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Hi Margaret,
My wife and I are considering building a duplex on the Sydney residential block where we currently live in our principal place of residence. The loan on the home is in my wife's name only and the balance of the mortgage is held in cash in the offset facility.
Our plan is to borrow to build the duplex, live in one and use the rental income from the other to pay down the loan and keep them both. We would both like to be signatories on the new loan. From a gearing perspective my wife is most likely to be the highest salary earner over the life of the loan.
My question then is what would be the best way to refinance/restructure the loan to minimise our tax liabilities? Alternatively, who would be the best person to approach for advice on this matter? Our accountant? Taxation specialist? Mortgage broker?
Margaret Lomas' answer is on the next page. Please click below.
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You will need to check with your accountant for your own individual circumstances, but I would suggest that he or she will most likely advise you that, for tax purposes, the land owner ( your wife) is treated as the recipient of all income / deductions including interest.
You have not specified if she is the only one of the two of you on the certificate of title - if so then only your wife gets the deductions. If you are both on title, but the loan is only in your wife's name, you need to check on her deductibility status, as I would suggest that the entire loan may not be deductible if only half the property is hers.
The name on any loans is irrelevant - except in regards to providing the security for the debt - as it is treated for tax as "on lent". I always tell people to be very careful when they structure their loans as the bank may not be giving the correct advice, or any advice at all in regards to structure. 
The bank will notoriously protect themselves by seeking commitment from both parties (where there is more than one) even where both parties may not be on the title, and this can really play around with your ultimate deductibility. 
I would have to say that when a new client comes to my company, Destiny, eight times out of 10 they have the wrong structure in place.  At times this can be fixed, but at others it cannot, and the best we can do is ensure that going forward, all is correct!
With regard to the new loan for the duplex, you must have your accountant correctly establish the relationship between the current debt in your wife's name and the present property, which is your Principal Place of Residence (PPOR). This is because the portion of the end debt which relates to the PPOR will not carry any deductions, while any portion of the debt relating to the new part of the build will be if it is income producing.
In relation to obtaining that new debt for the build, I am not sure why, if your wife will be the higher income earner, you wish to have this new loan in both names.
The highest income earner brings the highest deductions, and therefore the property and loan is best placed in that person's name, as long as you expect this situation to continue. In any event, even if you do use both names on any new debt, this won't change the fact that the title is in her name and so the deductions are hers.
You can only change this if, prior to undertaking the project, you essentially buy half of the property off your wife. You will pay stamp duty on half of the market value of the whole property, even if she sells it to you for a nominal amount.
I am not sure where you live, but in some states (such as Victoria) you can make a transfer of title by way of 'love and affection' and avoid this stamp duty - so check with the office of state revenue in your state.
When you do rent out the new property, be careful how you manage the rental income to pay off your personal debt.  he tax office does not like you to capitalise interest on an investment debt, and it will be critical for you to get proper tax advice appropriate to your personal circumstances before undertaking any rapid mortgage reduction strategy.
At the end of the day, always check with your accountant before making any move at all. 
Well-meaning mortgage brokers and banks are not usually able to provide you with the right kind of guidance in this very complex area. 
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Ask Margaret: How can I restructure my loan to minimise my tax liabilities?

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Hi Margaret,
I was reading about Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on principal residences and I was wondering if CGT is applicable on an elderly parent’s home after they have moved to a nursing home. If the home is rented out to pay for the ongoing expenses of nursing care, is CGT applicable after she has passed and the home is sold? Alternatively, if a family member lives in the home until such time as she passes, is capital gains also applicable?
Presently there is family division (as usual) about the way her assets and home should be managed.
Regards,
Katherine
Margaret Lomas' answer is on the next page. Please click below.
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Capital gains tax is a complicated issue, and I wanted to be sure I got this right for you, so I called my Property Success resident tax expert, Ian Rodrigues, and checked that my understanding around this was correct.
If you own a Principal Place of Residence (PPOR) from which you are absent and you rent it out, you have a six year period where you can have an exemption from CGT, as long as you don’t claim another PPOR exemption. 
If you don’t rent it out, the amount of time that you can claim that exemption is unlimited. This would mean that, as long as the period did not exceed 6 years, renting it out in order to help pay those expenses would be OK. 
Once she passes, the status of the person’s CGT position shifts to those who inherit – if it is still considered her PPOR (so in that six year period) then the CGT status transfers, and the beneficiaries have two years to sell before they incur CGT.
If a family member lived there, and it was to simply take care of the place for your mother, and not a market based arrangement on the same terms as a third party tenant, then this would likely be considered to be the same as if no one lived there.
Of course, if your mother bought the property prior to 19 September, 1985, then all of the above is moot – it’s a pre CGT asset anyway and no CGT applies in any circumstance.
Always check with a good accountant or even the tax office itself though, to ensure that your own situation is covered by these rules.  It’s quite easy to get a private ruling in the event that no one seems sure and that way, you have it all in writing!
Have a property question?  <a href="mailto:askmargaret@propertyobserver.com.au" target="_blank">Ask Margaret!</a>
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Ask Margaret: Is CGT applicable if an elderly resident moves to a nursing home?

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Hi Margaret,
I am currently educating myself on property investing before buying my first investment property.
I am currently reading your book “Investing in the right property now!” in the third chapter you mention looking for an area which has low housing starts. My question is how to quantify “low”, I realise there is probably  no magic number but should I be looking for a region where housing start do not exceed population growth or should I simply assess the areas vacancy rates as an indicator of whether the new developments are creating an over supply.
As an example, one area which I am considering an investment has a population of ~50,000, an annual population growth of 1 percent and housing starts are as follows 2015-‘16=447; ‘14-‘15=340; ‘13-‘14=243; ‘12-‘13=227
Of course I am considering many other factors when analysing an area as mentioned in your books but this is just the one I am having troubles with at this point in time
Thank you kindly,
Sam
 
Hi Sam, 
Your question is a good one and it’s important to consider a range of factors when choosing an area where you would like to invest in property.
I would like to point out that, as mentioned in the book, you have to ensure that you don’t get caught up in just one statistic or factor, as that factor alone could be painting a different picture than the one you want to eventuate!
Let me explain.  There are many growth drivers, and they all work as only a small part of an overall puzzle, somewhat like a jigsaw puzzle. With too many pieces missing, the puzzle just does not work.  The more pieces you can fit into that puzzle, the better the picture becomes. 
Where property is concerned, the pieces are the growth drivers, but taken alone a single piece is not enough, or may not provide the right picture. Take the ‘housing starts’ you refer to. The idea behind ensuring that there is not too much development going on is to ensure that the area is not oversupplied with property.  Since the only thing which ultimately drives growth is demand, an oversupply of property will dilute that demand and lead to a sustained period of low, or no growth.
Now,  you may find an area with 50,000 population and low housing starts, but those low housing starts figures could be because no one is moving there, or there is little employment or anything else happening in the area.  And so the low housing start factor must be combined with a population growing faster than inflation, diversified employment, no new land for future development and a number of other factors for it to be a pointer to future property price growth.
There is no figure or calculation, but if the population is growing by, say, 1 percent per annum and housing starts are only growing by 0.5% per annum, and other drivers also exist, then it makes sense that a future increased demand for housing may ensue.
Always make sure that you examine all of the factors – it is the trend of those factors and their relationship to each other which becomes important, rather than the number itself.
Have a property question?  <a href="mailto:news@propertyobserver.com.au" target="_blank">Ask Margaret!</a>
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Low housing start insights for investors: Ask Margaret

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Hi,
I'm thinking about purchasing a property that has been built in underneath with no council approval. The problem is that it is a high set home on recently flood zoned area of <a href="/news">Logan</a>. My question is, is it still possible to get building certification for lower levels in flood areas or does the council never allow it?
Margaret Lomas' answer is on the next page. Please click below to continue.
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When you own a house or unit in any local government area, it is your duty to ensure that the building codes provided by the state department of planning, and administered locally by the council's own planning departments, are adhered to. 
This also means that, if you make any changes to a property which has previously been approved as compliant, you must first ask council for permission to make such changes.
These rules exist for many reasons - to ensure that an area remains aesthetically pleasing, to provide safe living environments for residents, and to protect the environment itself. If you have ever visited a country where there is no building code, and seen how the residential areas look when people build whatever they like, you will better appreciate these rules! 
You will also know that when a natural disaster strikes, the loss and injury caused is far more catastrophic, often due to the unsafe nature of what has been built and the overbuilding of those areas.
And so to your dilemma. You are thinking of buying  property with an unapproved alteration, and you should know that the council is within their rights to ask you to revert it back if they so desire. If the council feels for any reason that the alteration contravenes the current development rules, or in any way poses a risk to the surrounding community in the event of a flood, then they will ask you to revert it. 
You should check the flood maps available on the Logan City Council website, and see if this property falls within a flood zone. If so, your chances of having this alteration retrospectively approved is next to none, and the chances of being asked to remove the alteration is in play.
You should ask the current owner to either have the alteration approved prior to your purchase, or provide a letter from the council attesting to the fact that the alterations do not contravene any planning rules, and would be otherwise approved if you submit a development application. Then, as soon as you settle, take the steps to have the alterations approved to remove any future doubt.
 
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Ask Margaret: What happens if I buy a house with an unapproved alteration?

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Hi Margaret, I've recently purchased commercial real estate in the last 30 days in VIC (settlement has been completed). I registered it under company "1 PTY LTD", however I wish to change this to a different company (I remain as the company director of the new company). Stamp duty cost me 100k+ (I don't wish to pay this again). Is the above possible without attracting stamp duty on the building if a mistake was made?
 
It may be hard for you to convince the office of state revenue that you made a mistake on this one - when you received the contract it would have asked for the purchaser's detail, the documents would have been signed by you as that purchaser and the State Revenue Office would have relied on these documents for the purpose of assessment of duty. As this one is outside of my own area of expertise I consulted Paul Sande from Asset Conveyancing.  He is an expert in conveyancing in all states, as this area is markedly different from state to state. He believes that there may be another avenue available to you. Sec 250A of the Duties Act 2000 provides for an exemption from duty for an eligible transaction where there is a legitimate reconstruction of corporate groups. An eligible transaction is any of the following that occurs on or after 1 January 2004:- 1. A transfer of dutiable property from one member of a corporate group to another member of the group; 2. A relevant acquisition by a member of a corporate group from another member of the group to which Sec 83 of the Duties Act applies; 3. A declaration of trust to dutiable property the specification of which forms part of the declaration of trust or part of the transaction constituted by the declaration of trust by one member of a corporate group under which the dutiable property is held on trust for another member of the group; or 4. Any other transaction that results in the beneficial ownership of dutiable property moving from one member of a corporate group to another member of the group. Paul says that the Commissioner needs to be satisfied, amongst other things, that the eligible transaction does not arise from arrangements or a scheme devised for the principal purpose of taking advantage of the benefit of the corporate reconstruction exemption. In your case you did this inadvertently and so there was no intent to gain any particular advantage here. Your best course of action is to consult your office of state revenue, explain that you wish to reconstruct the corporate group to have this property held by another member of that group, and see what they say about this.
Have a property question?       <a href="mailto:askmargaret@propertyobserver.com.au" target="_blank">Ask Margaret!</a>
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Ask Margaret: Convincing the Office of State Revenue

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Hi Margaret,
My husband and I currently own a house in Macarthur (ACT) and are in negotiations with our neighbor to buy their house next door, before they move to Tasmania next year. The houses are side-by-side and at the end of a cul-de-sac.  
I'm just wondering what our first step would be if we decided to merge the two blocks of land and sell to a developer for them to build multiple dwellings. We don't want to manage or build ourselves, we just want to sell them as a package.
How do I know if this allowed in our suburb? Is there a website I can look at or someone I can contact?
Kind Regards,
Lisa 
 
Hi Lisa,
Your first port of call will be to the local council who manages subdivisions in your area. You will need to talk to their town  planning department.  The council will have a town plan in place which will be governed by the territory’s planning scheme. They will be able to tell you about the rules and regulations surrounding subdivisions, or in your case, land boundary changes in your area.
The reason it is important to start here is because you want to know exactly what you would be left with in the event that such a boundary change (that is the combining of two lots) is allowable. You need to know how many subsequent blocks a developer can achieve from this boundary change.  If they can only achieve the two blocks which you originally had, then there is no benefit to the boundary change and your blocks would be just as easily sold separately as they would combined as one.
Once you know these details you then have a choice: You can either simply offer your two blocks together for sale as a package, leaving the responsibility for a boundary change up to the potential developer, or you can effect the boundary change yourself, which may make the two blocks more valuable.  
You should consult an independent town planner, one who works in private practice, to quote you on the potential costs of having the two blocks combined, including his fees and all government charges, and also consult with a local real estate agent to establish whether or not spending this money would result in a suitably increased sale price. 
If you wanted to go all the way you could then do the subdivision into the allowable number of blocks, but as you have seen, past advice I have given in this column has outlined all the potential risks and costs of doing that, and you have said you don’t wish to incur those.
I will point out to you that one of the difficulties you face is in working out who should get what. If you offer them for sale together, with a condition that both must be purchased, but you price them separately, it’s easy to see how much each person should get. But if you price them as a package, then it’s harder to work out whose property should get the most unless they are identical properties of identical size. In addition to this, you would both have to agree on what you get as a final price, and also on the strategy you would follow in the event that one of you had an offer for their house alone that they want to take.  
Under these circumstances, tempers can flare and relationships can break down. These are all the kinds of issues you must think about before entering such an agreement, and it’s a good policy to think about all the potential problems, write them down and agree on a solution before they arise.
Have a property question?        <a href="mailto:askmargaret@propertyobserver.com.au" target="_blank">Ask Margaret!</a>
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Ask Margaret: Merging blocks to create multiple dwellings

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Hi Margaret,
We have a 1 acre or 4000 sq metre block of land , zoned farming in country Victoria. We bought it in July 2014 as an investment to develop it as a future home site.
If I sell a block of land with contract of sale dated in 2017 financial year, but settlement is in 2018 financial year, is CGT based on contract of sale date or on settlement date? It will make a difference as we will be retired in 2018 financial year and will be in  a different tax bracket.
The block of land, zoned farming, did not have a planning permit to build a dwelling or shed and has generated no income while we have owned it but we have made improvements. Are the cost of the improvements deductible? We have planted 600 trees at a cost of $1100.
We have drawn up a set of house plans and successfully applied for a planning permit to build a dwelling and shed at a cost of $1400. Are maintenance costs deductible?
E.g. 100 trips to the block of land to mow lawns, water trees, earth moving costs to remove dead trees, loan costs and purchase costs and selling cost.
Can we deduct stamp duty on purchase? Legal costs on purchase? Loan borrowing costs? Loan interest from date of purchase to date of sale? Loan discharge costs? Legal costs on sale of land? Council rates from purchase date to sale date? Break fees on a fixed loan for the land purchase if I sell before the 4 year fixed term is completed?
Thanks for your suggestions
Regards
Kevin
 
Hi Kevin,
According to the Australian tax office:
When you sell or otherwise dispose of real estate, the time of the event (when you make a capital gain or capital loss) is usually:
<ul>
<li>when you enter into the contract (generally the date on the contract), not when you settle – the fact that a contract is subject to a condition, such as finance approval, generally doesn't affect this date</li>
<li>when the change of ownership occurs if there is no contract (such as when a property passes to a beneficiary), or</li>
<li>if the real estate is compulsorily acquired – the earliest of</li>
<ul>
<li>when you receive compensation from the acquiring entity</li>
<li>when the entity became the property's owner</li>
<li>when the entity enters the property under a power of compulsory acquisition, or</li>
<li>when the entity takes possession under that power.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
In your case this means the event occurs in 2017 and this is the year the tax becomes due and payable.  If you have already lodged your tax return before settlement and the receipt of the proceeds, you would need to request an amendment to the prior year’s return. 
As for the remainder of your questions, you do need specific advice which takes into account all of your circumstances, including the purpose for which you originally bought the property and your intentions at the time.  Generally speaking though, I can tell you that:
1.   If this is not a working farm the zoning should not impact deducibility of any bona fide investment property related deductions.  You will need to get some specific advice around the planting of the trees, though, as they may not be deductible, unless such planting was required for the purposes of earning property related income.  
2.   Improvements to a rental property are deductible as long as the purpose for the block was to build an investment, and not to build future own home. 
3.   Once a property becomes income producing, maintenance costs are deductible.  If your intention was to build a property to rent out but instead you sell, some of your costs may become capital costs, but again this one would have to be determined by your accountant.
4.  You have a large list of other costs and again, their deductibility depends upon the reason you bought the block – if it was for an investment some may be considered capital costs (and so add to your cost base for the purposes of determining capital gains tax) and others, as long as the property was income producing, may be deductible as yearly expenses.  Even some costs which are normally yearly expenses can be added to the cost base in certain circumstances.  
It is critical that you consult with a highly skilled accountant who has experience in this area to be sure that you get the right advice.  Remember, regardless of what any one tells you, the responsibility for making the right claims rests with the tax payer.  Bad advice won’t get you out of trouble if you make an incorrect claim.
 
Have a property question?  <a href="mailto:news@propertyobserver.com.au" target="_blank">Ask Margaret!</a>
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Ask Margaret: Is CGT based on contract of sale date or on settlement date?

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Hi Margaret, my wife &amp; I live on 50 acres we bought the property 20 years ago , built a house &amp; lived in since. We have 10 cows which we make a little money on each year &amp; is the only income of the property. Our main income is away from the property (apart from the office &amp; shed) my question is would we be CGT exempt because we use the other 45 acres for farming, although it's not our main source of income?
Answer: The answer to this question has many parts and depends on a number of circumstances, and so I checked with Property Success tax expert Ian Rodrigues to see what he thought about it. The first this to check is the actual date that you purchased the property.  It appears to be after they introduced the Capital Gains Tax rules but that is worth checking first as if it was before, then everything changes.  It's also important to know if you bought the property or if it was passed to you, perhaps through an inheritance as this impacts as well. The Principal Place of residence exemption should apply to the house and surrounding land up 2 hectares (about 5 acres). You mention an office and shed - were these rented out, or did you use them for conducting any kind of business, and subsequently claim any proportional deduction on them?  If you did then this will mean that a part of your principal place of residence will be considered to be liable for capital gains tax and this will need to be established. The rest of the land outside the 5 acres are subject to CGT regardless of how they were used. There are major issues to consider here in regard to:-         1. was farming a business for tax (and so, what went into your tax returns?). Small business CGT concessions could apply here and         2. what is the valuation split of PPOR and acres? Sometimes the house is the substantial part of these acres and therefore carry the much of the value of the entire block, and at other times the acres are prime land and therefore make up a substantial part of the calculations.  Your situation is a little complicated,  and it is absolutely critical that you get advice based on all the facts of this situation. Although the outcome may end up the same, you need some serious planning put in place, as you may have access to small business CGT rules and super rollover rules too. 
Have a property question?  <a href="mailto:%20&lt;script%20type='text/javascript'&gt;%20/n%20&lt;/script&gt;&lt;script%20type='text/javascript'&gt;%20%20&lt;/script&gt;This%20email%20address%20is%20being%20protected%20from%20spambots.%20You%20need%20JavaScript%20enabled%20to%20view%20it.%20&lt;script%20type='text/javascript'&gt;%20%20&lt;/script&gt;" target="_blank">Ask Margaret!</a>
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CGT exemption and farmland: Ask Margaret

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Hi Margaret,
I'm currently looking to get an investment property in Broken Hill for $69000 which is currently tenanted and is rented out for $180 a week.
 I want your opinion on whether or not it's a good investment as the rent from it is more then double the repayments. 
And it got tenanted within about three weeks of being advertised for rent.
Thanks,
Marcus
 
Hi Marcus,
It can be very tempting to invest in a property whereby the rent more than covers the cost of the mortgage on it. Cash flow is a very important aspect of property investing, as when a property can cover its own expenses and loan interest, then you only have to worry about getting a tenant in.
However, I urge you to think about an investment such as this one over the long term, and understand that capital growth is equally important in every investor’s strategy.
Over the past 5 years, the median value of Broken Hill has decreased by an annual compounding rate of -0.7%. Over the past 10 years it has had an average annual growth of -2.6%
Let’s imagine the next 10 years brings the same result. Your $69,000, after 10 years, would be worth $56,000, having lost for you $13,000 in that time. Sure, you haven't had to put in any money along the way, but if you have borrowed to buy this property, you are in the red by $13,000.  Even if, during that time, you paid of a chunk off the mortgage, the overall outcome has been a negative one, and not the kind of result we would like to see in a sound strategy.
In addition to being able to find a property which has a good enough rental yield to be able to cover its own expenses, the area must have growth drivers. Towns like Broken Hill have a notoriously bad track record for growth, due to itinerant population, lack of infrastructure and lack of population growth.  
When you become a property investor, price should not be the driving factor. You must also understand that growth has no relationship to the price you pay for a property. You would be far better to pay, say, $350,000 in an area that has all of the growth drivers, and get only a 5% return, than you would spend less in an area with a 10% rental return but a negative growth figure. Over time growth compounds so that, by the time you get to retirement, the property is worth far more than the bank loan on it, and the difference belongs to you. Do this often enough and you build a great net worth.
The final point to make is that, when a property loses value, your ability to leverage is also lost. Buying properties which grow means that you can, in the future, borrow against that growth to add more properties to your portfolio. When a property loses value, it’s harder to do this unless you are paying significantly more than the loss off the mortgage. If you cannot leverage into more property, then you cannot build a larger portfolio, and it’s really only through building a portfolio, rather than owning one or two properties, that you really start to see the value in property investing.
Stick to properties in areas with significant infrastructure development, a growing population and lots of families, and you will do far better with your property investing.  
Kind regards,
Margaret
Have a property question? <a href="mailto:askmargaret@propertyobserver.com.au" target="_blank">Ask Margaret!</a>
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Ask Margaret: Should I invest in a tenanted property?

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It's Brisbane, but not its apartments, according to Margaret Lomas when asked which capital city should you invest in?
She suggested Brisbane rather than any other capital city when asked by <a href="http://www.switzer.com.au/the-experts/margaret-lomas/which-capital-city-is-the-best-to-invest-in-right-now/%20" target="_blank">Peter Switzer.</a>
First she ruled out the other capital cities, Melbourne and Sydney not because "the 'boom' had gone on too long" or "that the 'cycle' told us the end was nigh" but rather because the median price has reached a point where it is well above what the average income earner can afford. 
Demand fell away as prices reached this new peak, reducing the potential buyer pool and for these markets its now become a "waiting game" for wages to "catch up".
Margaret then nixed Hobart and Perth.
Hobart because although it has been performing well, its small population and low population growth usually means it has a year or two of growth then much longer stagnation periods.
Perth is a no because even though it is likely at the bottom of it's current cycle, that doesn't mean it's going to start rising any time soon, and if it does, it won't necessarily be quick.
She says that those living in these markets shouldn't necessarily avoid investing just because they don't know the area they are investing in.
She describes this as a fallacy, a mistaken belief.
"This is because what you know about your area relates to lifestyle, not economics."
Margaret correctly states economics is king when it comes to investing.
She says, "my money’s on Brisbane, and it’s all pure economics."
This is because Brisbane is hitting several key points.
Firstly, the average house in Brisbane is still well below what the average income earner can afford.
She claims, "even without wages growth, interest rates could go up, and property prices could increase, and the average wage earner could still afford to buy property there." 
Secondly, changes to the age profile of the population in Brisbane.
Over the next 10 years it is expected to see those aged 20 to 34 move on to the next stage in life and look at buying a home of their own, according to Angie Zigomanis from BIS.
He said the emerging trend would underpin demand for new housing on Brisbane’s suburban fringe and established housing in the inner-city region.
These people will mostly qualify for the first home owner grant of $15,000 (and stamp duty concessions) which is available on many of the houses on the market, due to the high $750,000 cut off for the grant.
Then Brisbane is also benefiting from infrastructure "tons of it". New University campuses, major medical developments in both north and south suburbs, and main roads, making the commute around all parts of Brisbane easier. There’s also the Queens Wharf Precinct, Brisbane Airport Redevelopment, Brisbane Live Entertainment Arena, Northshore Hamilton and a new International Cruise Terminal, plus quite a few others.
There has been strong jobs growth in Brisbane in both the education and medical sectors, as well as improving employment figures after a few years of poor outcomes.
Strong inward migration is also projected to continue, from not only overseas but interstate migration. 
In addition, over the next 15 years, the population of Brisbane is set to double, In 2015, Brisbane’s population was approximately 2.2 million, and is expected to grow to 4.6 million by 2031.
This means that the city will require 40% more homes than it had in 2006, according to government estimates.
Margaret Lomas concludes by stating "It’s an investor’s dream, just waiting to be grabbed. Just be careful what you buy."
She warns, "apartments in the city are not the best choice, nor are high-end properties where demand is subdued. Think families, millennials and migrants, and find the kind of property that they are most likely to demand."
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Which capital city should you invest in? Margaret Lomas

Repeat buyers are one of the strongest measures of confidence in any apartment development.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a> in Newcastle West, some purchasers are returning to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> after living at the developer's One Apartments. Their decision to purchase again was driven by the quality of life they found after moving into their first GWH home.

Keith Wilton had spent years living in a house in East Maitland before deciding it was time for a change. Apartment living had always been on his radar, but he was selective about what he wanted.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FH_1EzB-1vs?si=XScVlP1ERsTDJoME" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

"I had some boxes I wanted to tick," he says.

Keith points to the open-plan design, generous outdoor areas and considered inclusions as key reasons One Apartments worked for him.

“One of those things was a nice indoor open plan area, but also I wanted a nice outdoor open area that I could entertain on in summer or Christmases or birthdays,” he says.

He also found value in the smaller details, from integrated appliances to shared resident spaces including the pool, cinema and rooftop areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356818]

After comparing several developments, he chose One Apartments because of GWH's longstanding local reputation and his own experience working with the developer on a commercial project more than a decade earlier.

"I knew that they were local, that the quality of the build was going to be up there. I'd looked at other apartment complexes around and close by, and I just knew that here was a better decision location wise."

Today, Keith says the move has completely changed how he experiences Newcastle.

"I enjoy living in this location because it's more of a lifestyle change. That Newcastle city living where you can walk to restaurants and bars and even beaches and parks and even shopping across the road."

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Beyond the location, he says it's the sense of community that has surprised him most.

"Everyone loves living here because they chose to live here, but everyone looks out for each other. It's a real great community feel here."

For Aimee and Lyle Goodman, the journey started almost by chance.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tsioMLcnjas?si=zq-ys3JuWpfa5hFv" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

The couple happened to be having coffee in Newcastle when they noticed the site where One Apartments was about to begin construction.

"We were aware GWH was planning a development," Aimee says. "We made one phone call and things moved pretty quickly after that."

As busy business owners, they initially thought apartment living would simply reduce the maintenance that came with larger homes. Instead, it fundamentally changed how they spent time together.

"We actually catch up more as a family now," Aimee says.

"We've had homes with big yards and lots of space, but everyone ended up in different rooms. Here we'll have dinner together, the kids can play, and we spend far more quality time together."

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Lyle says their confidence came from GWH's reputation within Newcastle's building industry.

"I know people who've worked across different apartment projects, and whenever GWH came up the feedback was always the same. They're rock solid. They're quality."

That confidence only grew throughout the buying process.

"One of the things that really impressed us with GWH was the whole process, was the communication," Lyle says. "It was consistent, it was regular, there was no problem if we had some weird questions, there was no problems in getting answers."

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Aimee says one moment stood out.

"The project actually finished on time. We realised we needed to hurry up and sell our house because everything was happening exactly when they said it would."

The positive experience at One Apartments ultimately gave all three buyers the confidence to purchase again with GWH, this time at ERA.

Their confidence reflects what many buyers are seeking in today's apartment market. Location remains important, but so too does certainty around delivery, quality and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356822]

ERA builds on those foundations with 280 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two landmark towers in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Newcastle West</a>.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fk-australia">Fender Katsalidis</a>, the project will include more than 2,000 square metres of resident amenities, including a resort-style pool, gym, sauna, private cinema and rooftop entertaining spaces overlooking the harbour and coastline.&nbsp;

The development is also within walking distance of the Newcastle Interchange, Honeysuckle, Darby Street, the harbour foreshore, restaurants, retail and the city’s beaches, continuing the walkable lifestyle that existing GWH buyers say has transformed how they live.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356826]

For Keith, the appeal remains straightforward.

"You feel at home even before you've moved into your home."

For Aimee, the change is measured in time.

“I just felt like I had more time,” she says.

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Construction at ERA is now underway, with more than half of the residences already sold and limited two and three-bedroom apartments remaining in the East Tower release. Priced from $980,000 for two-bedroom residences and $1.46 million for three-bedroom residences, buyers can secure an apartment with a 10 per cent deposit, with premium homes offering ocean views from Level 8 and harbour views from Level 10.

ERA is also backed by Resilience Insurance's 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing protection against structural or waterproofing defects for 10 years after completion. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135096]

Joel Robinson

From ONE to ERA: Why buyers are choosing GWH again in Newcastle West

Virgate Property Group is preparing to commence construction of Verdé, its new apartment development in Melbourne's Arts Precinct at Southbank, following a strong run of sales that has seen more than half of the project's 173 apartments secured.

Verdé has attracted a broad mix of first home buyers, owner-occupiers upgrading from nearby inner-city suburbs and investors, with younger owner-occupier couples aged between 28 and 45 accounting for the strongest enquiry. Many are already living in Southbank, South Melbourne, Albert Park, Port Melbourne, South Yarra and the CBD.

"Verdé is located in one of the most desirable pockets of southern Melbourne," Blair Property Group Director Darren Blair, who is managing sales at Verdé, said.

"It's within walking distance of the Arts Centre, Royal Botanic Gardens, Albert Park Lake, and Southbank's restaurants and retail. It's a great lifestyle location with strong amenity and liveability, which made it a very attractive choice for the project."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372549]

Virgate was already familiar with the precinct, having previously delivered the successful Domain House development in neighbouring South Melbourne. That experience gave the developer confidence to acquire the Coventry Street site and continue expanding its presence in Melbourne's inner south.

"We had been keeping an eye on the site and the broader precinct for a few months before deciding to move forward with the acquisition," Virgate said.

The project was ultimately secured in 2020 following feasibility studies, planning assessments and due diligence, with the brief centred on delivering "a high-quality, considered design that feels both refined and fit for purpose."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=314259]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bruce-henderson-architects">Bruce Henderson Architects</a>, Verdé comprises 173 one, two and three-bedroom apartments priced from $599,000. The architecture is distinguished by a faceted glass façade that responds to both the site's outlook and Melbourne's changing light conditions.

According to Bruce Henderson Architects, the coloured glazing gives the building a distinctive identity while also providing privacy and solar shading, with residences oriented to capture views across the bay, city skyline and surrounding parklands.

Inside, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/designoffice">DesignOffice</a> has created interiors focused on natural light, efficient planning and enduring materials. Apartments feature engineered oak flooring, natural stone benchtops, floor-to-ceiling glazing and SMEG appliances, while a restrained material palette aims to complement the expansive outlooks rather than compete with them.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372550]

Resident amenity has also been designed around everyday functionality rather than occasional use. Facilities include a concierge-serviced lobby, residents' lounge with fireplace, library and co-working space, gym, terrace garden with barbecue facilities, ground-floor café, and package delivery management.

The project's location continues to be one of its strongest drawcards. Positioned on Coventry Street, Verdé sits within walking distance of the National Gallery of Victoria, Arts Centre Melbourne, Royal Botanic Gardens and Albert Park Lake, while Southbank's dining precinct, Sturt Street trams and the new ANZAC Station are all nearby. The surrounding education catchment also includes Melbourne Grammar, Melbourne Girls Grammar, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School and several major university campuses.

The sales team says buyers have responded particularly well to the combination of location, design quality and long-term liveability.

"They're responding really positively to the quality of the design, premium resident amenities and the uninterrupted views. Many also appreciate the location and how connected it is to everything they need."

The ability to secure stamp duty savings before completion has also been a key factor for purchasers, alongside the opportunity to personalise finishes ahead of settlement.

With construction set to commence soon and more than half the apartments already sold, Verdé enters its next phase as one of the Arts Precinct's more established apartment developments, offering remaining buyers an opportunity to secure a residence before construction advances further. Expected completion is scheduled for late 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=4661]

Virgate's Verdé Southbank moves toward construction as sales fly past halfway stage

Downsizer-focused apartment development Kooyongkoot in Hawthorn has been recognised at the 2026 Better Future Melbourne Design Awards, taking home Gold and Silver awards in two categories.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kooyongkoot-hawthorn-1-kooyongkoot-road-hawthorn-vic-3122">Kooyongkoot</a>, currently being delivered by developer PQD and designed by Cera Stribley, received Gold in the Interior Design – Proposed category and Silver in the Architecture – Proposed category.

The dual recognition reflects the design approach behind the boutique development on prestigious Kooyongkoot Road, where the focus has been on creating homes for downsizers seeking the space, quality and functionality of a detached house within a low-rise apartment building.

Rather than maximising apartment numbers, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pqd">PQD</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cera-stribley-architects">Cera Stribley</a> limited the development to just 18 residences, allowing for larger floorplans, greater privacy, generous landscaping and expansive communal spaces.&nbsp;The majority of the apartments also benefit from corner aspects, allowing for dual sources of natural light.

Now around 70 per cent complete and on track for completion in November 2026, Kooyongkoot will comprise a mix of garden residences, ter​race apartments, sub-penthouses, and is crowned by two half-floor penthouses with direct lift access and private rooftop terraces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355297]

The Silver Award for Architecture recognised the way the building responds to its prominent corner position at the ent​rance to Hawthorn's Scotch Hill precinct, one of Melbourne's most established residential neighbourhoods.

Rather than competing with the grand homes that line Kooyongkoot Road, the architectural approach focused on restraint and longevity, using curved brickwork, generous landscaping and carefully considered proportions to integrate with the existing streetscape.

"The form feels fluid and timeless, as though shaped by the landscape itself – architecture that belongs, rather than competes," said Chris Stribley, Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Cera Stribley.

The judging submission also highlighted practical innovations throughout the building, including lift cores servicing only nine homes each, a central landscaped lightcourt designed to bring daylight and ventilation into the building, and fully enclosed private storage rooms with lighting, power and shelving to better accommodate residents transitioning from larger family homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355293]

The Gold Award for Interior Design recognised the project's focus on long-term liveability rather than display-home aesthetics.

According to the awards submission, the interiors were designed from the inside out, prioritising how homes would function over decades of daily use through generous proportions, practical storage, durable natural materials and flexible layouts.

The specification includes natural stone throughout, upgraded acoustic glazing, V-ZUG appliances and fully enclosed storage rooms, alongside an amenity offering focused on wellness, entertainment and everyday convenience.&nbsp;

Residents will have access to a gym and yoga studio, a wellness centre featuring traditional and infrared saunas, a cold therapy shower and treatment room, as well as a residents' lounge and golf simulator/cinema room for entertainment.&nbsp;Kooyongkoot has also considered the everyday convenience of its residents by offering a private carwash and pet wash facilities on site as well as dedicated parcel lockers and oversized fully enclosed storage rooms.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355303]

The project's attention to detail has already resonated with buyers. Earlier this year, Kooyongkoot recorded one of Boroondara's highest apartment sales when an $8 million penthouse was purchased by a Melbourne CEO downsizing from a nearby family home.

"Every detail feels deliberate, from the overall design down to the smallest touches," the purchaser said.

"The level of quality and refinement is exceptional, but what really sold it was how liveable it felt... It felt like a place where everything had been considered, not just a luxury building."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355304]

Sustainability also formed a key part of both award submissions. Kooyongkoot is targeting a minimum 7.5-star NatHERS rating across all residences, supported by passive design principles, high-performance glazing, EV charging infrastructure, water reuse systems and a wellness model focused on lower-energy dry facilities rather than pools and large wet areas.

Located within walking distance of Scotch College, Methodist Ladies' College, Koo​yong Lawn Tennis Club, Aubur​n Village and Camberwell Junction, Kooyongkoot continues to target owner-occupiers looking to remain in Melbourne's inner east without compromising on space or quality. A limited selection of two, three and four-bedroom residences remains available, with prices starting from $1.9 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=102717]

Kooyongkoot wins Gold and Silver at Better Future Melbourne Design Awards

New apartment supply has become increasingly constrained across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/parramatta-nsw-2150">Parramatta</a> in recent years, with fewer projects progressing through to completion as development conditions have become more challenging.

It makes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/novm">NOVM</a>'s 2021-completed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/the-lennox-parramatta-12-phillip-street-parramatta-nsw-2150">The Lennox</a> one of the most recently completed residential towers on the Parramatta River, and among the newest apartment developments in Sydney's second CBD.

With the project largely completed before the sharp escalation in construction costs and inflation following the pandemic, The Lennox is now offering pricing that would be difficult to replicate in a comparable new development in Parramatta today, or across much of Western Sydney.

The majority of the 413 apartments at The Lennox sold before and shortly after completion. A limited release of the remaining apartments has recently been brought to market by capital partner <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a>, with entry-level pricing from $700,000 and two-bedroom apartments available from under $1 million.

Rising above the Parramatta River at 12 Phillip Street, The Lennox comprises one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, appealing to first home buyers, young professionals, families, downsizers and interstate investors seeking a completed apartment in one of Australia's fastest-growing economic centres.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=372394]

Rather than positioning Parramatta as an alternative to Sydney's CBD, Equitifund believes the city has reached a point where it stands on its own merits.

"Parramatta is no longer simply an alternative to Sydney CBD, it's becoming a destination in its own right," Equitifund Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said.

"The Lennox captures that evolution with a level of quality and amenity that's difficult to match at its price point."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=953]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/marchese-partners">Marchese Partners</a>, the tower responds directly to its riverfront setting through expansive glazing and open-plan layouts that maximise views across the Parramatta River and city skyline. Interiors feature engineered timber flooring, stone benchtops, stainless steel appliances and floor-to-ceiling glazing, while generous balconies extend the living spaces outdoors.

Marchese Partners says the project was conceived to balance high-quality apartment living with practical, long-term functionality, pairing larger, efficient floorplans with amenities more commonly associated with five-star hotels.

That emphasis continues through the resident facilities, which include a 20-metre rooftop swimming pool, fully equipped gym and wellness spaces, full-time concierge, a residents' lounge, function room, private lifts, secure basement parking and rooftop communal areas overlooking the Parramatta River. Ground-floor boardwalk retail and dining further activate the riverfront and integrate the building into the surrounding public realm.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=925]

Australian housing and finance group Equitifund has secured the remaining apartments, believing there are few completed apartment opportunities in Parramatta that offer the same combination of location, amenity and pricing.

Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett says buyers are increasingly recognising that premium apartment living no longer needs to come with Sydney CBD pricing.

"The Lennox is where aspirational living becomes attainable," Hamblett said.

"Wake to river and mountain views, step into Sydney's Second CBD, and arrive home to resort-calibre amenities, all without the harbour price tag."

Hamblett says owner-occupiers are also attracted by the convenience of having Westfield Parramatta, Church Street's dining precinct, Parramatta Park, Riverside Theatres, Western Sydney University and major transport connections all within walking distance.

"At The Lennox, lifestyle is not an afterthought, it is the foundation."

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The Lennox places residents within walking distance of Parramatta Square, Westfield Parramatta, Church Street Eat Street, Parramatta Station, the ferry wharf, Light Rail, the future Sydney Metro West, Parramatta Park and CommBank Stadium, reinforcing Parramatta's position as one of Australia's most connected metropolitan centres outside Sydney's CBD.

Equitifund says buyers visiting the display suite consistently comment on the quality of the finishes, generous floorplans, river and skyline views, and the walkability of the location. The project has attracted a broad mix of local professionals, upsizers, downsizers, buyers relocating from Sydney's inner suburbs and interstate investors seeking long-term growth opportunities.

That demand aligns with Parramatta's continued evolution as an economic powerhouse. Equitifund Research and Market Insights specialist John Bekiaris says sustained population growth, infrastructure investment and expanding employment opportunities continue to support long-term housing demand across the city.

"Parramatta has evolved from a satellite city into one of Australia's most important economic centres. Population growth, infrastructure investment and employment are all supporting sustained long-term housing demand."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=5743]

The apartment price gap drawing Sydney buyers west

A luxury beachfront apartment at Rainbow Bay has more than doubled in value since it sold off the plan six years ago, setting a new local apartment record in the process.

The three-bedroom apartment in the Flow development on Petrie Street, the first of four new projects locally by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects, has sold for $7.4 million, after originally selling for $3.27 million when the project launched in 2020.

The seventh-floor apartment, comprising 187 sqm of internal living space and a 54 sqm balcony overlooking Froggies Beach and Snapper Rocks, was purchased by a local family.

The transaction was negotiated by Pezet Matheson director Kerry Pezet and equates to more than $30,000 per sqm.

Pezet said the sale reflected the limited opportunities to buy into the boutique beachfront development.

"The sale highlights the rarity of opportunities within the boutique beachfront development, where residences seldom become available," Pezet said.

"Flow is one of the Gold Coast's most tightly held buildings. Buyers from our database move quickly when residences become available, and achieving an off-market sale at $7.4 million demonstrates the depth of demand for property of this calibre."

<img alt="Flow" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c585b206-2130-4eee-a50c-3f27c51a7c70" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-06%20at%208.33.25%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=m3pHRDV62Y3fvN.XQuQHq.52ilTWpRLf" />

Flow was the first of four luxury apartment developments delivered by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects at Rainbow Bay and was completed in 2023.

Positioned on the beachfront overlooking Snapper Rocks, the residence includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a powder room and views stretching north along the coastline towards Surfers Paradise.

Pezet Matheson Residential principal Mitchell Lambert said buyers continued to prioritise quality beachfront apartments in tightly held locations.

"Flow Residences offers a rare combination of elevated beachfront positioning, architectural excellence, comprehensive resident amenity and premium finishes, which is exactly what discerning purchasers are seeking," Lambert said.

"The transaction further reinforces Rainbow Bay's reputation as one of Australia's premier coastal lifestyle destinations, where limited supply and growing demand continue to support strong market performance."

Pezet Matheson originally marketed and sold out Flow off the plan, making the latest transaction a return to one of the project's original buyers.

Paul Gedoun is selling his third project, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/radia-rainbow-bay-271-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Radia Rainbow Bay</a>, after recently completing, and selling out, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/esprit-217-227-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Esprit</a>. He has plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-s-s-projects-proposes-88-apartment-wellness-tower-at-coolangattas-boundary-street">fourth building</a>, 88 apartments on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/209-213-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Boundary Street</a>.

Margaret Lomas

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