How s the Aussie dollar doing these days? I heard some rumors that because of a sharp increase its value theres a friggin spending spree going on down there! I know a year or two ago it was only worth about $.50 to the US dollar. Any truth to this?
Ben, I know it’s value was at $.50/US dollar last year. I had an Australian graphic design outfit completely redesign and screenprint my logo (along with a complete set of stickers!) for half of what it would’ve cost stateside. And that included shipping. Kirk
Ben The aussie dollar is at 70.cent Aus and going higher. so from your end it will cost you more now. Good for me but. Rabbit
The spending spree in Australia has nothing to do with the US$$. Its because of a massive housing boom where everyone who owned a home or had an investment house has seen its value triple in the last 5 years. Ill give you an idea, I live in Queensland. The base price for a house is now $250,000 for that price you will not get anything special. If I wanted to buy close to the beach say the Gold or Sunshine coast I will need to have $280,000. Those like me who were too young and financially not in the position to buy a house a few years ago will now have to wait till the oldies keel over before i get my first house. That is unless I go to the bank and ask them to give me a $250,000. That will take 30 years of constant work to pay off. FUCK
Then wouldnt you have more overseas buying power? Doesnt that mean you blokes will be able to buy more American goods now? Great news!
Don’t feel too bad… I’m strugglin to get my first ‘house’ too… Where I am in So Cal, a moderate house, 5-10 miles from the beach, will run you 400,000 - 500,000. If you want something near the water, try scrounging up something more in the 7 figure department.
I’d be interested to know how much info in regard to Australia and what is going on over here your news services supply. Every nite we see news stories coming out of the USA and every nite we are told how the Aussie $ is going compared to American $ and all the other majior curruncies.David.
If you want to know how big the Aussie property boom is, and how real estate agents and investment advisers are doing people over, then I suggest you look at this site. It’s a cracker. Mr Neil Jenman is the Aussie Ralph Nader of Property. His site is www.jenman.com.au The biggest property scammers in Australia operate on the Gold Coast, in Queensland. The Gold Coast does not just export surfboards and good looking girls, but unfortunately it imports and exports shonky operators too. Sorry to say.
Sea, You say that the difference between a house with an inland location and one close to the beach is only $30,000.00 ? WOW! If we in SoCal could be so lucky! Also, you state that if you wanted to buy one, a bank would have to loan you the money, then you’d have to work to pay it off. Welcome to the club. I’ve only known one person in my life who bought a house for cash. And it was after they sold a big one that was almost paid off, to buy a little one. I’m no real estate whiz, but if you can buy a house, buy it. Especially when prices are going up. You can always sell it and make a buck. Like Will Rogers said, “Buy land. They don’t make it anymore.” Doug
Doug I agree with you, Sea should take a shot at buying a house and sit back and watch his investment grow. I purchased a house in the hinterland on the Gold Coast 3 years age now it worth double what i paid for it even more. So we have used it to buy a USA made CNC shaping machine to start a company on the Gold Coast. Sometime in the new year we will also start making foam, Just making the mixers now then some moulds. Its all because i own a house, So Sea you need to go for it not sit back and bitch about it. E-mail me since you live in QLD and i maybe able to help you. Rabbit’
I live in Manhattan Beach, prices here for condos! not even Houses start over $300k !! Now if you think you want to live close to the beach (5 min. walking) just buying a dirt lot will run you well over $1 million. Suck it up Aussies, you not only have better surf, women not to mention BEER and beaches but your house prices don’t even compare.
Ever heard of Sydney. You will spend 2 mil on a house near the beaches there and it will need to be knocked down becuase its derelict.
America leads the way in most things, including ridiculous housing prices. Unfortunatly the rest of the world will just follow suit.
I purchased a 40 acre block at Agnes water 5 years ago for 15k a real estate rang a week ago and offered 95k. Property is booming a shame I don’t want to sell
This remind me of monty phyton where they all complain about their lousy childhood. What a pissing match… Actually when you look at cost of living surveys, it’s not that bad. The US only holds the 10 place on the city list(but with a good number of cities in the list), couldn’t find any AUS cities. Guess they just left you guys out 
http://www.finfacts.ie/costofliving1.htm Bdw. I used to live in the 13th most expensive city in the list. I think the current price record for a flat was in excess of US$10000 pr. square yard, don’t know what you think, but that sure is expensive to me. I don’t know why you would even want to live there or even stay there(no surf either). Go figure… regards, Håvard
Geez, Australia sounds like the outer banks. Property owners here had their net worth go up about $100,000 in 12-18 months.Buying a house in 1991 was the best thing I’ve done in life(except for surfing)!That old dump was $51,000 back then;it’s worth about $175,000 now.With entry level houses @ $200,000 now,I sure wish I would have rented it instead of selling it.Property values stayed really cheap here for a long time;4 years ago I used to say "Where else on the east coast can you buy a lot within a stone’s throw of the Atlantic for $30,000? Well, those days finally ended,cause now they’re $100,000-$150,000. What has been a boom for some is a bummer for those who never got around to buying,they’ve been priced right out of the market.