That's quite an interesting one but the features are quite limited and I guess it's only for citizens and permanent residents. I can't alter it to my own situation =(

Yeah, unless you tick non-residents

Just a simple calculator

Yeah that's a part that I ve never really understood all these years, us on student visa have to tick paying tax as a resident rather than non-resident. So who are the non-resident then if this is the case? (Working visa also pays tax as residents as well)

You are considered as Australian resident if you stay in Australia for more than 6 months

Well, i'm not on 3 mths contract and its permanent.
FHOG is limited to new building only when Labor Party continue to rule.
Yeap, some building were badly built due to workmanship they used. Some worker's bad mood or after quarreling with their wives, affecting their daily works...LOL
If u knew that, then u better don't buy it. Plenty of options out there.
If the builder delivered the house to u with different specs, don't accept it. Ask them to rectify and charge for liquidated ascertain damages. They'll compensate the lost.

Just make sure to read the contract. If anything different from the contract, you can easily argue and sue them if necessary

Well, at least the builders here getting well pay and looks more promising than the builders in Malaysia(mostly Indon) that work like a slave

No worries, I'm a contract administrator, remember? If u guys need any construction contract law, can check with me. let me contribute something to u guys who got builder's issue.

It is the lost of time that you can't get compensation over. Just don't have the mindset that Australia is supposed to be a developed country and everything is fair here, then you are fine. Remember to do your due diligence and be extra careful.

It is just that there are far too many cases of things turning bad here. And far too many people just put their trust on developer blindly. They just make the purchase, did the payment as requested, and only when it comes to completion date, then they went on site and realise they paid too early too much for the wrong thing and asked to wait another 12 months for completion.

Hi Nemesis,
Congratulation of getting the job.
Did the interviewer look at age on deciding the candidates? I knew that age is not required to put on resume but they still can work out the age by looking at the graduated year and working experiences. I may have to drop my PR visa, geting a job is the main obstacle.

400k for a family of 4?

Given that you have 3 dependents, I'd be looking at earnings of 100k a year before going to the banks for a loan. This based off the general lending criteria I know of when I last talked to CBA and St George.

I would sell the property back home. Over here is your LVR is above 80 percent. eg; You take a loan above 80k for a house which is worth 100k. You'll have to pay for mortgage lenders insurance which can drive up the price (it is called a "low deposit premium") and is a must, so you'll also have to pay about 100 dollars extra a month for a loan of 300k AUD. Remember that you also need home and contents insurance.

Also having a low deposit means you lose out on 0.8 of a percent on interest cuts if you bank with the big 4.

You're exactly rite. I just did some research that 100k is more likely the threshold to purchase. However, i had to sell off my property backhome to accumulate around AUD80K as downpayment. Means that i might loan for 300K.
However, did checked thru the Keystart info. Seems attractive enough but somehow seems something not very fair in terms either. Can enlighten me on that?

Low deposit premium is wat so called MRTA in Malaysia. Yeap, it's a waste of money to buy that but it's compulsory. If based on 80k hope won't waste money on that coz every penny counts!

I saw a property which located at Ellenbrook, north perth at AUD350k. AUD370 for stamp duty and etc. (Actually no stamp duty below 500k)

Can u enlighten me on what are the normal fees required to maintain a house like council fees or utilities (average) coz i need to make sure these expenses won't pull me down to miserable life here

Interviewer not even mentioned my age nor i don't mentioned to him either. Honestly they don't even ask me to let them glance my degree or certificate.
They just ask me wat i do back home, wat project i involvve, any kids or how long i'm here. The whole interview taking like 30mins?
They intro their company and the whole process seems i only talk 5 mins only. I actually dunno what am i doin there and sit there just listen.
Few days later, they call again for meeting up another boss. Talking with angmoh GM and also less than 15mins, come back home and sleeping at noon.
Another day later when i was sleeping at noon, they called saying confirm my employment. Start work monday, getting my biz card and uniform....(Uniform?!?)
I worked so many years never wear a uniform before in a construction company...LOL

You're right. I do find some workmanship is bad-ass quality. That's y i told u maybe the builder having bad quarrel with the wife.
My suggestions is that try not to put too much upfront money to them. BAsed on percentage workdone to pay. Request them to give the progress report. That way easier for u to monitor. If not, till end of day, u won't get ur house on time.
Normal builders build a house around 7 - 8 mths in Perth. If some ******* builder will playing around will drag u one year. U can screw them.
Some builders here very chip lak one. Same as Malaysia....haha...

You must have a good resume. Probably an exact fit to the job requirement and they doesn't have many other candidate to consider . The wage range could be one of the reason too . Fast forward a year from now, you will be in much much much better position with your here as well.

Most of the employer don't even look for qualification or CGPA unlike in Malaysia.

Anyway, good to have uniform so that you can claim that expenses in tax return

REally? I don't know that. Need u guys to enlighten me this time. Hmm.....Ozzie tax is a complicated one.

yeah, i hope so. After this year will be thinking of buying a house.

Yes, you can claim it as long as you wash the uniform with your expenses.

I even claimed electricity, internet, mobile,etc as work purposes

Regarding the keystart, i think there is a certain salary threshold. There is also a percentage of ownership shared between you and keystart like 70%, 30%. Before that, their interest rate is relatively cheaper than those borrowed a home loan from the bank. However, last year, when interest rate drops, i heard some ppl complained that their interest with keystart is even higher then those borrowed from bank. Not sure what is the update now. I think if you should only consider it if you have limited money, as you don't need to pay the LMI with less than 20% downpayment. Is slightly harder to sell as you can only sell to those that fulfill the requirement and going to buy from keystart.

Why Ellenbrook? Aren't you working in the city? Ellenbrook is quite far away. If you are working around CBD and are looking for something below 400k, I would suggest south of the river. For apartment, can try looking around South Perth. For a house, should look around Thornlie, Huntingdale, harrisdale or southern river. There are plenty asian there. Lots of asian food in spencer village. Near to shopping centre in carousel, cannington. You can just take a train from Thornlie station to CBD (25 mins train ride). It is also near to the airport. in future,the train line will be linked to the airport.

I presume you are going to rent your own place when your family arrives. i would suggest that you try to rent at the suburb you plan to buy to have the "feeling" before commiting.

Well, i called DOH tis morning. Actually it's 20:80. You don't have to give any repayment till u sell the house. 20% payback based on market value. I hope i'm not wrong on tis. Means the SAP will consist of 2 owners between u and DOH.
Yeap, do heard the interest issue. But still u're save from LMI which is totally wasting of money. I don't expect to sell it. I only wanted to buy more property instead.
Why Ellenbrook? Coz i worked in Joondalup. It took me 15 min. reaching office. Sometimes even can go home hv lunch or take a nap...hehe.
If i stayed in south, my travel distance gonna kill me. Ellenbrook is very nice and cosy place. Like the landscape and it's cheap!