Just quick note for the readers who noticed that I went silent for a while.
I was very busy last few months. And of course bit slack too. So what was happening in our lives? Too busy even without a job! And no, no Netflix binges. TV in our house is on only for couple of hours after 7.30pm when the kids are in bed.
The most time consuming was as usual care for our two boys. They need bit extra help with the preparation for school, plus childcare, swimming and playgrounds. Lots of the time I am only taxi driver.
Luckily we bought ourselves bit better wheels. I know not FIRE style. But we had other car to sell and this one will be newer (but of course not new – 3 years old!), slower depreciating and with lower consumption. We have done over 30,000 km in last 9 months so I am happy I do enjoy it. Subaru Outback! I will write about it some other time, but in short now. I love it!
We have sold one of our properties on South Coast NSW. We did not have to sell as it rented well, but we have thought that it would be better to move the money to our area where we have bit more control over it and can do extra maintenance and renovations. Probably it would be better to figure out ways to keep house, get finance and save cost on stamp duty and agents. But frankly it is not that simple to get finance in our situation for another property project. Not impossible thanks to our assets, but very difficult due to the lack of employment income. So we have sold it with almost 40% profit after 4 years of ownership. To be honest we could have probably picked another 10-15% in last 6 months as the property market went in many areas bonkers. But you never know what is around the corner and it is better not to be too greedy.
After long time looking, we have found interesting place here on Sunshine Coast. We have looked hard. We have given probably dozen of offers, mostly bit low balling trying to pick a bargain. Quite a few times we were within few thousand dollars to close the deal when we have decided not to go any higher for various reasons. Once even our low ball offer got accepted, but after further inspection and considerations we have not proceeded. We already had contract with our conveyancer, who said all clear, when we have decided not to sign. Probably it was right decision as we have found another place. Almost double price, but it had a lot going for it.
So yes, we have finally picked the 3rd house (actually purchase number 7, but rest of the houses and flats we have already managed to sell- which was not always smartest decision). Place is 40 min from famous Noosa Heads in Noosa hinterland. It is not luxurious, but it has well maintained 70 years old Queenslander house, which needs bit of finishing but nothing major. It is quite charming, practical with huge surrounding deck, triple carport, many sheds, views over big dam and with 50 acres of bush. Well protected from the road, behind bit of bush and long driveway and the road is not particularly busy in the first place.
Bonus was The Shed. Solid steel construction with almost 200sqm of internal space. It was converted into living quarters and actually lived in. It is fully lined with gyprock walls and insulated. It also overlooks the large dam but at the same time is well set away from the main house and screened by trees and bushes. There are few unfinished minor areas and no kitchen, but we have already started to prepare it for the future tenant. Bathroom is in quite good condition. My skills don’t extend too far past painting and simple door changes, but we have already started the process immediately after the settlement. Property market is really busy and it is difficult to get any tradies for the bigger and professional jobs like by carpenter, plumber and electrician but there are quite a few jobs to be finished by us that it doesn’t matter too much, if some of these handymen will be available couple of weeks later or not.
It is very exciting to work on our property again. Seeing it to change before our eyes from a dark hole to bright, freshly painted liveable place is quite satisfying. All internal and external walls, all doors, door frames, window frames, need to be painted, all of the lights replaced, concrete the patio, clearing lot of overgrown bushes, plants and smaller trees. Of course new kitchen has to go in. At the end it will be very attractive, though not really luxurious, place, with new kitchen, views over the dam, over 150sqm internally, large outside covered sitting areas, very quiet but not remote location, with carport, garden and heaps of space including for bushwalks. That is before we get our hands on the main house on the property. The Queenslander. That one is for now rented so we don’t have to worry about bit of interest which we have to cover now.
All that stuff is topped up by my own health scare just before Christmas, which was serious but not that scary as I already had that problem before. Quite detailed medical investigation was not able to find out reason for the problem and it seems I will end up long term on medication. Well if I cannot do anything about it, I will just do what doctors advise and don’t get too stressed by it. If you cannot control it, there is no reason for stress.
I haven’t mentioned COVID19. We did have (and sometimes still have) problems with it, but Australia was fortunate and proactive enough that it became one of the least affected places so far. I am keeping my fingers crossed as I do realise that it doesn’t take much for it to spread quickly and freedoms, health and even lives can disappear.
So no, I still don’t have a job 3.5 years later after quitting my cushy and well paid office employment at the old age of 43. We still live only off income not touching the assets. Assets meantime went bit up in value. And we have managed to buy (and sell) place on South Coast NSW (it settled just after I have left work), bought another place on Sunshine Coast in Queensland and just now another place here. Keeps us busy and creates bit of income from the rent and capital appreciation. Life is good and we need to enjoy it while we can. As I said before, nobody knows what is around the corner!
