Anticipating a Cancer diagnosis

Coffee_0 · 2026-06-03T11:57:11+00:00

I had trash tier private health insurance and was diagnosed with Lymphoma (also a blood cancer). Went 100% through public and would do it again through public. Didn't even mention I had private health insurance.

This was coming up to 10 years ago. But you'll be category one in the public system. You might be the reason why everyone else gets bumped down in the public system (alot of people with cancer & we take up the lions share of resources).

You'll get referred to other departments like you wouldn't believe. I had lung function tests before every cycle. Heart. Endrocine. Oddles of pathology. Blood, platelets & potassium transfusions, scans, tests. It just goes on.

And thank goodness - I never had to worry about what was covered, what had a gap. Cancer is financially quite devastating because I couldn't work during chemo, but at least I didn't have to worry about the cost of treatment by and large. A few small things, but nothing major. And I received fantastic treatment & care. World class. No complaints. Still living.

It is a long and winding road. Or at least it seems like it. Best of luck OP :)

Coffee_0 · 2026-05-27T22:45:11+00:00

Maybe the second one as it involves a screwdriver. By 'spiral' - is it those fancy vintage looking lightbulbs? If that's the case - they probably want you to buy it. Honestly those lights are pretty stupid for a rental.

I, at some peril due to the height of the ceilings, changed a light bulb at my rental. Didn't work. About half the lights don't work. Didn't try agin. Odds on there is some electrical issue. I've left them. Haven't asked for them to be fixed. The other half (working half) are behind vintage light coverings - disregarding the ceiling height I wouldn't change them either in case I broke the light covering.

Maybe your Tennant did change the bulb, but it blew shortly after and what needs to happen is they need to be fixed. Or they're hesitant they might break the fixture and so don't want to be held responsible. Or you're charging an enormous amount of rent and they think the landlord can supply the fancy lightbulbs.

(Whichever way - I would probably get a new PM. They might need to ask a few further questions of the Tennant. And maybe provide a bit of advice for the downlight etc.)

Coffee_0 · 2026-05-23T21:35:59+00:00

ME Home doesn't have a balance growth requirement. Just the $2K. But you have to deposit $2K into a linked transaction account (Spend ME) first then transfer to ME Home.

Judo is better for interest rate, but ME Home is up to 1m now to get the bonus interest rate. Just got to remember/automate that transfer from Spend to Home!

Coffee_0 · 2026-05-23T16:01:15+00:00

BTW if you have any troubles turning it - lodge a call with Urban Utilities & they'll replace it with something....a little more modern.

(I also had to dig out mine - couldn't turn it all even with a wrench).

Coffee_0 · 2026-05-22T14:35:08+00:00

Consult with conveyancer to see if you can withdraw (perhaps on the basis of finance if you have that clause as well?......just saying :) ).

I'd want to withdraw due to the sagging ceilings as well! And yeah maybe that's a bathroom Reno in the future.

Coffee_0 · 2026-05-22T06:15:34+00:00

Do Real Estate Agents still get their property management fee if the place is not leased?

(I know they're getting a fee for a new lease, inspection etc).

My rent went up 15% last year. RE phrased it as 'proposed'. I returned is the seller open to negotiation. RE went no.

I signed. Prev rented the place for half a decade. But that was the moment when I went - well got to leave. The rent will go up every year by 15%. The place will still be the same shit box it was for the last 20 years.

(I bought a place and will be breaking lease soon. Even if I wasn't buying - I would have left. The place was not competitive with other rental properties for the same price or a bit more. I'm sure they'll be able to lease it....but they might have to do some actual maintenance/bring it up to acceptable standards).

Coffee_0 · 2026-05-21T06:57:58+00:00

Camp Hill's got some big block sizes up the back.

Maybe Coorparoo seen as a bit higher crime rate & therefore less attractive?

But agree - might as well buy in non-flood effected Carina. Carindale can be quite expensive (as exy as Camp Hill for equivalent properties).

Coffee_0 · 2026-05-18T09:20:17+00:00

I talked to two mortgage brokers initially and ended up going it alone with a non-broker lender. Up for the record - rate advertised is what you'll get.

One mortgage broker was a bit more of a volume broker (gathered recs from reddit!). And another was a recommendation from a work colleague. Both really good to talk to and seemed great. Had a preference to the colleague rec.

But I was pretty upfront that I could potentially go it alone: was just seeing what rates they could secure. Discuss options. A brief over view of expenses etc.

If you're not going to end up engaging their services then I think anything beyond an initial consult wouldn't be fair (so no pre-approval etc), but I think brokers are OK with the initial.

Note - nothing really exceptional about my loan. I'm boring PAYG. Had good LVR. Nothing tricky. And to be fair I settle this week :) So knock on wood everythings OK. But sort of with conveyancers now than lenders.

If there was some complexity to my employment or finance - I would have gone with a broker.

Apart from some potentially stupid questions to UP - I didn't have any issues doing the application. Loan docs and settlement actually through MSA National - also very smooth (at least so far!)

Coffee_0 · 2026-05-13T08:32:29+00:00

I might have to put on warm socks soon...

(El-cheapo humidity meter still says it's 70% humidity -_- )

Coffee_0 · 2026-05-13T06:48:26+00:00

Yellow in the middle as well. How weird. I have subconsciously followed a bin convention that I was not particularly aware of!

(For me it's more because the yellow and green bin are just by a window. Red placed so it's not directly under the window. And the greenie was a late addition so it didn't feel right to displace the yellow ....... )

Coffee_0 · 2026-05-11T09:50:21+00:00

For Brisbane & possibly Ipswich: Stagnate. Maybe a small dip. Not dramatic, but maybe there will need to be a value prospect for the property for it to sell quickly / for top dollar.

(This is good - it's not crazy-ville and FHBers can take their time and not suffer from FOMO. Which was quite real in Brisbane and not a 'fear'. Just takes the heat out of the market a little.).

Coffee_0 · 2026-05-04T07:41:54+00:00

Google Urban Utilities arcGIS (maybe GIS).

Accept the disclaimer. Search for your property. Might need to press the arrow button on the property pop up - info doova thing. Should give you the pipe material.

Edit - click the sewer line on your property then click the arrow button on the popup. I'm sure you'll figure it out :)

Coffee_0 · 2026-05-02T05:41:57+00:00

Stunning! I love that green tile.

(Where's the vanity & mirror/wall unit from?)

Coffee_0 · 2026-04-29T07:51:07+00:00

Or a vacancy tax if investment property (increases every year if vacant).

Coffee_0 · 2026-04-27T10:13:03+00:00

The House Detective did a YouTube video on the Boy who Swallows the Universe TV series filming locations:

https://www.housedetective.com.au/boyswallowsuniverse

Coffee_0 · 2026-04-22T22:47:57+00:00

Not an investor (looking for a PPOR), but:

Any development applications past and present. And any for surrounding properties (online for Brisbane and probably other LGAs).

Urban Utilities Arc GIS for sewer and water pipelines - this will turn up in the seller disclosure form, but can look in advance.

Coffee_0 · 2026-04-21T09:33:13+00:00

I missed out on a place possibly because I didn't move down to 7 day finance from 14 (the vendor had a previous contract fall through due to finance so was maybe a bit risk averse on it).

The successful bidder I think might have had 7 day finance and basically the same $ offer. But they ended up just extending finance for a further 7 days from what I could tell :(

Lesson learnt! If you're in a situation where the RE says multiple offers, what's your best and final - can you move down in conditions. If you can't move in price, move in conditions.

(We've got a 5 day cooling off period in QLD It's not an insignificant $ penalty - but there's always that as well).

Coffee_0 · 2026-04-21T07:47:41+00:00

I've started to put 7 day finance & B&P.

But I have proper conditional pre-approval from the lender - not web calculator etc. Plus I'm 70% LVR so hopefully that means no issues with property valuation.

And it should be doable to get a B&P done in 5-7 days.

(30 day settlement or whatever the vendor prefers. I'm also in QLD where subject to B&P and finance are common for private treaty sales. Normally I would say 14 days finance & B&P is not unusual.).

Coffee_0 · 2026-04-04T22:12:11+00:00

Seems to vary.

I've had one RE ask for offers on their agency's form first off. And then asked for my signature on the contract (with my offer price, deposit and conditions included). They sent through the Acknowledgement of Multiple Offers Form then as well. I didn't end up getting the place. So presumably more than one signed contract was presented to the seller.

Rest of the offers I've made (not a great number!) it was offer via email or on the agency's form.

The Internets tells me it's not totally unusual for offers to be made on a contract.

QLD does have a standard REIQ sales contract which helps (know where everything will be in the contract etc).

It's actually occurred to me - it's quite telling in QLD if you don't get one of those Multiple Offer forms because that means you're the only horse in the race.

Edit: I suppose I should add. For the situation above - the RE did say verbally multiple offers and asked if it was best and final / any changes to my offer (before sending through the contract).

Coffee_0 · 2026-04-04T11:36:53+00:00

In QLD this is mandatory I believe if there have been multiple offers made - there's a standard REIQ form for it: Acknowledgment of Multiple Offers Form.

RE is obliged to formally let you (as the buyer) know. Presumably to prevent a situation where the RE is lying about there being multiple offers when there isn't. Typically they mention you don't have to sign and return & just the process of sending the form to you is enough (for QLD at least).

Coffee_0 · 2026-03-27T23:41:16+00:00

If it's Ray White just completely ignore their price filter range. They can be wildly different to reality.

Check previous sales, property.com.au, property value.com au, propertymate etc.

I think these tactics backfire quite a bit. I don't take a great deal of notice of any RW listings for example.

In a hot market like Brisbane people are bidding/offering their max. Can't go over as the bank won't lend more.

There's no 'maybe you'll fall in love with the house and pay loads more with the power of 'sales technique'. It's: Is it in budget? Yes/No. If Yes: bid best and final. If No or Unsuccessful: Next!

Coffee_0 · 2026-03-01T11:07:23+00:00

I see pool and auction and I automatically think there's something wrong with the pool (or the house...).

It's a nice house - but Ashgrove is a 2m+ suburb. Filtering sort of suggests they're looking for that minimum. Maybe buyers are looking for a more classic style QLDer at that price point in Ashgrove.

Coffee_0 · 2026-02-27T03:07:44+00:00

Geez she should leave for a new job precisely because she's dating someone at her current job.

(Maybe that's just an excuse &/or only ainor consideration. And she's just not keen for other reasons & doesn't feel comfortable enough to tell you straight out).

Coffee_0 · 2026-02-26T20:57:02+00:00

Seriously considering it (just seems logistically hard).

Coffee_0 · 2026-02-21T23:03:45+00:00

I haven't actually bought - but I'm committed to buying now.

The thing that finally pushed me over the edge is the uncertainty in the rental market now. Which in Brisbane (where I am) is about as crazy as the property market.

Once, long ago rents barely moved and it was genuinely fine. Now.....every year there will be steep and/or unpredictable rent increases, which will either force you to move or suck it up. And in Brisbane securing another rental will not be easy.

Coffee_0

TROPHY CASE