The totally off-topic thread

[GarrettM]

It is *really* nice to log in to online banking and see $0.00 on a mortgage and $0.00 on a business loan.

We settled on our former investment property/first home today. Now to juggle some money around, and pay down the mortgage and maybe pay off my new car. Or should I head online and book the next family holiday instead???

Oh c'mon. What forum did you post this on?

You're a bad influence Pushka. We have a "decent" amount left over from the sale of my parents' place, and I would LOVE to put some of it to good use. Especially before the AA and LM promos end this week.
But I have to focus on the bigger picture, which is getting our house sold and putting all that money together for what will be our own family home.

 

[Pushka]

Family homes are important. Memories are important.

Good lord. I just agreed with something Pauline Hansen said.

 

[Steady]

It is *really* nice to log in to online banking and see $0.00 on a mortgage and $0.00 on a business loan.

We settled on our former investment property/first home today.

Congratulations

 

[TheRealTMA]

Family homes are important. Memories are important.

Good lord. I just agreed with something Pauline Hansen said.

Don't worry! "Travel will broaden your mind." Apparently', although many travel to make the world a mirror of their home experiences it seems. (Not Pushka of course. Where would you find such nice polish floors!)

 

[blackcat20]

Family homes are important. Memories are important.

Good lord. I just agreed with something Pauline Hansen said.

I love my home and I'm so sad that we will probably have to move out next year :-|

 

[Katie]

Celebrating the sale of our first home, which we brought the kidlet home to after she was born, which I ledt from the day we were married. But, that same house also had what I call "internal water views" far too many times for a house that is bricked in downstairs.

 

[Denali]

Family homes are important. Memories are important.

Or as my husband says, a house is only 3 or 5 truck loads to the dump.

 

[whatmeworry]

I am filthy. And knackered.

Just spent two hours ripping up 2 rooms of carpet ready for the original floors to be sanded and polished tomorrow. But it is nice to be able to do such things now - a few months ago just the thought of it would send me to bed.

I did find a white ant poison notice dated 1994 so that's when the carpets were laid.

Day 1: carpets ripped up.
View attachment 84917

This all started a few weeks ago when the ceiling leaked. Insurance fixed up the ceiling and gave cash settlement for the carpet but sanding was significantly cheaper and much better. We already have sanded hallways so we knew they would come up brilliantly.

Thankfully no surprises underneath.

We were very lucky. All floorboards perfectly in tact. No holes anywhere except maybe gaps between the doorways where the carpet was. No more than 1 cm so should be fine. No nails or nail holes. Doesn't even creak!

Its an old Tudor built in 1928. The builder also built the house next door and one around the back. The latter was knocked down around 2 years ago to build a monstrosity of ugly dark grey concrete and that timber trim.

We also have a cupola in the entry and chandeliers in the front rooms and entry. About 20 years ago the old owners converted the roof space into three more huge bedrooms, full bathroom and separate toilet plus another large family room. All cute English style attics and dormer windows. Original leadlight in front windows and built in display cabinets. So we have three large family areas, separate dining room, formal front room plus study, walk in room for clothes, four bedrooms and three toilets and 2 bathrooms. Its just too large and we need to do more renovations (damn Adelaide soil) and then sell in about 18 months time.

It was a dump when we bought it - ceilings falling down, mission brown everything and mouldery carpets.

I fear if you ever sell up, "developers" will divvy up you property.

Some dodgy developer down the street from me wants to make 5 townhouses on 576sq metres of land. FFS they want the council to let them reduce the amount of parking on and off site parking in a narrow street.

Looking at the documents submitted to the council, the "developer" is a secretary that somehow has acquired loans of over a million dollars for the land and expects to spend a million on the twonhouses.

 

[Pushka]

I know what you mean whatmeworry. House next door made into a duplex. House across the road the same. But maybe that trend has stopped here with some large houses being built on existing blocks.

The trick is how much to spend to make it look great or think that it might get knocked down anyway. We would need to renovate the pool also. But if developed that would go.

We are also in the zone for Adelaide's best Primary school. Has had the reputation for as long as I can remember. It is closed to new enrolments unless you live in the same suburb which we do. I'm ready to leave now but interesting family circumstances change next year means we'll be here for a while. Plus we will be getting an apartment in Melbourne next year because of Adelaide FIFO status at work.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Love_the_life... NZ this Crimbo long weekend.
CHC.

 

[blackcat20]

I fear if you ever sell up, "developers" will divvy up you property.

Some dodgy developer down the street from me wants to make 5 townhouses on 576sq metres of land. FFS they want the council to let them reduce the amount of parking on and off site parking in a narrow street.

Looking at the documents submitted to the council, the "developer" is a secretary that somehow has acquired loans of over a million dollars for the land and expects to spend a million on the twonhouses.

In my area they either squeeze 3 onto a block, or they build a $3million behemoth.... Our block is also around the 500sqm mark and Ive been told that three is "easy".

 

[whatmeworry]

Last weekend a home in Box Hill on a corner block for sold for 4.5 million. So much for restricting loans to overseas investors. No height restrictions I believe on this property.

I wouldn't mind if it was just 3 townhouses but that part of the street is already bottlenecked and the street is an important diversion route if the major roads/streets need to be fixed.

Funny how in the application they mention the train station that is a 1km away... and how the average per home is less then 2 cars... Yeah right.

 

[Denali]

Our house is on 800mtrs, the inlaws live next door on similar.

One of our maybe one day plans is when mum in law dies to buy out the brothers and sell the two together but not holding my breath because mum in law could live for another 15yrs so who knows by then.

We're also sitting on 2 acres in Sydney that is about to be developed so a lot of things could or might not happen, depending on the market. Most is out of our control so I guess I'll keep working and paying bills in the meantime.

 

[whatmeworry]

Yeah development in Sydney has gone overboard a bit.

 

[Bindibuys]

It is *really* nice to log in to online banking and see $0.00 on a mortgage and $0.00 on a business loan.

We settled on our former investment property/first home today. Now to juggle some money around, and pay down the mortgage and maybe pay off my new car. Or should I head online and book the next family holiday instead???

Understand your predicament. We own the farm and 4 investment properties, but still have 4 more to pay off. Have to get my head into "clear the loans" mode instead of "next holiday" thoughts.

 

[Denali]

Thankful for AFF for threads about the correct ESTA link to use/avoid 3rd party schemes.

Off to reapply for our ESTA - both hubby and I have new passports

 

[Foreigner]

Susan Kiefel has been named as Australia's first female High Court chief justice:

Susan Kiefel becomes Australia's first female High Court chief justice

 

[Pushka]

House smells of fresh Baltic pine. These boards were laid around 90 years ago and in totally perfect condition according to the builder. Very little prep work required (nails etc)
Progress photos day 2



First coarse sand.



Builder off to get kero to soften up the floors ready to remove the black wash.

 

[JohnK]

What some would give for the days when life was simple.

 

[Pushka]

What some would give for the days when life was simple.

What is simple? Maybe when I was 12?