Granny flats: tax tips and traps
November 10, 2020
The idea of adding a granny flat to your property sounds like a great idea. A property to rent out to generate some welcome extra income, or a home for adult children or mum and dad in their later years. But there are important tax and personal considerations to consider before taking the plunge and…
SMSFs on the defensive: Is it time to revisit your strategy?
September 15, 2020
Self-managed super funds (SMSFs) have had a challenging year, with COVID-19 linked market uncertainty affecting income and returns. But SMSF trustees haven’t been sitting on their hands. One of the main reasons people give for wanting to establish an SMSF is to have greater control of their investments and taking control of a difficult situation…
Housing market: shaken but not stirred
July 13, 2020
With Australia in a COVID-induced recession, residential property is not immune to falling economic activity. Yet housing prices are proving surprisingly resilient. Only months ago, economists were forecasting a housing price slump of 20 per cent or more. Now, most have revised their forecasts to price falls of between five and 10 per cent. The…
The HomeBuilder program – government grants to eligible homebuilders and renovators
June 23, 2020
The Government has announced the new HomeBuilder program to support jobs and boost demand in the residential construction sector at a time when the construction industry is facing extreme uncertainty. Prime Minister Scott Morrison says this will drive a “tradie-led recovery” of the economy. HomeBuilder will provide all eligible owner-occupiers with a grant of $25,000…
Ins and outs of SMSF property investing
February 7, 2020
With a property market recovery underway, most notably in Sydney and Melbourne, Australian…
Positives and Negatives of Negative Gearing
October 9, 2019
Negatively gearing an investment property is viewed by many Australians as a tax effective way to get ahead. According to Treasury, more than 1.9 million people earned rental income in 2012-13 and of those about 1.3 million reported a net rental loss. So it was no surprise that many people were worried about how they…
Is the tide turning on the property market?
August 6, 2019
For the first time in years, the planets seem to be aligning for homebuyers and property investors. Interest rates are falling, property prices largely appear to be stabilising and constraints on bank mortgage lending have been relaxed. It’s welcome news for first homebuyers and anyone who has been waiting on the sidelines for a signal that…
Making the most of falling interest rates
July 2, 2019
The Reserve Bank’s decision to cut official interest rates is good news for anyone with a mortgage or hoping to buy their first home, but presents a challenge for savers. Whatever your personal situation, the question now is how to make the most of falling rates. In case you missed it, on June 4 the…
How to speak ‘real estatese’
February 13, 2019
First-home buyers (and even second- and third-home buyers) are often baffled by the jargon used by real estate industry professionals. This can result in expensive misunderstandings unless you take the time to learn the lingo. Here are some frequently misunderstood terms and concepts you should familiarise yourself with before you begin searching for your dream…
Housing prices off the boil
October 9, 2018
The Australian housing market appears to have reached a turning point, with prices falling 2.2 per cent since peaking in September 2017. This is welcome news for first home buyers; not so much for sellers and investors.
Downsizing – Is it right for you?
May 2, 2018
Luxury inner city apartments marketed as ‘perfect for empty nesters’. TV shows where cool older divorcees live in luxury on the waterfront. The ‘grey nomads’ community selling up and taking off in their camper vans. Even twenty years ago, the idea of downsizing wasn’t really part of our culture. The parental home was something to…
Home and away with super
March 9, 2018
Australians buying their first home or downsizing in retirement are about to receive a helping hand thanks to new superannuation rules which come into effect on July 1. From that date, first home buyers will be able to contribute up to $30,000 into their super fund towards a home deposit while downsizers can put up…
Opportunities in the cooling property market
December 13, 2017
Things are looking up for first home buyers for the first time in years as house price growth begins to slow across the country. While prices have been on the slide for some areas in the West and the North since the end of the mining boom, the housing market in Sydney and Melbourne also…
Homing in on a happy retirement
November 1, 2017
Owning your own home has long been the Australian dream but after years of strong house price growth it’s becoming less of a reality for many. This has major implications for retirement planning.
Home ownership in the spotlight
August 1, 2017
Housing affordability continues to be a major concern in Australia and not just for would-be first home buyers. It also affects pre-retirees forced to work longer to repay bigger mortgages and older Australians unable to downsize from large family homes due to a lack of affordable options.
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