lifestyle.
The first thing we will consider is "apartment living and the dog."
Granted there are many apartments that will not allow a dog for obvious reasons. Some dog owners who are not responsible have made it almost impossible for the responsible dog owner to find a place to live.
Animal shelters are filled with dogs that their owners have either abandoned or have turned over to the shelter because they cannot keep them in an apartment.
It is very hard to keep a barking dog in an apartment. It is equally unfair to keep a large dog that needs plenty of exercise and doesn't get it, from tearing up the carpet or chewing on the woodwork out of sheer boredom. If you want a dog and live in an apartment there are certain breeds that make good apartment dogs. Some dogs secretly want to become "couch Potatoes" and would love living in an apartment or condominium.
Some of these low energy dogs are: Cocker Spaniels, Clumber Spaniels, Bichon Frise, Poodles, Lhasa Apso, Shih-Tzu, Yorkshire Terriers, Chihuahua, Maltese, Papillon, Pekinese, Pomeranian, and Cockapoo to name a few. Mixed breeds with combinations of these dogs can make good pets, too. This does not mean they do not need exercise; it means that they don't demand a great deal of it and for the most part are not noisy (granted a few are.)
If you are moving into an apartment and already have a similar dog and the apartment owner or manager is not too happy with the idea of you moving in, you might consider this game plan.
Put together a packet that includes a list of references such as your vet, current neighbors, possibly a former landlord and others, that will state the pet is well kept and that you are a responsible owner. Include information on your pet's current vaccinations, proof of license, a record that shows the pet was spayed or neutered and a copy of obedience school training, if applicable. Also include a promise to clean up after the pet inside (should an accident occur) and outside, agree to a pet deposit, promise to keep the pet "flea free" as well as the apartment and agree to sign a policy agreement if necessary.
Offer to bring the pet in for an interview and allow the owner or manager the opportunity to visit your apartment at times that are convenient.
If you are living in an apartment that has no set rules about pets, I would consider asking for permission before I ventured out and became a pet parent.
Depending on the situation, I would also present, when I applied for permission, a list of references stating that you are a responsible person and the name of a vet you are considering on using for your pet. Offer to pay a pet security deposit and make list of things you will do in caring for your pet and the apartment, should you be allowed a pet.
It has been proven that most pet owners are responsible people.
It is unfortunate that there are some people that do not care about the property of others and truly do not care about taken proper care of their pets.
When trying to convince your future landlord or your current landlord that having a pet in the building is a good idea, keep a cool head. Spend some time gathering evidence that a responsible pet owner is also a responsible tenant. Be willing to compromise.
If having a dog is no problem and you are looking for a dog that demands "only some exercise." Here are a few breeds or to consider: Bulldog, Pug, Italian Greyhound, and Miniature Fox Terrier, Bichon Frise, Lhasa Apso, Maltese, Pekepoo, plus there are many more.
If shedding is another point of contention, when thinking of getting a dog I have included some of those breeds. There are many people that do not think having cat or dog hair on their clothes is a sign of a well-groomed person.
Keep in mind there truly isn't a dog that is totally "non-shedding." All dogs shed some, however there are some breeds that shed little and here is a list of some of them: Airdale Terrier, Basenj, Bichon Frise, Bichon/Yorkie, Cairn Terrier, Cockapoo, Schnauzer, Kerry Blue Terrier, Labradoodle, Maltese, Schnoodles, Shih Tzu, Silky Terrier and many more.
Some of us really just want a "lap dog." The truth being most dogs "big or small" would love to be a lap dog. However, I am going to list a few that are truly lap dogs: American Cocker Spaniel, Bichon Frise, Bichon/Yorkie, Chihuahua, Dachshund, Lhasa Apso, Maltese, Malti-poo, poodles, many Terriers, Shih-Tzu, Schnoodles and many more of the smaller dogs.
If you are a jogger, you may want a companion to run with you and there are some dogs that just love to run. Among the breeds that love running you will find: Airedale Terriers, American Pit Bull Terriers, Australian Cattle Dogs, Basenjis, Bearded Collies, Boxers, Dalmatians, Doberman Pinschers, Golden Retrievers, Greyhounds, Irish Setters, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Rottweilers only to name a few.
Along with running there are some dogs that have a high need for exercise. These are dogs that need long walks, running and big yards to play in.
I cannot name them all, but here are a few of the standard breeds: Airedale Terrier, Afghan Hound, Australian Cattle Dog, Border Collie, Brittany Spaniel, Dalmatian, English Setter, Great Pyrenees, Irish Setter, Vizula, Weimaraner, and the Redbone Coonhound.
There are many popular mixed breeds in dogs. The poodle has more combinations than you can count from Boxerdoodle, Cockapoo, Lhasapoo, Schnoodle, Shih-Poo, to a Weimardoodle (which I would love to see.) Think of a combination of dogs and somewhere you will be able to find it. There are breeders that raise mixed breeds, all you need to do is get on the Internet and find one. Just be certain to check out their credentials before you buy and try to see the dogs before your buy.
If you already have a pet and wonder what kind of dog would get along with your cat, bird or whatever. Here is a list of some dogs that are usually good with other pets (notice I said usually, there are no guarantees.)
The generally good ones are: Affenpinscher, American Cocker Spaniel, American Eskimo Dog, Australian Shepherd, Basset Hound, Bearded Collie, Bichon Frise, Boston Terrier, Bulldog, Dachshund, Gordon Setter, Keeshond, and there are many more.
Some dogs will get along with other types of pets if they are raised with them from puppy-hood. Among those are: American Bulldog, American Pit Bull Terrier, Cairn Terrier, Chihuahua, English Springer Spaniel, Great Dane, Mastiff and many more.
Now there are some that are not trustworthy with other pets, (what comes to my mind is a picture of a Greyhound and a bunny.) Here is a short list of some of the breeds: Bichon/Yorkie, Bull terrier, Dingo, Fox Terrier, Irish Terrier, Lhasa Apso, Miniature Fox Terrier, Rat Terrier, Silky Terrier and more. I believe the Terrier breed was bred by the English to hunt rodents and small prey and that may be why they do not get along with other pets.
In order to cover all categories I will mention some breeds that do not get along with anything except another dog and I would be careful there, too. Afghan Hounds will start our list and I will continue with Australian Cattle Dog, Basenji, Beagle, Border Collie, Greyhound, Jack Russell Terrier, Parson Russell Terrier, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Samoyed, Whippet and Weimaraner, however there are more.
If you are looking for a dog that will be great with your children, I will cover some of those, too. The better dogs are: American Cocker Spaniel, American Mastiff, American Bulldog, Basset Hound, Bloodhound, English Setter, Golden Retriever, Great Dane, Gordon Setter, Keeshond, Labrador Retriever, Pug, Saint Bernard, and there are others.
Some of the best dogs for older children (children that will not tease the dogs are:) Alaskan Malamute, Border Collie, Cairn Terrier, Chihuahua, Chow Chow, Greyhound, Jack Russell Terrier, Maltese, Miniature Poodle, Pekingese, Pekepoo, Pomeranian, Shih-Tzu, and of course there are more.
There truly is a "dog" for every lifestyle, you just need to take your time and search for it.
The Internet is a great source for finding information on breeds. There are many breeders that are willing to help you find the perfect pet.
Dogs can be a challenge. You need patience and you need to be willing to give of your time and love. Do not consider a dog, if you are not willing to take complete responsibility for it. Being a dog parent requires time, money, patience, love and respect for another life. If you are up to the responsibility, a dog will give you so much more in return.
If this article has been of benefit, please visit my web site and blog at http://www.cats-and-dogs-on-the-web.com
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