Is it just a Crazy Plan?

NannyJam · Veteran Member

Is it just a Crazy Plan?

Wild1 · Senior Member

Hi NJ,

Sounds like a sensible plan - just be very careful when buying the van. Do you plan to free camp or do CP's?

Jen

Grubbygypsy · Senior Member

Hi mate

The only thing I'd be careful about is renting out a house. I've only ever had one reasonable tenant in my days of renting houses (and even then, she was only just acceptable in my view). The laws are geared only for the tenants and the landlord can lose a lot. I certainly wouldn't rely on that income. I sold up instead. It probably was the sort of place I should of held onto, but I could just foresee problems, when all I wanted to do was live stress free. Mind you.....a very cheap house might be the country....so you might get a better caliber of person there...but I'd certainly think twice about it in the city or suburbs. I'll buy a block eventually. They won't be able to trash that if you're not there (although I'm sure it's possible out of some).
The rest sounds grand!! Living on the road is so cheap. Haha, I haven't spent anything since last year!!
I think for really cheap living....you'd essentially need to move away from the SW WA area. Not a lot of free camping down there I don't think. I managed - but I think it's renowned for not having much.

Cheers
Grubster

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Your plan is about right .. I went into real estate when I got extra work hours back in 90's . Best thing I ever did . As per usual time and place ?? We don't know about future ? But you have to have a go . The dogs will soon get used to conditions etc especially if you do much the same every day .. Toilet etc . Water, solar, shower and toilet ? Even grey water containment needs to be considered ? Depending what you want to do ? Keep in mind it may change as you go ?? The pooches will do fine .. Enjoy !! Don't let any small negatives stop you !!! In response to bad tenants etc . If it's well insured, you'll be fine !! Just have the opinion you Re carpet, and paint when you move back .. Most issues I've had is with lazy real estates !! Keep in mind wherever you leave money or asserts ?? There's always sharks out there no matter what you do . I'm doing way better than the nay Sayers 20 years ago !!

-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Saturday 7th of January 2017 10:00:24 AM

NannyJam · Veteran Member

Thanks so much for the replies!

Well, at least I didn't get howled down at the get-go! lol

I have a little bit of knowledge about renting out properties and know the risks... but if I don't buy a property, although it frees up ample cash for a 'road trip', what happens if I suddenly need a 'home base'. Considerations you have all mulled over too, I guess.

I'm *hoping* to find free/cheap camp sites and don't mind if they are out-of-the-way camp spots... but these seem in short supply, or they are just 1-2 nights only. That might get a tad tedious over a few years ð WA really isn't 'Grey Nomad' friendly at all, as far as I can tell, however I already live here, so gotta start here and get braver as I go... I hope! haha

And my young pooches are awesome, just have to keep them safe too, and the warnings about DPWA baiting are a worry!

In all honesty, if I could just buy a couple of acres of land and plonk my little van on it I'd be the proverbial 'happy camper'! But, thats not allowed... so the road it is!

Sue

-- Edited by NannyJam on Saturday 7th of January 2017 10:38:06 AM

newhorizons · Senior Member

Hi Sue, I live in SW of WA, so know the area well. There are some RV friendly towns which have freecamping at ovals etc. (usually 24-48 hours) You can google RV Friendly towns & find out which ones. I can't really advise you on other cheap camping but perhaps you could search on this site and go through the posts in Budget Camping WA section. If you will ever need Centrelink, you'll need to enquire about your "renting" idea as that may be considered as having two homes, the second one being a money-making asset. Others on here might advise you on this.
When I retired last year, I went on a 6 week trip north to see how I liked it. Maybe you could keep your home and not do anything too 'drastic" (so to speak) until you are certain you want that way of life permanently. I decided to keep my house (empty) and just go on long trips every winter while the weather down here is so cold. That's what suits me at this time but everyone is different.
Diane

Wild1 · Senior Member

I also read recently that you can treat a rented property as your Principal Place of Residence, even though you don't actually live there, for CGT purposes. Also, be aware that if you receive a pension later on, Centrelink can, and do, class your caravan as your PPR, so that means that your home becomes an assessabla asset.

And as for getting good tenants, you will need a good property manager. You should insist that you get to approve the tenant that they select too, and take plenty of photos of the property (in detail), before anyone moves in. But I agree with you and AK, you need to have a home base, just in case.

Good luck and enjoy your travels

Jen

Grubbygypsy · Senior Member

Hey Sue

1. I often 'overstay' - I am atm, I've never had a problem with that in nearly 6 years. I think those rules are just made so they can hound people out that treat the joint with disrespect - come, squat, string the gypsy lines out etc. obviously you have to choose your places - you can't just sit in the middle of town forever. I was just at one '3 day stay' place for just over two weeks. No one was there!! Well...some others...but it's totally underused by the majority of people and the area is so huge. Way I see it, while they're buying swags for homeless (in cities), therefore encouraging some members of society (and cleaning up their putrid messes) yet hounding other respectful ones........I'll stop wherever I like for however long I like. This also includes when I buy a block.

2. My situation wrt a home base is that it wasn't ever going to be WA again, so it didn't matter that I sold up....as long as I don't blow my capital.....but I'm a very controlled person, so that won't happen. I'm relatively young too (I like saying that lol), so it was different for me than that decision might be for some.

3. Yes...1080 everywhere. Dogs would have to be on leashes at all times or be very well trained to not pick up anything. Hence me not taking the little dog my kids wanted me to adopt early last year.

4. Push the naysayers out of earshot. Especially your own 'what if?' voice'. That is the one thing I did in my planning stages....every time it popped up to tell me I was being reckless (selling houses etc), I didn't listen or I said 'yes...but what's th alternative?'

It's a great life. Here I sit...debating whether I move 20klm up the road today or stay and chat with my magpie mate for another day.

Grubster

readysetgo · Member

Hi Sue

Good for you! I am in a similar place. There are so many things to consider when starting out and no doubt all travelling nomads have reflected on many things prior and during their travels.

I have been wanting to travel Aus for many many years and am now contemplating the short trips and then between leaving my present security for travel and work, or wait a couple of years then retire and travel. I live in QLD and will be taking A/L in Feb/March planning a few weeks on the NSW north coast. I am currently in the process of finding a suitable rental campervan that is practical and affordable- Wow they are expensive to rent (particularly with ensuite) and then there is the 5k deposit up front. However I want to live the experience to ensure I feel safe and comfortable as a solo female traveller before committing to a long term change. I feel it will also help in determining my minimum requirements for future adventures. I was about to buy a caravan but that would mean upgrading my car also. Campervan vs caravan...decisions!

Friends of mine were renting then decided to purchase a campervan then sold the camper and everything they owned to purchase a station wagon and very small caravan for their travels around Aus. They had a wonderful time however they had car troubles needing to replace their vehicle and when their health changed they needed to resettle in a town with appropriate health facilities which meant starting again from scratch. The lesson for me was ensure I have some security if I need to make a change from the nomad lifestyle just like you are planning to do.

In regard to rental property, I must admit that I have been very fortunate to have had only one tenant who left a lot to be desired but it was not a financial disaster thankfully. All the other tenants over the years were amazing for which I was very grateful. I agree with Aus-Kiwi comments, we all have difference experiences but its about being as informed as possible to make the decisions most suitable to you and your needs.

Have a fabulous time finding your choice of camper and happy travels.... go girl!

JR

Footprints · Senior Member

Sounds sensible to me also but there is no need to be deterred about renting. When not the pride and joy family home there is no place for sentiment, view it as a simple investment commodity. many years of owning many investment properties I had only one experience with a bad tenant and that was in the early days of renting properties.I would like to offer a few tips which were very successful to me over the years.

Always ask for details of the applicants current residential address from prospective tenants a couple of weeks prior to making a decision on which tenant that you prefer and at a time unannounced by you go to that address and view what condition that property is in.

For the lower value rentals i.e. units etc. select mature age pensioners as tenants and have rent paid direct to you from their pension which ensures no rent in arrears. = peace of mind and not likely to hold rave parties.

I used to offer incentive bonuses to all tenants, (bonus up to you) however I reasoned that it was better and cheaper to sacrifice a little income for peace of mind rather than have property damage or unclean filthy premises. I used to offer a bonus of two weeks rent payable twice per year however one week may suffice. First bonus payable at end of financial year 30th June and the second at 31st December. both of these times coincide with times when most bills arrive and many are cash strapped so it is a very strong incentive to maintain the premises well and receive a cheque in hand at Xmas.

Tony Bev · Guru

Hello NannyJam

No plan concerning enjoying ourselves, is a crazy plan

You have already had some good advice, and I will offer what worked for me

Hopefully someone with experience of renting their house, and with knowledge of the centerlink/pension laws/rules will come forward
As I have no knowledge of renting

Just take your time to decide what sort of caravan you want, and do not let anyone talk you into buying something, which you feel is not suitable for you

It took me six months to find a second hand caravan, suitable for my needs, which I purchased privately
I quickly steered clear of the caravan sale yards, as the salesmen were trying to use high pressure tactics, to sell me what they had in their yards

There are still plenty of low cost and free camps in the SW of WA, below is a link to the WA camps on this forum

http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/f597934/wa/?page=1&sort=startDate

To format your posts, click on the Advanced Editor
When inside the Advanced Editor, the formatting stuff is on the top of the page
After you have formatted, click on the Show preview button, to view how your post will look

Hope that this info is useful to you

adreamer · Senior Member

NannyJam wrote:
Well, here goes... Newbie here. Finances are tight, and finite. So, after thinking, and thinking and thinking I'm planning to go 'permanently' solo with my two young pooches in/around SW Western Australia to start with. My immediate 'plan' is: to find a secondhand van, go for short/local trips of just a few days (see how the pooches and I cope short-term). At the same time scope out places to buy a *very cheap* house/unit that I can rent out - my theory being that living in the van is cheaper for me on a weekly basis, the rent will bring in a tiny bit of extra money each week and will also give me somewhere to live in 10 yrs time (or sooner if things go pear-shaped) . Crazy? Doable? Your experiences/thoughts? Cheers :) (a nice start would be working out how to format my posts here nicely! lol)

Hi, welcome. No, your plan is not crazy and is very doable.

Probably getting a fairly good van would be a starter, take someone with you when buying for second opinions etc.

Have you considered buying a van in Southern States - much more choice and maybe a bit cheaper. I am in SA and was lucky to get a good Van with low mileage privately. As someone on here said - the dealers can really pressure you.

Give Centrelink a call and tell them what you are thinking of doing.

I think your ideas are good and as grubbygypsy said you can just about stay anywhere you like, overstaying has never been a problem for me either.

Let us know what your future plans are and good luck and long may you enjoy our beautiful Country.

Helen

adreamer · Senior Member

NannyJam wrote:
Well, here goes... Newbie here. Finances are tight, and finite. So, after thinking, and thinking and thinking I'm planning to go 'permanently' solo with my two young pooches in/around SW Western Australia to start with. My immediate 'plan' is: to find a secondhand van, go for short/local trips of just a few days (see how the pooches and I cope short-term). At the same time scope out places to buy a *very cheap* house/unit that I can rent out - my theory being that living in the van is cheaper for me on a weekly basis, the rent will bring in a tiny bit of extra money each week and will also give me somewhere to live in 10 yrs time (or sooner if things go pear-shaped) . Crazy? Doable? Your experiences/thoughts? Cheers :) (a nice start would be working out how to format my posts here nicely! lol)

Sorry meant to add in that there is lots of house sitting jobs in WA just look up the adds on the top of page.

Helen

jules47 · The Happy Helper

You live in WA - and think it is not Grey Nomad friendly. We did about seven months over there in 2016. we found either free or very low cost camps all over the place - do you have a Camps Australia Wide Book - Issue 9 is out in February, 2017, also Wikicamps is a great app for your phone or tablet - if you have a smart phone.

A must have for travellers - full time, or whatever is called Emergency +, gives accurate details of where you are, and if you ringing the police, ambulance or fireys, it gives them you location as well. Just Google it.

Posts are entered in all different ways by all different people, on most forums. I find that I post and type as I speak, if I doesn't sound right in my head, I will edit. But your post was fine - no probs - said what you wanted - so Welcome to The GN Forum!!!!
shoetree port heron wa.jpg

NannyJam · Veteran Member

Thanks again for the great information and suggestions! lol GrubbyGypsy my kinda thinking actually!

And yes, I'll get a copy of Camps Australia Wide Book - Issue 9 when it comes out in Feb

-- Edited by NannyJam on Sunday 8th of January 2017 01:57:14 PM

Chicken strangler · Senior Member

At Peterborough and also terowie in south Australia you can buy homes that are really quite cheap. From 70 grand, exspensive and flash would be 120 g. Both towns are close to the flinders ranges and not to far to the sea. There must be similar places in W.A. I guess. Having a home base to retreat to whenever it suits is what I would prefer.

Ralph

chicken strangler.

Shirl_e · Member

Re renting out to fund your trip, choose your property carefully - I have a rental unit, small but nice location and great agents, never vacant. I live on this small but regular income, and along with occasional contract work. ATO & Centrelink have a few hidden traps, outlined below, so it's important it is to do your homework. TAX You must live in the property for 12 months before you can claim it as a primary residence. If you don't return within six years the primary residence status expires. CENTRELINK ATO 'primary residence' status is not recognised. For Centrelink, your residence is where you live most of time - this includes the nomad's caravan if your home is rented or available for rent. According to Centrelink my permanent residence is my van, the 'shoebox on wheels'. This means I'm a homeowner living in my own home, and the unit is assessable asset. Centrelink don't care that my 'home' is 2x3 slide-on without loo, shower, or permanent site. It is treated the same as a house.

Ellessay · Newbie

A bit crazy and a bit unpredictable - that's what's attractive about it. I'm also SW WA and have found worst aspect of travel with dog for company is that WA has large areas(and sometimes best areas) all National Park - NO DOGS. However, we have been to most over the years, so looking for new territory. Having recently lost my mate, I am selling my campervan very sadly. It's a Renault Master, high roof and LWB with no-fuss fitout. We have been a few months at a time and found this simple camp life very inspiring and refreshing. Have met some travellers whose "base" investment is an industrial unit - cheaper, low maintenance, and good reliable return. Have you looked at house-sitting if you want to stay put for awhile? If you spend the money on a van rather than articulated rig, we found safer and more comfy - being able to walk thru, make meal, read, snooz, use toilet - and you haven't opened the door yet. Great in bad weather. We are campers of the age before 4WD and have never been bogged or caught out in 2WD - on rugged tracks and out of the way places. Just drive according to conditions - if muddy boggy road after rain, camp and wait, or go somewhere else. Love the unpredictability!