Real Estate Industry
February 16th 2009
AUSTRALIA'S SUBPRIME INVESTORS
Tens of thousands of people are affected.
If you are investing in property, be careful you don't join the thousands of subprime investors.Real Estate Industry
December 15th 2008
THE REAL ESTATE SEARCH WARRANT
The experience of one family with one agent.
Sylvian Fleuriau. Former salesman who searched the sellers' home.
Real Estate Industry
November 17th 2008
BUYERS - MEET THE SELLERS
And probably get a better deal.
The sellers can change their minds and decide not to sell. The sellers can ask for a higher price.Real Estate Industry
October 23rd 2008
THE SILLIEST REASON TO SELL
Never gamble with the family home.
Of all the reasons to sell a property, punting on profiting from a price plunge would have to be the worst of all.Real Estate Industry
October 15th 2008
GRAB THE GRANT - QUICK
Advice for the needy, not the greedy.
Despite the big drop in interest rates last week and the big increase in the government grant this week, there are still thousands of anxious sellers.Real Estate Industry
September 30th 2008
THE SENSE OF PROPERTY PRICES
A sensible look at the future of real estate.
Over the past few years we seem to have lost our ability to think sensibly about investing.Real Estate Industry
September 19th 2008
THE OLD-AGE SPRUIKER
How he got to be rich at 65.
Dudley Quinlivan.
Real Estate Industry
September 11th 2008
FROM GOOSE TO GENIUS
Testing the predictions of Terry Ryder.
Terry Ryder.
Real Estate Industry
September 8th 2008
MOVE OVER MARX BROTHERS
Here comes the Queensland government.
Queensland agents must still, by law, give consumers a "genuine opportunity" to obtain independent legal advice before signing anything.Real Estate Industry
August 25th 2008
THE OVER-SELL TRAP
How sellers upset buyers and hurt themselves.
The buyers know they are being treated as mugs. That makes them angry. And angry buyers seldom pay top prices.Real Estate Industry
August 10th 2008
ILLUMINATION OF A PROPERTY SCAM
Trent Richards is back targeting investors.
Trent Richards
Real Estate Industry
July 1st 2008
THE TOUGH TRUTH
What sellers need to know.
There's an old Buddhist saying, "All human unhappiness comes from not facing reality squarely, exactly as it is."Real Estate Industry
May 14th 2008
THE NOAH GROUP
An Open Letter to Brett Marks, CEO.
A Noah Group stand at a Mackay mall.
Real Estate Industry
March 5th 2008
HOW TO SAVE YOUR HOME
A fight worth fighting.
Here are seven suggestions that should help. They aren't all easy, but then there's not too much in life that's harder than losing your family home.Real Estate Industry
January 21st 2008
TOP INVESTMENT LOCATIONS
Where smart investors make the best profits.
It's a long-term performer and will deliver again in the future - it's just that right now is not the right time to buy there.Real Estate Industry
December 19th 2007
DESIREE, THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT
What happened to this lovely young lady?
Dymphna Boholt. Does she have the magic power to replace income in 90 days?
Real Estate Industry
December 12th 2007
THE FINGERS OF FINCORP
How Eric and the boys gorged on a fat financial pie.
Eric Krecichwost, Fincorp founder, stuck his fingers in the financial pie.
Real Estate Industry
November 13th 2007
GILES THE JUICE MAN
A lifetime of free carrot juice?
Giles, Melbourne's best juice man.
Real Estate Industry
October 15th 2007
SEAN KENNY'S BIG DEAL
How he robbed an elderly lady.
Sean Kenny
Real Estate Industry
October 9th 2007
DODGY PROPERTY DATA
Confusion reigns as industry rains dodgy data.
A muddle of conflicting information spewed forth by the property industry and regurgitated without scrutiny.Real Estate Industry
September 25th 2007
SIMON MUGFORD IS TELLING LIES
And so is his boss, Dennis Vlandis.
Simon Mugford
Real Estate Industry
September 19th 2007
THE CASH FLOW MORTGAGE
Just another smoke-and-mirrors sham.
Margaret Lomas
Real Estate Industry
August 29th 2007
FOXES REWARDED FOR CHICKEN PROTECTION
Agent protectors are NOT consumer protectors.
Well, you can fool some of the people all the time, all of the people some of the time and, it seems, the Office of Fair Trading every time.Real Estate Industry
August 20th 2007
HOW TO FIND A HOME - EASILY
A simple solution to a great frustration.
How many weekends does it take before the average couple finds the right home? How many hours do they spend trawling the Internet?Real Estate Industry
July 31st 2007
THE DEFINITION OF A GOOD DEAL
A good home or a good price? Both, if possible.
If I were a spruiker, I'd have charged Bob and Vicki at least $10,000 for my "secrets".Real Estate Industry
July 27th 2007
ROYAL COMMISSION NEEDED
Comment from Westpoint Investors Group.
Was it one of the 83 companies totalling $8 billion on the list ASIC refuses to name?Real Estate Industry
June 25th 2007
THE POLITICS OF AFFORDABILITY
How common lies seem like powerful truths.
If you doubt my contention that land supply has little to do with affordability, consider this...Real Estate Industry
June 12th 2007
THE HEARTY DROVER'S PIE
Stay away from 'The Science of Options'.
It's hard to believe that anyone, these days, can fall for such con-cliché garbage.Real Estate Industry
May 24th 2007
HELP FOR HOME BUYERS
Six hints to make it easier.
Don't be bluffed. It's not illegal to approach the owners of a home and ask questions or make comments.Real Estate Industry
May 14th 2007
DANIEL DO-NOTHING
Victoria's Minister for Consumer Affairs.
Message to Premier Bracks – your current Minister for Consumer Affairs, Daniel Andrews, is incompetent.Real Estate Industry
May 2nd 2007
THE HUNT FOR MIHOS MILLIONAIRES
Surely not everyone got ripped off?
If I read anything bad or negative in your book, I will be writing an article for the paper to explain things properly!Real Estate Industry
April 13th 2007
THE SECRETS OF HANS JAKOBI
An in-depth review of a self-crowned wealth coach.
Get-rich-quick property spruiker, Hans Jakobi
Real Estate Industry
April 2nd 2007
FINCORP INVESTORS
If you call them greedy or gullible, shame on you.
Something is really wrong in our society when we blame victims for being cheated.Real Estate Industry
February 27th 2007
BUYING BARGAINS - FAIRLY
Be a smart investor, not a grubby predator.
Is it possible to buy properties cheaply and with a clear conscience? Of course.Real Estate Industry
February 12th 2007
RESTITUTIO IN INTEGRUM
If only all spruikers would do this.
Robert was wiped out. Even with his entire salary he had no money for payments and food for his family.Real Estate Industry
January 29th 2007
STOP THIS THEFT
The lowest of the low.
Imagine robbing a bank of $30,000, the cops pull you over, take you to court and you walk free with a $2,000 fine.Real Estate Industry
January 24th 2007
IT'S ALL ABOUT NUMBERS & TIMING!
Property is now unaffordable and unprofitable.
I don't want investors to make mistakes. I don't want them treated like mugs. I want them to get smart, not get hurt.Real Estate Industry
November 27th 2006
A FRIEND OF THE FAMILY
How Agent Paula sold Beryl's home.
"I don't have to justify my actions to you," she said, "I have been in real estate for 30 years."Real Estate Industry
November 13th 2006
THE EVICTION EXECUTION
The ultimate price of a big home.
People who buy big expensive homes with big expensive mortgages seldom realise that the biggest price comes after they buy.Real Estate Industry
October 23rd 2006
LOSERS OR CHEATERS?
The predicament of property investors.
Property investors have now painted themselves into a difficult corner – either they are dishonest cheaters or honest losers.Real Estate Industry
October 18th 2006
AVOIDING WESTPOINT-STYLE LOSSES
Suggestions from a financial planner.
If it doesn't look risky, it is only because you haven't spotted the risk.Real Estate Industry
October 5th 2006
YOUR MONEY OR YOUR LIFE
The personal price of not selling.
There are two prices when selling a home – a financial price and a personal price.Real Estate Industry
September 28th 2006
THE WORLD'S WORST AGENTS
In one of the world's best places.
Real estate has been the talk of the nation these past few weeks. And all because of one agent.Real Estate Industry
August 14th 2006
HALF PRICE PROPERTY?
Madness plus spruikers equals mammoth losses.
For those who didn't hear about it, a home unit in Sydney's western suburbs sold last week for $95,000. The same unit had sold in 2003 for $262,500.Real Estate Industry
August 9th 2006
THE FERNTREE FLEECE
Meet the latest Carey victims.
Perhaps she is lucky and will only lose $450, unlike many victims of the Carey gang who lost their life's savings.Real Estate Industry
July 31st 2006
ANOTHER MEZZANINE MESS
Double jeopardy for some investors.
Impressive pedigrees, to be sure. If mum-and-dad investors can't trust such a group, what hope is there?Real Estate Industry
July 12th 2006
SHARK ATTACKS SHARK
Battlers, millionaires, stars or crooks are all bait.
Like all agents who are involved in insider trading, she should be behind bars.Real Estate Industry
July 6th 2006
WHAT HAPPENED AT WESTPOINT?
9,000 words of truth about a national scandal.
It is high time that a proper compensation scheme is put in place to protect investors from the unlawful conduct of their financial advisers.Real Estate Industry
June 26th 2006
THE CHOCOLATE SULTANA SWITCH
It's not just unethical, it's downright illegal.
What's the matter with us? Can't we see that being deceived is something we should never tolerate? Never.Real Estate Industry
June 13th 2006
A TALE OF TWO CITIES
Fantasy and reality in Melbourne.
For years, Raimondo and the REIV have misled the Victorian public by deliberately distorting auction clearance rates.Real Estate Industry
June 7th 2006
DON'T LISTEN TO LISSON
WARNING - Check out 'The Investors Club'.
"I was financially set up until the Investors Club came into my life and told me this was a wonderful investment which would double in value in 7-10 years..."Real Estate Industry
May 24th 2006
LOCKING UP LARRY
The saga of an American spruiker.
Yesterday, in the Central Local Court, magistrate Allan Moore gave Larry a real 'Million Dollar Challenge' when bail was set at that amount.Real Estate Industry
May 17th 2006
THE CAPITAL CON CLAUSE
Warning to investors, especially in Canberra.
The REIACT not only supports dishonourable conduct, it has designed a way to be deliberately dishonourable.Real Estate Industry
May 8th 2006
TOM FRANZEN, A LUCKY GUY
"Over the moon" with happiness.
Michael was persuaded to sell his home to Tom Franzen for a net figure of $266,000. Lucky Tom.Real Estate Industry
April 26th 2006
IS THE BUSHRANGER INNOCENT?
He thinks so. You be the judge.
"After all the evidence which clearly exonerates me you still persist in persecuting an innocent man."Real Estate Industry
April 18th 2006
APOLOGISE - OR ELSE
More threats, but no sign of compassion, yet.
I met Michael on the Easter weekend. He is a good and decent man who deserves compassion. He does not deserve to be threatened.Real Estate Industry
March 31st 2006
I WANT MY HOME BACK
Mentally ill man begs for help.
Having not eaten for six days, Michael collapsed and was admitted to Bateman's Bay Hospital.Real Estate Industry
March 28th 2006
SERIAL OFFENDING SOLICITORS
They get off far too lightly.
"Don't trust your solicitor!" is a warning for all Queensland property buyers.Real Estate Industry
March 21st 2006
FLOP HAILED A TRIUMPH
The great Southern auction spin.
Meanwhile, auction clearance rates fell from 55 percent in 2004 to 51 percent in 2005.Real Estate Industry
March 13th 2006
THE CENTRAL EQUITY PITCH
A classic example of the importance of research.
Despite the share price and the losses of apartment investors, not everyone is losing with Central Equity.Real Estate Industry
March 3rd 2006
DISHONEST? INCOMPETENT? OR BOTH?
"Super Wealth Coach" who recommended Westpoint.
Aren't investors constantly told to be sure their financial advisor is licensed by ASIC?Real Estate Industry
February 23rd 2006
SPRUIKERS HIDE BEHIND BIG NAMES
The latest disguise to flog over-priced properties.
Unknown to the general public, many spruikers are now hiding behind some of the biggest names in real estate.Real Estate Industry
February 16th 2006
WHITE POINTERS AT WESTPOINT
The tele-marketing script used by the sharks.
Hundreds of thousands of Australians have heard these words down the phone line. Is there one person who has received the benefits promised?Real Estate Industry
February 9th 2006
DISGRACING THE TEDDY BEAR
The daily denial of the death agents.
Teddy Bears? Bah, they just invoke feelings of love and homeliness. This is about bricks and mortar.Real Estate Industry
January 30th 2006
TRUSTING EXPERTS
Who can investors trust?
Investors who follow the advice and opinions of most of these people, should be safe and profitable.Real Estate Industry
January 17th 2006
THE WESTPOINT DISASTER
Financial predators not planners.
So why did many financial planners recommend Westpoint to their clients?Real Estate Industry
November 23rd 2005
BREAK THE LAWS & MAKE THE SALES
This is Queensland, mate.
Buyers must regard claims of "waterfront" or "absolute beachfront" with extreme scepticism because most properties described in this way are nothing of the sort.Real Estate Industry
November 21st 2005
THE FASTEST HAMMER IN THE WEST
It's time to do everything in WA.
It's a great time to buy, it's a great time to sell, it's a great time to auction, and there are no dummy bidders in Western Australia.Real Estate Industry
November 14th 2005
BUTTERSCOTCH MUFFINS & PROPERTY PRICES
The perception and reality of today's market.
If a property has not sold within five weeks, it's considered stale.Real Estate Industry
November 9th 2005
ROBERT G ALLEN - A LIAR AND A THIEF
How he targets Aussies and influences other spruikers.
It's bad enough that you cheat Aussies in such a relentless manner, but what's worse is how you inspire and advise other spruikers.Real Estate Industry
November 2nd 2005
KIWI SPIV'S LATEST SHAM
Phil Jones picks the wrong target.
All in all, I think your "personal invitation" is a case study in why get-rich-quick spruikers have a bad name and little credibility.Real Estate Industry
October 31st 2005
SPINNING STATS TO DECEIVE SELLERS
The truth is the opposite of what they are saying.
Of course, it's all nonsense. As anyone who has studied auctions and has completed first grade mathematics knows, the opposite is true – auctions do not get higher prices.Real Estate Industry
October 28th 2005
CONSUMER COMPLAINTS IN REAL ESTATE
Is the Minister lying?
Enzo seems to suggest that anyone who says something negative about agents is a liar or acting from self-interest.Real Estate Industry
October 21st 2005
THE GRUBBY GREMLINS OF ADVERTISING
Explaining offensive real estate ads and lower prices.
One of the surest ways to reduce the chance of getting the best price is to reveal confidential information about the sellers, especially financial distress and misfortune.Real Estate Industry
October 20th 2005
ADVERTISEMENTS - THE WORST OF THE WORST
Real estate's recipe of dishonesty, stupidity and sleaze.
Dishonest advertising has boomed since the market slumped. Bait advertising with false quotes is back in a big way.Real Estate Industry
October 13th 2005
LYING ON THE BEACH
Buyers could get seriously burned.
Does it really matter if a real estate marketer tells a small lie in pursuit of a sale?Real Estate Industry
October 3rd 2005
OH, THE SHAME OF IT ALL
Guilty feelings that follow silence.
When asked if he was the same Stephen O'Neill that had been jailed for fraud, he did what most crooks do – he lied. Not me, mate.Real Estate Industry
September 21st 2005
REALITY CATCHES ROBBER DALE
But the regulators still haven't nabbed him.
The net worth of the advice Dale gave was zero. The reliability of Dale was zero. Now Dale has a net worth of zero. His credibility is sub-zero.Real Estate Industry
September 12th 2005
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
Is it safe or is it a carnival for thieves?
Agents are ready for selling and criminals are ready for stealing. So admits the Real Estate Institute - privately, of course.Real Estate Industry
September 6th 2005
PLEASE DON'T HURT ME, MICHAEL
Agents warned to avoid marketing group.
It is a month since this article appeared. Despite Michael's spooky threat, nothing has happened.Real Estate Industry
August 15th 2005
BY GEORGE, THIS IS ONE SHAM
Behind that glowing testimonial and guarantee.
There's just one snag. It's not true. George's "satisfaction guarantee" is as big a sham as Pat's testimonial.Real Estate Industry
August 5th 2005
THE BANGARU FRAUD
His Stitched List put him on the Rich List.
Kovelan Bangaru has resurfaced in California. He is using the name Kole Bugari.Real Estate Industry
July 29th 2005
CHRISTINE AND THE CLUB
Friendship? Support? Financial freedom?
You have 150 properties going up in value by $5 million a year. That's a hundred thousand dollars a week.Real Estate Industry
July 19th 2005
CAPED CRUSADER TRYING TO SAVE AGENTS
Sellers, be on the lookout for this rort.
There's no louder noise in real estate than the voice of self-interest.Real Estate Industry
July 11th 2005
AUCTION INSANITY
Don't fall for it, sellers!
In a falling property market, only the chronically dishonest or the most hopelessly incompetent of agents could seriously recommend that sellers put their properties to auction.Real Estate Industry
July 6th 2005
BOOM IN RENTAL COMPLAINTS
Some agents damage instead of manage.
While Queensland is often a prime example of all that's bad in real estate, misbehaviour by agents is not confined to the Sunshine State.Real Estate Industry
June 27th 2005
THE SUNSET STING
Heads they win, tails you lose.
Like all sneaky deals, sunset clauses sound fair. They are presented to buyers as a safety mechanism.Real Estate Industry
June 22nd 2005
MORTGAGE FRAUD IS HOT IN QUEENSLAND
Hundreds of crimes and no one seems to care.
One Queensland valuer claims to have seen 400 cases of "double contracting" in the past nine months.Real Estate Industry
June 16th 2005
MEDIA BURST THE BUBBLE
So say the petulant property players.
If sellers knew the truth, they could price their homes accordingly and avoid selling at a lower price when the market gets worse.Ethics
June 6th 2005
ETHICS IN INVESTING
The best investment of your life.
Like a thief in the night that has robbed a part of our characters, a culture has crept into our society that tells us we can be wealthier faster.Real Estate Industry
May 30th 2005
AGENTS BETRAYING SELLERS
Buy with them, but don't ever sell with them.
This increasingly-common behaviour borders on criminal neglect of agents' duty to their clients.Real Estate Industry
May 23rd 2005
THE "UNVARNISHED TRUTH" ABOUT MONEY
An investment seminar worth attending.
It was a pleasure to see, among the dirty and dodgy ads in the weekend newspapers, one advertisement for a seminar which should be well worth attending.Real Estate Industry
May 18th 2005
THE FINGER-POINTERS
Playing the self-interest blame game.
Institutes around the nation are pumping out press releases demanding government action on shonky investment schemes, seminar spruikers and off-the-plan marketers.Wraps
May 9th 2005
ON THE BACKS OF BATTLERS
The social tragedy of wrapping.
Another wrapper, Scott Button, urged Gruber to sue the newspaper, saying, "About time these morons got both barrels for blantant (sic) fiction."Real Estate Industry
April 27th 2005
FROM BAD NEWS TO GOOD NEWS
Homesellers - this time it really is the market!
Many times, agents just hope that a buyer will come along and pay yesterday's price. But hope is not an effective method of selling a home, especially when yesterday's higher price has gone and tomorrow's lower price is coming.Real Estate Industry
March 30th 2005
THE PROPERTY CHOPPING BLOCK
Sydney first, others follow.
Welcome to today's Sydney property market where prices are tumbling and where many homeowners don't know who to believe or what to do.Real Estate Industry
March 11th 2005
IT'S BEEN A BAD FEW MONTHS FOR AGENTS
Agents named Trickey and Dodge head the industry's Hall of Infamy.
Real estate agents rank almost rock bottom in the public's estimation. Only car salesmen rate lower in the latest Morgan Poll which ranks professions on honesty.Real Estate Industry
March 1st 2005
DANNY, THE HONEST AGENT
How sellers can save thousands in commission.
But not all agents are as honest as Danny. Most tell homesellers that selling a home is complicated and requires amazing skill.Real Estate Industry
February 28th 2005
QLD AGENCY LEADER FAILS MARKET KNOWLEDGE TEST
Brimble bumbles questions on Mackay boom.
Mackay prices have risen more than 60 per cent but rents haven't kept pace. Gross returns are now little better than 4 per cent. ABC Tropical North announcer Melissa Maddison says Mackay prices are now "just plain scary".Real Estate Industry
February 21st 2005
HOW TO BUY FOR LESS
Help for struggling homebuyers.
As a buyer in today's market, you have more power than you may realise.Top visited items for 2010
Current top articles (past week)
Paid Advertisements
