Posts by Mike Mortlock
My 2023 Outlook
Oh my gosh, is that the time already? I just looked up from my harried work desk and realised…. 2022 is coming to an end! It feels like this year has progressed far faster than the previous few. Perhaps it’s the PTSD of pandemic shutdowns when we had too much time on our hands. Now…
Read MoreIs This The Best Investment Property Ever?
If we were to put a percentage value on it, the selection of an individual city will generally account for approximately 80 percent of the performance outcome from a property investment decision. The other 20 percent is the specific property selection. In the majority of cases, property investors have the order of importance out of…
Read MoreWhy Australia is facing a ‘devastating insurance crisis’ this summer
A national property firm has warned that Australia is facing a “devastating insurance crisis” as this summers triple-dip La Nina threatens to financially ruin underinsured homeowners. MCG Quantity Surveyors, which has offices in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Newcastle, Adelaide, Perth and Canberra, said that a combination of factors could lead to “one of most financially devastating”…
Read MoreIs the Lucky Country Losing It’s Mojo?
Four Corners’ episode last week “No place to call home – the new face of homelessness in Australia” made for sombre viewing. It followed the stories of hard-working young Australians, primarily single mothers, as they desperately try to find even the most basic accommodation for their families in regional towns. They talk of applying for…
Read MoreThe political idiocy surrounding Aussie housing
Ask those who know me, and most would say I’m not prone to emotional outbursts. Sure, half a bottle of red and a robust debate on sports cars or the world’s greatest guitar player will bring out my strident fervour, but I know my limits. However, there’s one issue that’s come to the fore that…
Read MoreFive Ways to Profit From Eco-Upgrading Your Investment Property
As the rain beats down on this Queen’s memorial public holiday, it seems a sign of things to come as we head into summer, bracing for yet another season impacted by La Nina, our third in as many years. Spare a thought for all those that flooded in 2020 and 2021. Some of them are…
Read More‘Coinsurance’ or ‘Average Clause’ Explained and Case Study
Coinsurance Clause or Average Clause An insurance policy for a property owner is accompanied by a detailed and complex contract that will contain clauses, provisions and responsibilities that are assigned to either the policy holder or the insurer. One of these provisions is the coinsurance clause. Coinsurance is quite often misunderstood and it inclusion in…
Read More5 ways to profit from ‘going green’ on your investment property
By Zarah Mae Torrazo An expert is debunking the misconception that an eco-friendly investment property can’t produce significant financial rewards. Managing director of MCG Quantity Surveyors Mike Mortlock said that it’s time for investors to do away with the trope that one can be a capitalist investor or an eco-warrior — but not both. “I…
Read MoreHow to Make Sure Your Sinking Fund Won’t End Up Sinking You
The term Sinking Fund conjures up all sorts of negative connotations. Maybe because it sounds like something is sinking? Or perhaps due to the similar wording to sunk costs – ie costs that are already incurred. In reality though, it simply describes funds put aside to cover future expenses that are likely to arise, or…
Read MoreHow Much Does It Cost to Build a Home?
How much does it cost per square metre to build a house in Australia? To quote an overused phrase, you might well ask how long is a piece of string. The short answer is, it depends. What kind of house do you want to build? A sprawling family home or a compact single person dwelling?…
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