Our new Lifestyle

Well have not been on any trips since getting back to Melbourne in February. The thought of updating the blog with travels done in the past felt like trying to sell old wares...

So the blog is now changing tracks and I will update on the experience of buying our new home. We landed in February, with thoughts of rolling up into one of the places for sale and picking up a inner city life style,with all this cash ready to invest, from the sale of the farm 4 years ago. This was the naive nomads, who had not kept up to date with Melbourne Australia!

First step was, do up our project needs... have to be close to city (within 30 Min's max door to door , and no driving) That ruled out any suburb more than 5 Ks away. Next decision was Apartment or House? What better way to check out than live in an apartment to see what is good. So we moved into this swish all steel and glass modern monolith on the edge of the Yarra, aptly called 'Yarra's Edge' A lovely apartment up on the 9th floor with a living room and two beds, all over looking the Yarra river and the CBD (central business district) Also decide to go for the fully furnished one, so I can buy what I want when I eventually buy my pace (forward thinking... smirk smirk) First couple of weekends realised that we prefer a Town house or independent house at least with a small courtyard of our own. Saw about a million places (at least felt like that) and were disappointed Most where these vertical matchbox towers of there levels of small rooms going one over the other... That is if we wanted to buy something within our location constraints, that was modern and within the cash we had.

The the rude awakening. we went to some of the places that looked quite nice, and mad me think 'I can live here' and guess what these 30 year old's were bidding furiously and buying million dollar homes without a Care in the world. Then I wondered how come these guys can afford it and us , both of us 'seemingly successful IT professionals' think we cant. Then I did one of those 'see how much you can barrow' forms from a bank and staggered of my chair. The banks do really like to give away money these day is what I found. The staggering amount that came back at me when I put in our earning was '2,230000' I said, hang on that's way too much. I don't think you should be giving me this much cash... It also made me realise that I had to 'up my budget' if I wanted to buy something I would like. So did a lot of pondering, and decide to have shift in paradigm

Till now, the last 20 yrs of my working Life, I have always borrowed (two home loans) with the idea of paying it off within a few years... Not worrying about what the place will appreciate etc. NOW is the time to change the thinking. So long as I buy something that will gain capital in 3 to 4 yrs, we are OK to borrow, and NOT PAY IT OFF. Quite a radical shift of thinking for me a good old Tam Brham brought up with the doctrine 'Loan is bad, very very bad' . So there it goes, now we started looking at places and bidding for them.. Lost two of them, because they were nice but did not want to pay beyond the 'technical value' as out buyers agent explained to us. Yes lost out on million dollar homes...

Finally I saw this beaut in Richmond and knew this was US. One look inside and I knew I had to have this one. It was a tick in every box. Close to city (2K), close to the river (1K), close to shops etc. and close to the cricketing mecca of the world MCG, making it perfect for the other half as well. As he put it, if 'dhoni' hits a 6 we can catch it at home! So here goes our experience on Auction day
We arrived there, with our buyers agent. Discussed it and said how far we will go. The bidding started and even before our guy opened his mouth it had crossed the amount I was hoping I will get it for. It was fiercely wanted by 4 people. Guess I was not the only one who fell in love with the place. Our agent tells us that's good news as it means there is a good market for it, and it will appreciate even more... Finally its just two of us bidding, and I could see the other guy wanting it but not wanting to stretch himself, saying 'no' standing on foot, changing on to another, saying what the hell and raising the bid by another '500' or '100o' as the Auctioneer kept at him, to not loose it... I was tempted to call out, stop, he is not interested... Finally after this went on for what seemed like about 5 hrs ( actually 15 Min's) and 20,000 dollars more of humming and hawing from our opponent, we GOT it. And what did we get for this fight, here it is see it for your self and decide.. This house was built first in 1900 hence the frontage. But do not let this fool you. The inside with lots of wood and skylight making it a wonderful living room. Plan is to leave the central part all empty to have enough room to swing your hips and dance !

The upstairs has a retreat, and bedroom, allowing enough space for my yoga and weights training etc. Am sure I will have a great time there. Now I need to furnish the place as well as it is now! Last of all my very own courtyard with place for pots a plenty

Tempted to visit us now. cant wait to move in there. Come December we will be there...