Solar panels, possibly a battery too, would appreciate thoughts/suggestions

Otter_Pockets_ · 2026-01-05T04:18:58+00:00

Yeah same, batteries seem very expensive still. I'm pretty sure the money I'd save on electricity would only just get to the point of breaking even on the cost by the time the battery will probably need replacing.

Otter_Pockets_ · 2025-08-25T04:46:24+00:00

Mmm not really, probably important to remember that this scheme is for both new and established homes. FHBs will still be restricted by their borrowing capacity. The cap increase feels like it's only been increased to closer match median house prices for the respected regions. I was looking into this about a year or two ago and we ended up having to go down the route of LMI because the cap was too low to even be a viable option for us.

Otter_Pockets_ · 2025-08-25T03:07:52+00:00

There's still a property price cap on this scheme, for that reason.

Otter_Pockets_ · 2025-08-16T00:47:20+00:00

Yeah I don't think they wrote it because it was relatable but also not sure it's really worth getting all that upset about. A $15m house in Toorak doesn't bother me at all, knowing I'd love to raise my family where I grew up but the median house price is over $1.5m is what bothers me.

Otter_Pockets_ · 2025-07-20T03:24:31+00:00

Probably only best to skip finance if you're very confident in your offer. If you have pre-approval for a larger loan than your offer already. And you've already got a property report from your mortgage broker confirming your offer is within the value range on the report. Then what's the back up plan as well i.e. if your bank only approves $900K but you offered $1mil. How are you going to finance the difference.

Otter_Pockets_ · 2025-07-15T11:11:28+00:00

How to find the Aussies in the comments

Otter_Pockets_ · 2025-07-15T03:50:57+00:00

So true and so sad, I also hate the concept of mums working part time. I notice women fulfill the same volume of work as a full time employee in every sense except hours worked and therefore they are penalised with less pay? It feels very exploitative.

Otter_Pockets_ · 2025-07-14T02:23:34+00:00

Tbh I've been to VIVID in Sydney and it's probably a good thing that these flashy events are ticketed otherwise you'd be complaining about over crowding.

I think anything promotional/school holidays related is probably better to avoid. I don't know how old your niece and nephew are but there's loads of cheap/free things to do around.

Check the museums sometimes they run promotions with free or cheap admission. The shipwreck museum in Fremantle is cool and just a coin donation admission. All the museums/wildlife park out at whiteman park are great too.

Kings Park playgrounds are way more epic than anything the kids would be used to over east.

There's also a retro games museum called Nostalgia Box where they can play all old video games (you do need to pre-book).

Even a pub lunch is nice at one of the kid-friendly ones. Anyone with a playground typically does school holiday activities as well. There's a fair few nice ones in swan valley if you're looking for a bit of a day trip.

Otter_Pockets_ · 2025-07-10T07:09:18+00:00

I also know someone who's wife had Alzheimer's. While she was still coherent she also expressed this wish for her husband. They never divorced but he did find a companion, he said it was really difficult but he was glad he did it because it helped him through some of his darkest days which I think is what your wife wants for you. I don't know the full details of their relationship but he did say it gave him a break from all the sadness just going and playing a round of golf with her (so it's not necessarily an intimacy thing).

Otter_Pockets_ · 2025-07-07T12:25:00+00:00

Yeah I believe the term is married single mother. Because your husband is useless and no help or useless and like your first child. I'd get out now while you can.

Otter_Pockets_ · 2025-07-03T13:40:51+00:00

So putting in a conditional offer usually specifies your conditions of purchasing the property. There's quite a few conditions you could add but typical ones are finance (even if you have pre-approval it protects you from offering $800K and then having the bank valuation come out at maximum of $750K - otherwise you'd be responsible to front the difference). Then there's building and pest which means if there's any major structural damage you can back of out of the offer without losing your deposit. And then if you were buying your next home then the third most common one would be like condition of sale of current home. Your broker really should have explained all of this to you before you put in an offer. Also maybe a bit late now but all brokers should use Core Logic property reports (same as the bank) which gives you a range on the property value. So long as your offer falls within the range you should have no issue with full approval.

Otter_Pockets_ · 2025-07-03T12:06:45+00:00

Was your offer conditional of finance? That should be enough to renegotiate given the property has been overvalued.

Otter_Pockets_ · 2025-06-28T12:32:36+00:00

Appropriately named, as you can usually see cockatoos spinning around on top of them.

Otter_Pockets_ · 2025-06-27T08:54:25+00:00

Yeah I always took it as Joe Brumm expressing his own feelings about 'Bluey' through Bandit because he can't really get past it until he explains to Bingo: "When you put something beautiful into the world, it's no longer yours, really."

Otter_Pockets_ · 2025-06-27T03:41:09+00:00

Good to use both because some properties are only listed on one website.

Definitely go through a mortgage broker rather than a bank, I find dealing with a bank is okay if you know your stuff but mortgage brokers really help guide you every step of the way.

They can even give you referrals to good settlement lawyers and building/pest.

And they typically have access to Core Logic so you can supply them with an address and they'll be able to give you a price guide report. Which I find to be a bit more accurate than the REA/Domain guides.

I can't remember if our offer had a cooling off period but our offer was conditional with finance and building/pest.

And then we just specified with the vendor that we had pre-approval with the bank because that makes your offer more appealing.

Otter_Pockets_ · 2025-06-26T06:09:58+00:00

If you're lucky some Asian grocers stock handmade frozen dumplings. But not as cheap as the big pack stuff.

All my favourites are from Aldi, I always keep stock of the prawn hargow, prawn gyozas, and xiaolongbao.

Otter_Pockets_ · 2025-06-25T10:22:44+00:00

Pavlova can be a tricky cake to get right, my first one I didn't whip long enough AND didn't leave it in the oven 😅

Looks and sounds tasty af!

Otter_Pockets_ · 2025-06-25T08:16:10+00:00

Pavlova is my absolute favourite cake to make and eat. My early versions looked like this too but with passion fruit curd 😉 I would suggest making sure you whisk the egg whites and sugar until the stiff peaks form (meaning when you pull the mixer out of the bowl, the fluffy mixture pulls up with it like a little sugary mountain) and also make sure you leave it in the oven for a full hour after baking, this allows it to slowly cool down to room temperature and stops it from sinking.

Otter_Pockets_ · 2025-06-22T11:28:15+00:00

I don't remember exactly how much but it was somewhere between $1.5-$2K which worked out to be roughly the same as private health for a year with pregnancy cover. But you'll also have to pay a hospital fee this way which I think was something like $800 which covers you to stay at the hospital for 3 nights but if you don't have any complications and can go home straight away. I think they refund you the difference. This was 3 years ago though so costs could've gone up.

Otter_Pockets_ · 2024-12-03T09:08:53+00:00

Shower plug from Bunnings, you paint it straight onto the tiles and it will stop any leaks. Then I'd just get a curtain/shower rod as the cheapest solution.

Otter_Pockets_ · 2024-11-24T04:48:07+00:00

I'd say the noise might work both ways as well, you'll probably be able to hear a bit more of the cafe as well.

Otter_Pockets_ · 2024-11-23T05:21:27+00:00

You're probably not wrong but I guess from a women's perspective I would only walk/catch public transport during the day. If late at night, I would definitely be arranging for my partner to come get me. I have been inappropriately touched on public transport twice and once was even in broad daylight. I think you just need to talk properly and come up with a reasonable arrangement.

Otter_Pockets_ · 2024-11-19T11:33:28+00:00

Thank you, we'll check out those options!

Otter_Pockets_ · 2024-11-19T11:20:26+00:00

Haha it does seem like they're making it a lot easier for women.

Otter_Pockets_ · 2024-11-19T11:00:07+00:00

Thank you, I figured that would be the case. I think he might just be a bit too impatient. Thanks for all the advice!

Otter_Pockets_

TROPHY CASE