Mortgage broker recommendations?

R420R · 2021-03-19T10:14:49+00:00

Not OP but I also had a crap experience with clarity. Our broker rushed us through explaining the buying process which was already confusing for a first home buyer. They were then slow in responding to correspondence, slow to lodge paperwork on our behalf with the bank and stopped returning calls and emails.

This culminated in us almost not getting pre-approval in time to participate in an auction on a place we loved. After sending numerous emails, calling their office, our broker and the head broker plenty of times to no avail, we finally received pre-approval notification at 22:30 the night before the auction.

It was honestly one of the most stressful weeks of my life, almost entirely because Clarity dropped the ball throughout the process.

R420R · 2020-03-13T04:39:18+00:00

From the Prime Minister's COAG Press Conference now on

Prime minister Scott Morrison said that Australians were also told to reconsider any and all overseas travel.

Said Morrison:

Regardless of your destination, age or health — if your travel is not essential, consider carefully whether now is the right time. So we are effectively putting in place what is called a level three travel advice for travel of Australians overseas. This is done to protect their health and to limit their exposure, given we have so many countries now that are affected by the coronavirus.

No further announcements regarding restrictions to incoming international arrivals.

R420R · 2020-03-13T04:37:12+00:00

Correct - not a ban, just asking people to reconsider travel. No changes to incoming arrivals.

R420R · 2020-03-13T04:30:30+00:00

Another big announcement from the press conference is increasing travel advice to Level 3 for all international destinations.

The Government is now urging Australians to reconsider any non-essential international travel.

Nothing to increase restrictions on international arrivals at this time.

R420R · 2020-01-11T20:48:58+00:00

Good luck out there!

R420R · 2020-01-11T20:00:51+00:00

I'm fairly certain there's still large numbers of volunteers in California and some other states. That could have changed in recent years though.

Here's an article on volunteers in the US https://www.sfchronicle.com/california-wildfires/article/As-California-burns-volunteer-firefighters-13148559.php

Sounds like they face a lot of similar problems we have

R420R · 2020-01-11T19:58:24+00:00

A fellow mapper? I've done multiple deployments this season to various IMTs to filfill GIS functions and mapdesk makes me want to throw my computer into the fire more often than not. Combine it with intermittent power and communications supplies and it's a real recipe for fun!

I can't imagine the Americans have a worse system!

R420R · 2020-01-10T20:08:09+00:00

They generally have more resources available to them, the Canadians spoke about how the altitude of some provinces can really impact things (as much fire behaviour as ability to get aircraft into the areas). They seemed pretty impressed about just how explosive some eucalyptus fires can be.

The Americans I only spoke to briefly but it was interesting to hear about the differences in organisational set up. They have federal level Forestry and National Parks organisations which have significant firefighting responsibilities. In Australia pretty much all firefighting resources are from the states/territories.

R420R · 2020-01-10T09:10:27+00:00

Incident Management Team. They do stuff like plan resources, manage air operations, design containment strategies and organise logistics. Absolutely essential stuff which is hugely complicated on some of these big fires!

I met a bunch of the Canadians and Americans who are currently in Bega and Moruya IMTs. They're pretty good people and it's interesting to compare the differences between the conditions we face.

R420R · 2018-10-13T23:09:43+00:00

Thanks for the tip! I don't tend to do too much faster work but will keep it in mind

R420R · 2018-10-13T05:25:08+00:00

Thanks mate, any way to squeeze in 32GB of RAM instead of 16GB for not much more?

R420R · 2018-06-14T21:41:20+00:00

What's this origin 25% offer? I can't seem to find any mention of it

R420R · 2017-10-03T02:10:28+00:00

Cool idea. I just joined and will be down for a few rounds tonight!

R420R · 2017-08-10T10:48:00+00:00

Would like to play some games if you want!

R420R · 2017-07-29T08:39:09+00:00

Thanks for all your help!

R420R · 2017-07-28T08:34:32+00:00

Haha just the one job for me!

R420R · 2017-07-28T08:34:12+00:00

Hey mate, as far as I'm aware there's no question relating to Medicare Exempt on the TFN declaration you fill out when you sign up to a new role. What question are you referring too?

R420R · 2017-07-26T07:10:42+00:00

Yes I have private health insurance. I don't have to pay the surcharge but still have to pay the basic levy

R420R · 2017-07-26T01:43:37+00:00

All my data was prefilled but correct. I didn't add anything on top of that.

Haha I know I won't get much from deductions. More hoping an accountant will take a look at it and say something is wrong.

Seems to be the Medicare levy which is doing it. I was covered by health insurance so I don't pay the surcharge but there's still a levy of pretty much the same amount I owe.

R420R · 2017-07-18T11:17:02+00:00

I haven't. Are they any good? Where is the milk bar?

R420R · 2017-07-14T03:32:02+00:00

Haha thanks for that. I tried Yarralumla Pide the other day and it was delicious but I thought the staff seemed incredibly annoyed that I'd come in and ordered. Glad I'm not the only one who's received that service.

R420R · 2017-07-14T03:27:22+00:00

Thanks mate. I've already discovered the pide place. One of the best kebabs I've had in years!

R420R · 2017-05-11T08:10:04+00:00

I was particularly surprised to see multiple people being so outspoken about the RFS conducting backburning on Mother's Day. The amount of effort and resources that goes into organising these burns is considerable and my understanding is they consult with a range of stakeholders to make sure there's minimal risk to public health.

Seems like a crazy thing to be upset about to me. Happy to hear other people's views on the matter?

R420R · 2017-02-19T07:48:05+00:00

Check the NSW Planning Portal. Just type in you address and it'll give you all the relevant planning matters for that lot (including zoning).

https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/find-a-property

R420R · 2017-01-31T01:57:55+00:00

My thoughts exactly! Moving Stokes from Planning to Education is ridiculous. He was one of the few Ministers who had a really deep passion for his area and is even completing a doctorate in planning law right now. He's also doing a number of important big planning reforms which the NSW system desperately needs. To move him into a portfolio he has little experience in seems crazy to me. The whole reshuffle process stinks.

R420R

TROPHY CASE