McCarthy Group

	Can you afford your next investment property? The likely answer is, "Yes!" How do you know when you're ready to go for the next investment property? We spoke to Michael Johnson, the Finance Director at McCarthy Group, and he gave us an expert's view on borrowing for your next property.

	As an investor, what can you expect from a new government? The 2010 election will go down in history for many reasons, when the results are eventually known! As things are unfolding, what should expect as property investors?

	‘A Big Australia’: Where do you stand on population growth? The appointment last week of Tony Burke as Population Minister responded to the controversy of Treasure forecasts that Australia's population will hit 36 million people by 2050. It signals the issue of population forecasts firmly entering Australian politics.

	Jessica Watson lives her dream Jessica and her little 34-footer Ella's Pink Lady are due to arrive in Sydney on May 2, weather permitting, having sailed out of Sydney Heads on October 19 last year.

	As Autumn leaves appear, how is your year unfolding? It's that time of the year again when the leaves and the light start to change. The weather gets cooler, the beaches get emptier and gum nuts no longer sting under bare feet. Slowly but surely the sweatshirts and jeans come out, the singlets and shorts get packed away, and we realise suddenly, that summer is behind us.

	Valentine’s Day February 14th is just around the corner. Now is the time when husbands can make up for a forgotten anniversary and wives have great reason for a new haircut.

	Merry Christmas from McCarthy Group If your kids have a photo with Santa this Christmas, he might look much older than he did a year ago, given the tough times that he, like all of us, has had to travel through.

	Getting a ‘W’ When Tiger Woods won the Australian Masters golf tournament, he told the press that he had achieved a 'W'. When I read about this, I sat for a moment and then caught on to what he meant. Woods had had a Win, as he usually does.

	The Man in McCarthy Blue It all began many years ago, When investments seemed but a dream. Meeting month-end payments was hard enough With income that was simply too lean...

	Australia’s exploding population. It's either a blessing or a curse, but a real opportunity for property investors.

	It’s easy being green Making your house eco-friendly can make or break the deal.

	Top Ten Haunted Houses It's Halloween, which means it's time to crack out the haunted house movies and enjoy a good old-fashioned fright night!

	The Australian population just hit 22 million At 1.58pm on October 1, 2009, the Australian population hit 22 million people. And counting.

	Australia is sitting pretty at number two Australia has jumped to number two on the global ranking of financial centres released by the World Economic Forum. Britain is sitting at number one, and the US - which usually holds the top spot - has slipped down to number three.

	The spirit of The Horizon OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER, THE HORIZON, OWES ITS EXISTENCE TO THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS. THE LEADERS OF GLOBAL FINANCE AND POLITICS STOOD AT THE EDGE OF THE ABYSS AND RESOLVED TO TAKE DECISIVE ACTION TO RESCUE THE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL SYSTEM AS WE KNOW IT.

	How to secure a tenant WHILE THE NATIONAL RENTAL VACANCY FIGURE HOVERS BETWEEN 1 AND 2 PER CENT, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE INVESTORS WHO END UP WITH A VACANT PROPERTY. IN SUCH SITUATIONS, HOW DO YOU FIND A GOOD TENANT, FAST?

	The kiwi fruit - treasure in the backyard TODAY'S MASSIVE KIWI FRUIT EXPORT INDUSTRY IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE HUGE VALUE THAT CAN EXIST IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD.

	The pension problem RECENT REPORTS ON THE GROWTH IN AUSTRALIA'S POPULATION TO 35 MILLION BY 2049 HAVE HIGHLIGHTED MAJOR ISSUES FOR THE PROSPECTS OF THOSE WHO WILL BE RETIRED AT THAT TIME.

	Why does land seem so scarce? And so costly? Covering over 7.5 million square kilometres, Australia has the 6th largest land mass in the world . So why does land here seem so scarce , and why is it so expensive?

	The Woodstock Generation– 40 years on Forty years after the Summer of '69, the peace - loving concert - goers of yesterday are known as Baby Boomers, and are heading towards - or are already in - retirement.

	Why does everyone want to come to Australia? Immigration numbers are growing , and so too will demand for housing.

	Professor Keen shifts the goal posts The much-quoted University of Western Sydney professor who forecast that house prices would fall by 40 per cent - and sold his property in anticipation - seems to be shifting the goal posts in terms of the timing over which the bet plays out.

	“I have a dream” - 46 years on As we mark the 46th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech, an African American President sits in the White House. For a dream to come true, however , you have to have one first.

	With August comes the Money Stone Peridot, the birthstone of August, brings healing and opportunity. Peridot is the stone of emotional healing. After the GFC hit the world, a little bit of healing won't go amiss. As the healing stone of healers, this green gem is said to mend emotional wounds and draw money and opportunity our way.

	Some great lines Muhammed Ali

	McCarthy Club: What would you like to see in it? As the next step in the evolution of our client support and group services, we are planning to launch a new concept called McCarthy Club. This will be exclusive for clients, and will add further value and usefulness to our relationship with you.

	The vision that was the moon landing - 40 years later An incredible achievement, all made possible by a bold vision for the future. Are there lessons in this for us?

	Record arrivals boost Australia’s population Last year's 1.9% growth in our population doesn't sound like much. How about 406,083 more people? Now that's impressive!

	Gen B for Boomerang: 25% of Australians under 34 still live at home! Here's a great story to get some fiery discussion underway at dinner! We found it in Michael Matusik's itp report. It's food for thought!

	McCarthy group returns to its roots We are excited to confirm our return to the Sydney market after an absence of almost 10 years. Sydney is where our story began, and it is with pride and pleasure that we have written to all our clients to offer an exclusive first opportunity to indicate your interest in a property in our soon to be announced Sydney project.

	Baby Ozzies and immigrants arrive in great numbers A new baby boom is upon us, with the birth rate being at its highest since the post-war boom of the 'fifties and 'sixties. Remember Peter Costello asking us to have 'One for mum, one for dad and one for the country?" Well it seems we've taken him at his word, with 152,700 net additions to the local population last year.

	Time’s running out as Kippers set to be fried* A new study by St George Bank has shown that the "Kids in Parents ' Pockets Eroding Retirement Savings", or Kippers as they are popularly known, are living on borrowed time, and will soon be forced to flee the nest and fend for themselves.

	And the global gong goes to... Australia! We don't mean to downplay the severity of the downturn in Australia, but a recent study by Servcorp highlights that there is more than luck to being the Lucky Country.

	Helpful Tips Increase the frequency of payments...

	“These boots are made for walking”.... continued Remember this story from our first issue of The Horizon in December 2008?

	Whoops! Sorry, we forgot about those ones It's hard to imagine how you 'forget' about houses you've bought. However, according to the ATO, some people claiming the First Home Owner's Grant have had a bit of a lapse in memory.

	Regulate or advises, ‘Invest between the flags’ After the disastrous impact as retail investors lost over $73 billion in savings, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission has announced the launch of an awareness campaign that will classify finan cial products as either 'between the flags' or 'outside the flags'.

	Are we there yet? There are increasing signs that the worst of the financial and economic slowdown are behind us, and that we are heading towards better times.

	Facing your fears There are few (if any) McCarthy Group clients who didn't have to overcome fear as the biggest obstacle in their investment decision.

	Sydney looms as a future hot spot - not enough construction! No-one has told the people who pick Sydney as the major immigration arrival point that the construction of new homes is going steadily down even as demand increases. Landlords are set to benefit.

	It’s tax time - make sure you claim everything that’s due To optimize your investment property returns, make sure your paperwork is organized and that your accountant claims every legitimate cost and service. Now is the time to do it.

	New home affordability at a 7-year high* New home affordability at a 7-year high*

	A Message from Stephen We are moving through exciting times that we will look back on as a once-in-a-lifetime investment opportunity. Housing prices have come off their peaks, interest rates are at 49-year lows, oil prices have dropped considerably, and the government has pulled all the levers to inject funds into our pockets and investment into the economy.

	Thank you for the feedback... We had some great feedback on The Horizon newsletter from our clients and some really positive words of encouragement as well.

	Offside! At the same as the $10 billion+ Cash Splash 2 starts flowing, the Reserve Bank of Australia met to consider all the latest jobs figures, the views of the IMF and the G20, and after lots of discussion, they reduced the bank rate by 0.25%.

	Yesterday. Today. And Tomorrow I love music, and am reminded of that classic 'Don't Stop' by Fleetwood Mac with words that say...

	States still have standout areas The latest residential hot-spot property list has been crunched by last year's 2.9% fall in nationwide property values, but according to researchers RP Data, some individual suburbs in both city and country areas had recorded exceptional levels of price growth, citing standout performers in each state.

	Team McCarthy As we celebrate our 10'th anniversary of growth, I would like to give recognition to my colleagues, many of whom have been with McCarthy Group for many years and have seen the company grow from our humble start in Parramatta to the position we enjoy today as a national firm in the investment property market.

	Australia doing better than most So far the Lucky Country is luckier than most, with many major trading partners suffering far more than we are in terms of the downturn.

	So what DOES a recession feel like? To be honest, just like this.

	Australia saves ‘Cash Splash One’ All the data suggests that about 80% of the pre-Christmas "cash splash" has been used to save or pay down debt. Like credit cards. And mortgages.

	A cool tool online At McCarthy Group we pride ourselves on the extent to which we help our clients to maximise their tax benefits on investment property, including depreciation benefits.

	Optimism, confidence, preparedness... In the same way that we all saw the warning signs of the events that have rocked the world in the last 18 months, so too will there be signs that things are getting ready to turn. These are the 'green shoots' that are starting to show, but don't always get seen because the focus is still on the black.

	McCarthy Group celebrates it’s tenth anniversary! A hearty and sincere "Thank you" to all our loyal clients, business partners and staff for making this won derful milestone possible.

	Hey buddy, can you spare us a dime? The number of Australians on the aged pension has soared to more than 2 million as the value of retirees' income and assets has tumbled. It's clear that there will be an ever-increasing reliance on the government to provide, which means higher taxes for those still at work as the population ages. (That means you and me).

	Tragedies of fire and floods As the thoughts, prayers and help of Australians and people across the world go out to those who have suffered such devastating losses in recent weeks, there is a sombre reminder to all of us that these events do happen, that it could happen to us, and if it does, we need to be prepared.

	An interview with Stephen McCarthy We talk to founder, CEO and owner of McCarthy Group, As the company celebrates its tenth anniversary.

	HAPPY NEW YEARWelcome to 2009 and the opportunities that lie ahead. We all travelled through what was one of the toughest years in living memory. This is something of a triumph in itself, and a story to relate to children and grandchildren in years to come, ie "We lived through one of the toughest periods that the modern world has ever known."

	Barack Obama a symbol of hope and optimism In a presidential inauguration of historical significance and importance to America and the world, seldom has so much expectation and responsibility weighed on the shoulders of one man.

	A Change for the better At the heart of the near-collapse of the world financial system was the wide-held view that rapid asset growth using limitless easy credit was the smartest game in town.

	Weak Aussie battler a strength It doesn't seem that long ago that the Australian dollar seemed headed for 1:1 parity with the US dollar. With our high interest rates at the time, strong economic fundamentals, and the resources boom, we were certainly punching above our weight. With a value now of about US$0.65, however, it's not all bad news

	2009 property hot spots revealed Friday, 02 January 2009

	HAVE A GREAT YEAR In closing, I would like to extend the very best wishes from all of us at McCarthy Group as you tackle the challenges and opportunities that 2009 will bring. From our point of view we are very positive about the prospects ahead, as it is in times like these that savvy investors set themselves up for exceptional future returns.

	Welcome to Horizon Welcome to our new format newsletter, Horizon.

	Bad news sells papers – positive news builds confidence If you feel like the volume of bad news in the papers has reached saturation point, don't feel alone. Yes, we have travelled through a tough year. But no, the world is not ending, despite what so many media reports would have us believe.

	A few positives for starters To make our point, how much good will the following do for the property market as a whole?

	Up the stairs... And down in the elevator! For the fourth month in succession, the RBA has reduced the bank rate, and we now have an official bank rate of 4.25%, the lowest since late 2001, and a whopping 3% reduction from the 7.25% we were all experiencing as recently as 3 months ago!

	These boots are made for walking… An interesting wager has been made between Macquarie Group economist Rory Robertson and university academic Steve Keen following Keen's prediction that house prices will fall by 40%. Robertson believes this is impossible.

	Retailers crying poor In the past week or two Gerry Harvey (Harvey Norman), Solomon Lew (Premier Investments) and Mark McInnes (David Jones) have been flagging how bad prospects are for retailers despite that Christmas is just around the corner...

	Riding out the storm Investment property is a long-term investment, which means that you'll travel through long periods of smooth sailing, but there will be storms along the way.

	What do McCarthy Group clients have in common? There are many things that we share. We are blessed to live in Australia. We (mostly) own our family homes. We own investment property. We know the feeling of fear and uncertainty when the investment property decision was first made.

	McCarthy Group With almost 18 years' experience in this industry, and having reviewed thousands of prospects and proposals along the way, my belief is that there is one fundamental difference between those who make the decision to proceed and those who don't.

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Can you afford your next investment property? The likely answer is, "Yes!" How do you know when you're ready to go for the next investment property? We spoke to Michael Johnson, the Finance Director at McCarthy Group, and he gave us an expert's view on borrowing for your next property.

As an investor, what can you expect from a new government?The 2010 election will go down in history for many reasons, when the results are eventually known! As things are unfolding, what should expect as property investors?

Jessica Watson lives her dream Jessica and her little 34-footer Ella's Pink Lady are due to arrive in Sydney on May 2, weather permitting, having sailed out of Sydney Heads on October 19 last year.

Valentine’s Day February 14th is just around the corner. Now is the time when husbands can make up for a forgotten anniversary and wives have great reason for a new haircut.

Merry Christmas from McCarthy GroupIf your kids have a photo with Santa this Christmas, he might look much older than he did a year ago, given the tough times that he, like all of us, has had to travel through.

Getting a ‘W’When Tiger Woods won the Australian Masters golf tournament, he told the press that he had achieved a 'W'. When I read about this, I sat for a moment and then caught on to what he meant. Woods had had a Win, as he usually does.

The Man in McCarthy Blue It all began many years ago, When investments seemed but a dream. Meeting month-end payments was hard enough With income that was simply too lean...

Australia’s exploding population.It's either a blessing or a curse, but a real opportunity for property investors.

It’s easy being greenMaking your house eco-friendly can make or break the deal.

Top Ten Haunted HousesIt's Halloween, which means it's time to crack out the haunted house movies and enjoy a good old-fashioned fright night!

The Australian population just hit 22 millionAt 1.58pm on October 1, 2009, the Australian population hit 22 million people. And counting.

Australia is sitting pretty at number twoAustralia has jumped to number two on the global ranking of financial centres released by the World Economic Forum. Britain is sitting at number one, and the US - which usually holds the top spot - has slipped down to number three.

The spirit of The HorizonOUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER, THE HORIZON, OWES ITS EXISTENCE TO THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS. THE LEADERS OF GLOBAL FINANCE AND POLITICS STOOD AT THE EDGE OF THE ABYSS AND RESOLVED TO TAKE DECISIVE ACTION TO RESCUE THE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL SYSTEM AS WE KNOW IT.

How to secure a tenantWHILE THE NATIONAL RENTAL VACANCY FIGURE HOVERS BETWEEN 1 AND 2 PER CENT, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE INVESTORS WHO END UP WITH A VACANT PROPERTY. IN SUCH SITUATIONS, HOW DO YOU FIND A GOOD TENANT, FAST?

The kiwi fruit - treasure in the backyardTODAY'S MASSIVE KIWI FRUIT EXPORT INDUSTRY IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE HUGE VALUE THAT CAN EXIST IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD.

The pension problemRECENT REPORTS ON THE GROWTH IN AUSTRALIA'S POPULATION TO 35 MILLION BY 2049 HAVE HIGHLIGHTED MAJOR ISSUES FOR THE PROSPECTS OF THOSE WHO WILL BE RETIRED AT THAT TIME.

Why does land seem so scarce? And so costly?Covering over 7.5 million square kilometres, Australia has the 6th largest land mass in the world . So why does land here seem so scarce , and why is it so expensive?

The Woodstock Generation– 40 years onForty years after the Summer of '69, the peace - loving concert - goers of yesterday are known as Baby Boomers, and are heading towards - or are already in - retirement.

Why does everyone want to come to Australia?Immigration numbers are growing , and so too will demand for housing.

Professor Keen shifts the goal postsThe much-quoted University of Western Sydney professor who forecast that house prices would fall by 40 per cent - and sold his property in anticipation - seems to be shifting the goal posts in terms of the timing over which the bet plays out.

“I have a dream” - 46 years onAs we mark the 46th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech, an African American President sits in the White House. For a dream to come true, however , you have to have one first.

Some great linesMuhammed Ali

McCarthy Club: What would you like to see in it?As the next step in the evolution of our client support and group services, we are planning to launch a new concept called McCarthy Club. This will be exclusive for clients, and will add further value and usefulness to our relationship with you.

The vision that was the moon landing - 40 years laterAn incredible achievement, all made possible by a bold vision for the future. Are there lessons in this for us?

Record arrivals boost Australia’s populationLast year's 1.9% growth in our population doesn't sound like much. How about 406,083 more people? Now that's impressive!

Gen B for Boomerang: 25% of Australians under 34 still live at home!Here's a great story to get some fiery discussion underway at dinner! We found it in Michael Matusik's itp report. It's food for thought!

Time’s running out as Kippers set to be fried*A new study by St George Bank has shown that the "Kids in Parents ' Pockets Eroding Retirement Savings", or Kippers as they are popularly known, are living on borrowed time, and will soon be forced to flee the nest and fend for themselves.

And the global gong goes to... Australia!We don't mean to downplay the severity of the downturn in Australia, but a recent study by Servcorp highlights that there is more than luck to being the Lucky Country.

Helpful TipsIncrease the frequency of payments...

“These boots are made for walking”.... continuedRemember this story from our first issue of The Horizon in December 2008?

Whoops! Sorry, we forgot about those onesIt's hard to imagine how you 'forget' about houses you've bought. However, according to the ATO, some people claiming the First Home Owner's Grant have had a bit of a lapse in memory.

Are we there yet?There are increasing signs that the worst of the financial and economic slowdown are behind us, and that we are heading towards better times.

Facing your fearsThere are few (if any) McCarthy Group clients who didn't have to overcome fear as the biggest obstacle in their investment decision.

Sydney looms as a future hot spot - not enough construction!No-one has told the people who pick Sydney as the major immigration arrival point that the construction of new homes is going steadily down even as demand increases. Landlords are set to benefit.

It’s tax time - make sure you claim everything that’s dueTo optimize your investment property returns, make sure your paperwork is organized and that your accountant claims every legitimate cost and service. Now is the time to do it.

New home affordability at a 7-year high*New home affordability at a 7-year high*

Thank you for the feedback... We had some great feedback on The Horizon newsletter from our clients and some really positive words of encouragement as well.

Offside!At the same as the $10 billion+ Cash Splash 2 starts flowing, the Reserve Bank of Australia met to consider all the latest jobs figures, the views of the IMF and the G20, and after lots of discussion, they reduced the bank rate by 0.25%.

Yesterday. Today. And Tomorrow I love music, and am reminded of that classic 'Don't Stop' by Fleetwood Mac with words that say...

Australia doing better than mostSo far the Lucky Country is luckier than most, with many major trading partners suffering far more than we are in terms of the downturn.

So what DOES a recession feel like?To be honest, just like this.

Australia saves ‘Cash Splash One’All the data suggests that about 80% of the pre-Christmas "cash splash" has been used to save or pay down debt. Like credit cards. And mortgages.

A cool tool onlineAt McCarthy Group we pride ourselves on the extent to which we help our clients to maximise their tax benefits on investment property, including depreciation benefits.

McCarthy Group celebrates it’s tenth anniversary!A hearty and sincere "Thank you" to all our loyal clients, business partners and staff for making this won derful milestone possible.

An interview with Stephen McCarthyWe talk to founder, CEO and owner of McCarthy Group, As the company celebrates its tenth anniversary.

Barack Obama a symbol of hope and optimismIn a presidential inauguration of historical significance and importance to America and the world, seldom has so much expectation and responsibility weighed on the shoulders of one man.

A Change for the betterAt the heart of the near-collapse of the world financial system was the wide-held view that rapid asset growth using limitless easy credit was the smartest game in town.

2009 property hot spots revealedFriday, 02 January 2009

Welcome to HorizonWelcome to our new format newsletter, Horizon.

Bad news sells papers – positive news builds confidenceIf you feel like the volume of bad news in the papers has reached saturation point, don't feel alone. Yes, we have travelled through a tough year. But no, the world is not ending, despite what so many media reports would have us believe.

A few positives for startersTo make our point, how much good will the following do for the property market as a whole?

Up the stairs... And down in the elevator!For the fourth month in succession, the RBA has reduced the bank rate, and we now have an official bank rate of 4.25%, the lowest since late 2001, and a whopping 3% reduction from the 7.25% we were all experiencing as recently as 3 months ago!

These boots are made for walking…An interesting wager has been made between Macquarie Group economist Rory Robertson and university academic Steve Keen following Keen's prediction that house prices will fall by 40%. Robertson believes this is impossible.

Retailers crying poor In the past week or two Gerry Harvey (Harvey Norman), Solomon Lew (Premier Investments) and Mark McInnes (David Jones) have been flagging how bad prospects are for retailers despite that Christmas is just around the corner...

Riding out the stormInvestment property is a long-term investment, which means that you'll travel through long periods of smooth sailing, but there will be storms along the way.

What do McCarthy Group clients have in common? There are many things that we share. We are blessed to live in Australia. We (mostly) own our family homes. We own investment property. We know the feeling of fear and uncertainty when the investment property decision was first made.

McCarthy GroupWith almost 18 years' experience in this industry, and having reviewed thousands of prospects and proposals along the way, my belief is that there is one fundamental difference between those who make the decision to proceed and those who don't.

Can you afford your next investment property? The likely answer is, "Yes!"
How do you know when you're ready to go for the next investment property? We spoke to Michael Johnson, the Finance Director at McCarthy Group, and he gave us an expert's view on borrowing for your next property.

As an investor, what can you expect from a new government?
The 2010 election will go down in history for many reasons, when the results are eventually known! As things are unfolding, what should expect as property investors?

Jessica Watson lives her dream
Jessica and her little 34-footer Ella's Pink Lady are due to arrive in Sydney on May 2, weather permitting, having sailed out of Sydney Heads on October 19 last year.

Valentine’s Day
February 14th is just around the corner. Now is the time when husbands can make up for a forgotten anniversary and wives have great reason for a new haircut.

Merry Christmas from McCarthy Group
If your kids have a photo with Santa this Christmas, he might look much older than he did a year ago, given the tough times that he, like all of us, has had to travel through.

Getting a ‘W’
When Tiger Woods won the Australian Masters golf tournament, he told the press that he had achieved a 'W'. When I read about this, I sat for a moment and then caught on to what he meant. Woods had had a Win, as he usually does.

The Man in McCarthy Blue
It all began many years ago, When investments seemed but a dream. Meeting month-end payments was hard enough With income that was simply too lean...

Australia’s exploding population.
It's either a blessing or a curse, but a real opportunity for property investors.

It’s easy being green
Making your house eco-friendly can make or break the deal.

Top Ten Haunted Houses
It's Halloween, which means it's time to crack out the haunted house movies and enjoy a good old-fashioned fright night!

The Australian population just hit 22 million
At 1.58pm on October 1, 2009, the Australian population hit 22 million people. And counting.

Australia is sitting pretty at number two
Australia has jumped to number two on the global ranking of financial centres released by the World Economic Forum. Britain is sitting at number one, and the US - which usually holds the top spot - has slipped down to number three.

The spirit of The Horizon
OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER, THE HORIZON, OWES ITS EXISTENCE TO THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS. THE LEADERS OF GLOBAL FINANCE AND POLITICS STOOD AT THE EDGE OF THE ABYSS AND RESOLVED TO TAKE DECISIVE ACTION TO RESCUE THE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL SYSTEM AS WE KNOW IT.

How to secure a tenant
WHILE THE NATIONAL RENTAL VACANCY FIGURE HOVERS BETWEEN 1 AND 2 PER CENT, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE INVESTORS WHO END UP WITH A VACANT PROPERTY. IN SUCH SITUATIONS, HOW DO YOU FIND A GOOD TENANT, FAST?

The kiwi fruit - treasure in the backyard
TODAY'S MASSIVE KIWI FRUIT EXPORT INDUSTRY IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE HUGE VALUE THAT CAN EXIST IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD.

The pension problem
RECENT REPORTS ON THE GROWTH IN AUSTRALIA'S POPULATION TO 35 MILLION BY 2049 HAVE HIGHLIGHTED MAJOR ISSUES FOR THE PROSPECTS OF THOSE WHO WILL BE RETIRED AT THAT TIME.

Why does land seem so scarce? And so costly?
Covering over 7.5 million square kilometres, Australia has the 6th largest land mass in the world . So why does land here seem so scarce , and why is it so expensive?

The Woodstock Generation– 40 years on
Forty years after the Summer of '69, the peace - loving concert - goers of yesterday are known as Baby Boomers, and are heading towards - or are already in - retirement.

Why does everyone want to come to Australia?
Immigration numbers are growing , and so too will demand for housing.

Professor Keen shifts the goal posts
The much-quoted University of Western Sydney professor who forecast that house prices would fall by 40 per cent - and sold his property in anticipation - seems to be shifting the goal posts in terms of the timing over which the bet plays out.

“I have a dream” - 46 years on
As we mark the 46th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech, an African American President sits in the White House. For a dream to come true, however , you have to have one first.

Some great lines
Muhammed Ali

McCarthy Club: What would you like to see in it?
As the next step in the evolution of our client support and group services, we are planning to launch a new concept called McCarthy Club. This will be exclusive for clients, and will add further value and usefulness to our relationship with you.

The vision that was the moon landing - 40 years later
An incredible achievement, all made possible by a bold vision for the future. Are there lessons in this for us?

Record arrivals boost Australia’s population
Last year's 1.9% growth in our population doesn't sound like much. How about 406,083 more people? Now that's impressive!

Gen B for Boomerang: 25% of Australians under 34 still
live at home!
Here's a great story to get some fiery discussion underway at dinner! We found it in Michael Matusik's itp report. It's food for thought!

Time’s running out as Kippers set to be fried*
A new study by St George Bank has shown that the "Kids in Parents ' Pockets Eroding Retirement Savings", or Kippers as they are popularly known, are living on borrowed time, and will soon be forced to flee the nest and fend for themselves.

And the global gong goes to... Australia!
We don't mean to downplay the severity of the downturn in Australia, but a recent study by Servcorp highlights that there is more than luck to being the Lucky Country.

Helpful Tips
Increase the frequency of payments...

“These boots are made for walking”.... continued
Remember this story from our first issue of The Horizon in December 2008?

Whoops! Sorry, we forgot about those ones
It's hard to imagine how you 'forget' about houses you've bought. However, according to the ATO, some people claiming the First Home Owner's Grant have had a bit of a lapse in memory.

Are we there yet?
There are increasing signs that the worst of the financial and economic slowdown are behind us, and that we are heading towards better times.

Facing your fears
There are few (if any) McCarthy Group clients who didn't have to overcome fear as the biggest obstacle in their investment decision.

Sydney looms as a future hot spot - not enough
construction!
No-one has told the people who pick Sydney as the major immigration arrival point that the construction of new homes is going steadily down even as demand increases. Landlords are set to benefit.

It’s tax time - make sure you claim everything that’s due
To optimize your investment property returns, make sure your paperwork is organized and that your accountant claims every legitimate cost and service. Now is the time to do it.

New home affordability at a 7-year high*
New home affordability at a 7-year high*

Thank you for the feedback...
We had some great feedback on The Horizon newsletter from our clients and some really positive words of encouragement as well.

Offside!
At the same as the $10 billion+ Cash Splash 2 starts flowing, the Reserve Bank of Australia met to consider all the latest jobs figures, the views of the IMF and the G20, and after lots of discussion, they reduced the bank rate by 0.25%.

Yesterday. Today. And Tomorrow
I love music, and am reminded of that classic 'Don't Stop' by Fleetwood Mac with words that say...

Australia doing better than most
So far the Lucky Country is luckier than most, with many major trading partners suffering far more than we are in terms of the downturn.

So what DOES a recession feel like?
To be honest, just like this.

Australia saves ‘Cash Splash One’
All the data suggests that about 80% of the pre-Christmas "cash splash" has been used to save or pay down debt. Like credit cards. And mortgages.

A cool tool online
At McCarthy Group we pride ourselves on the extent to which we help our clients to maximise their tax benefits on investment property, including depreciation benefits.

McCarthy Group celebrates it’s tenth anniversary!
A hearty and sincere "Thank you" to all our loyal clients, business partners and staff for making this won derful milestone possible.

An interview with Stephen McCarthy
We talk to founder, CEO and owner of McCarthy Group, As the company celebrates its tenth anniversary.

Barack Obama a symbol of hope and optimism
In a presidential inauguration of historical significance and importance to America and the world, seldom has so much expectation and responsibility weighed on the shoulders of one man.

A Change for the better
At the heart of the near-collapse of the world financial system was the wide-held view that rapid asset growth using limitless easy credit was the smartest game in town.

2009 property hot spots revealed
Friday, 02 January 2009

Welcome to Horizon
Welcome to our new format newsletter, Horizon.

Bad news sells papers – positive news builds confidence
If you feel like the volume of bad news in the papers has reached saturation point, don't feel alone. Yes, we have travelled through a tough year. But no, the world is not ending, despite what so many media reports would have us believe.

A few positives for starters
To make our point, how much good will the following do for the property market as a whole?

Up the stairs... And down in the elevator!
For the fourth month in succession, the RBA has reduced the bank rate, and we now have an official bank rate of 4.25%, the lowest since late 2001, and a whopping 3% reduction from the 7.25% we were all experiencing as recently as 3 months ago!

These boots are made for walking…
An interesting wager has been made between Macquarie Group economist Rory Robertson and university academic Steve Keen following Keen's prediction that house prices will fall by 40%. Robertson believes this is impossible.

Retailers crying poor
In the past week or two Gerry Harvey (Harvey Norman), Solomon Lew (Premier Investments) and Mark McInnes (David Jones) have been flagging how bad prospects are for retailers despite that Christmas is just around the corner...

Riding out the storm
Investment property is a long-term investment, which means that you'll travel through long periods of smooth sailing, but there will be storms along the way.

What do McCarthy Group clients have in common?
There are many things that we share. We are blessed to live in Australia. We (mostly) own our family homes. We own investment property. We know the feeling of fear and uncertainty when the investment property decision was first made.

McCarthy Group
With almost 18 years' experience in this industry, and having reviewed thousands of prospects and proposals along the way, my belief is that there is one fundamental difference between those who make the decision to proceed and those who don't.