The Australian Government is committed to provide relief to people in difficult economic times. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd recently revealed a positive development that will benefit homeowners who are still in the process of installing ceiling insulation in their homes.

A $3.9 billion Energy Efficiency Homes Package is now in place which allows homeowners to apply for rebates in various areas such as ceiling insulation, low emission heating system and solar hot water.

The homeowner insulation program covers only existing homes excluding new extensions and homeowners who have not availed of assistance under the solar hot water rebate program after February 3, 2009. Although the insulation program will officially start on July 1, 2009, homeowners who have installed ceiling insulation in their homes on or after February 3, 2009 until June 30, 2009 can now reimburse costs. The maximum rebate allowed is $1,600.

Also eligible for rebates are landlords and renters covered under the Low Emission Assistance Plan for Renters. The rebate, however, is lower at a maximum of $1,000 for the installation of ceiling insulation.

Application for reimbursement will be accepted up to six months from the date you purchased the ceiling insulation. Also to be submitted with the application form are a copy of tax invoices from the purchase and installation and a copy of two quotes that meet the requirements.

For eligible homeowners planning to install ceiling insulation after July 1 can still grab the rebates. All you need is to call the Department of Environment at 1 800 808 571 and make a booking. The Department will determine your eligibility based on the details you provide after which a professional installer will go to your home, make an assessment of your insulation needs and install the ceiling insulation. Visit the Department of Environment website for more details.

By Wendy Moore, Founder, www.savvywebwomen.com

Times may seem tough right now in many parts of the world but if you focus on the positives, there are many benefits to be had. The real estate industry, for instance, is one sector which offers great opportunities for investors during a financial crisis.

In Australia, the real estate market is showing positive signs for people wanting to purchase property for investment purposes.  Things like lower interest rates, increasing affordability, higher rental rates and a severe lack of supply of homes in some areas.

Areas with strong growth indicators are more likely to benefit and will include the suburbs that first time homebuyers and investors find attractive  Look at suburbs considered appealing, such as those in strategic locations with ready access to public transport, schools, child care centres, supermarkets and so on.

Housing demand has been consistently high in Australia.  It has been estimated that Australia will need an additional 1.15 million new dwellings between 2002 and 2011. Two thirds of these dwellings will be separate houses.  However, the pace of building newly constructed homes cannot cope with the demand. In 2008 for instance, only 150,000 new homes were built, well below the 180,000 needed to house the demand.

Mortgagee sales and foreclosures are on the rise. By the end of 2009 alone, it is estimated that some 30,000 homes will face foreclosure. Investors have the opportunity to seize opportunities in this sector.

If you are serious about investing in property, now is the time to prepare and to make sure you are ready to act should real estate opportunites head your way.

Adverse possession refers to the occupation of land not consistent with the rights of the real owner. This basically pertains to the right of a trespasser to own land or part of it which has been in his possession for a certain period of time. The full ownership can be granted to that individual if he or she has been using that land for at least 15 years.

This old doctrine of adverse possession protects the land owner against anybody who wants to claim the property but fails to provide proof of a better land title. It protects the occupier of the land concerned from being ejected by any person who may later on discover a technical issue concerning the land’s original boundaries.

Let’s take an example. Mr. A owns a certain piece of land which he has turned into a farm. He has been farming there for 20 years. Then comes Mr. B, the new owner of the adjacent land, who found that the fence around Mr. A’s farm was incorrectly placed inside the boundary of his property. The land owned by Mr. B had been sold several times in the past but it is only now that the boundary issue came up when Mr. B requested a survey of his property’s boundaries.

So, can Mr. B have part of the property included in Mr. A’s land back? Does he have the right to get it back? How can the true boundary of a property be determined?

If we are to base it on the old doctrine of adverse possession, the answer is no. Mr. B no longer has the right to challenge Mr. A on this issue and recover his property. Mr. B cannot force Mr. A to move the fence back to the original and correct boundary.

In cases like this, the role of a surveyor is crucial. This is because the process of challenging a land owner on the issue of adverse possession involves several stages.

Many people I know work in what you would call a “regular” job, usually for someone else, making money for someone else.

Two questions I like to ask are: “if money was not an issue, what would you truly love to do? What are you really passionate about?”

For many, they have to stop and really think about these questions, as they have never been asked before. Many do not have an answer. For those that do, they are rarely doing it right now.

Ever noticed how really successful people are REALLY passionate about what they do? For them, it is a joy, never work.

So, I put the same questions to you. Once you have your answer, follow your passion.

Most people truly do have your best interests at heart.  They really do want the very best for you.  However, not everyone is able to communicate this in a positive manner.  They may also be communicating to you from a place of fear or apprehension.

I’m sure you know the people that I’m talking about:

• Have you ever had a friend or loved one question what you are doing?
• Have they ever suggested that now is not the best time to be investing in property?
• Have they shared a hard luck story about an unfortunate friend or “Uncle Harry” who lost everything when they purchased an investment property?
• These people will always know “someone” that tried property investing and got burned really badly, was ripped off by some shonkster or just didn’t make it work.

Trust me – I’ve had these types of people around me too.  They mean well.  From where they sit, they don’t want to see you get hurt and are trying to shield you.

But for others they may also be projecting their own fears and doubts around themselves and their own lack of action on to you.  They may be feeling inadequate as they have not taken any steps themselves to improve their life and don’t want you to either.  If you do, then perhaps they might lose you and where would they be then?

You need to learn who to listen to.  What you will find, as it certainly has happened to me, is that once you start to do things “differently” to the rest of the pack, people will start to offer you all kinds of advice.  They will know better than you and want to share what they know.

Unless that person is someone you greatly admire, find inspiring and is successful at what you are looking to be successful at too, think twice about taking their advice.  When you start listening to “hot tips” from taxi drivers, it is time to stop and reassess.  Of course, be polite and thank them for taking the time to share what they know, but make sure you weigh what they have shared with you up against all the other knowledge you’ve gathered.

Beware the dream stealers.  People like stability, not change and you will cause people to be uncomfortable with their lives, as you are taking the action that they are too afraid to.  That’s okay.  Recognise when you meet these people, modify your conversations accordingly and treat their advice with the weight it deserves.