Malaysian developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/s-p-setia">SP Setia</a> is the latest to jump into St Leonards booming Transport Oriented Development precinct.

The developer, which has previously delivered Sapphire by the Gardens apartment development in Melbourne, identified the Atchison Street site in 2023. It filed a Scoping Report around 12 months ago, and now has revealed the designs for the new&nbsp;40-storey mixed-use tower.

The State Significant Development Application covers <a href="https://next-portal.urban.com.au/projects/14650/summary">20-22 Atchison Street</a>, a 1,374 sqm site positioned between St Leonards Station and the new Crows Nest Metro station.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">COX Architecture</a>, the project would deliver 181 apartments, above a four-storey commercial podium, five basement levels, and new public domain works along Mitchell Street. The apartment mix comprises 35 one-bedroom apartments, 39 one-bedroom-plus-study apartments, 85 two-bedroom apartments, and 22 three-bedroom residences.

The proposal has been lodged as a shop-top housing development under the NSW Government’s TOD planning pathway, which allows increased density around key transport infrastructure. The site sits within the recently rezoned Crows Nest Accelerated TOD Precinct.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b799673d-48e2-46b0-801a-0e33a9330100" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20site.png?VersionId=dPh0UfwfaHpbFL1R7H1cbZNbIW0CHbCC" />

SP Setia acquired the Atchison Street site as part of its continued expansion into the Australian apartment market. In comments made to City &amp; Country (The Edge Malaysia) in 2023, SP Setia President and CEO Datuk Choong Kai Wai described the acquisition as “a strategic move” aligned with the group’s post-pandemic market recovery strategy.

“Our target for this exceptional development is local and overseas buyers, including first-home buyers, downsizers and investors,” Choong said.

The tower has been designed as a slender vertical form rising from a mixed-use podium, with COX Architecture positioning the development as a response to the evolving St Leonards and Crows Nest skyline.

“The purpose of the project is to facilitate the delivery of high-quality housing at a strategically located site and deliver a built tower outcome that is consistent with the desired future character of St Leonards and aligns with the TOD controls,” the design report stated.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b1a85eee-76f7-436c-a6da-73ba827b9b13" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20entry.png?VersionId=dA9jHGPMcm.dDbwk4QfxqWiY5bfh3UVt" />

The podium would incorporate retail uses fronting Atchison Street, commercial tenancies, landscaped communal areas, and pedestrian improvements along Mitchell Street. Vehicle access and loading would be consolidated via Atchison Lane.

Residents would have access to more than 665 sqm of communal indoor and outdoor spaces, while the development proposes 96 parking spaces across five basement levels.

The proposal also includes a commitment for 10 per cent of residential floor space to be allocated toward affordable housing through a monetary contribution.

COX said the tower form responds directly to the emerging high-density character of the precinct while seeking to maximise solar access, cross ventilation, and outlook from apartments.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2163f85c-f63b-4be3-aafa-f8763976cec5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Article%20Feature%20Image%20%28Grid%29_5.png?VersionId=WiAmtIKJ6.ZQ41EtYEQ1fol7AeorKBlL" />

“The building is orientated towards north,” the Apartment Design Guide compliance report noted, adding that the tower’s slim form was driven by the constrained inner-urban site dimensions.

The design also incorporates landscaped setbacks and communal open space at podium level, intended to soften the interface with surrounding streets and improve pedestrian amenity.

The project adds to a growing wave of redevelopment proposals reshaping St Leonards and Crows Nest following the opening of the Sydney Metro City line and the NSW Government’s push for higher-density housing around major transport nodes.

Last week Stockland filed plans just down the road. They want to build a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/601-pacific-highway-st-leonards-nsw-2065">52-storey tower on Pacific Highway</a>.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-stockland-plans-52-storey-538-apartment-st-leonards-tower">First look: Stockland plans 52-storey, 538-apartment St Leonards tower&nbsp;</a>

Joel Robinson

First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a> has revealed plans for a new mixed-use tower at 10 Dangar Street, Wickham, advancing a proposal that would reshape the southern gateway to Newcastle’s city centre with one of the city’s tallest residential buildings.

The State Significant Development proposal, now on exhibition, seeks approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/bowline-10-dangar-street-wickham-nsw-2293">43-storey tower</a> immediately adjacent to the Newcastle Interchange. The project would deliver around 200 apartments, including 42 affordable housing dwellings, alongside 99 co-living units, a 171-room hotel, retail space, and new public domain integrated through the site.

The scheme marks a significant escalation of plans previously approved for the site. Urban Property Group took over the prominent 2,904 sqm parcel, where excavation and demolition had already commenced under an earlier consent for a 14-storey mixed-use development.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="58a96dd9-407f-4d20-86b4-94e4bfeef74b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20podium.png?VersionId=LGlf08pdFGAZDzvx_CXC4XakHNZRuEE0" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, the tower has been conceived as a landmark transit-oriented development anchored to the Newcastle Interchange precinct. The proposal includes 245 build-to-sell apartments across a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom residences, as well as two penthouses. Fifteen apartments and one operational unit are earmarked for NDIS housing. The co-living component would add a further 99 units, while the podium would accommodate retail uses and hotel facilities.

SJB said the site presents “a valuable opportunity to anchor the precinct by setting the standard for design, active ground planes and character at the key southern gateway.”

The architecture responds directly to the site’s position beside major transport infrastructure and within one of Newcastle’s fastest-evolving urban renewal precincts. The tower form sits above a sculpted podium designed to frame new public spaces, including a through-site pedestrian link connecting Station Street to Hannell Street, landscaped plazas, and activated retail edges.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a7bd6ff0-f7db-4ce8-a6dc-ea56e72c6149" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20lanne.png?VersionId=xzf39VADyhj7zBQY2I9fx9vI62u2tuSb" />

The design report describes the project as part of the broader transition of Wickham into “a vibrant, high-quality mixed-use urban precinct” that leverages proximity to the station, open space, and regional connectivity.

A detailed public art strategy has also been prepared for the development. The strategy positions the project as “a transit-oriented development of state significance at the gateway to Newcastle’s city centre” and outlines a series of integrated artworks responding to Newcastle’s industrial and transport heritage.

Creative Road’s curatorial framework for the project, titled Unveil, draws on “stratified surfaces, carved volumes, and light-filled apertures” while referencing Newcastle’s transformation from an industrial city into a contemporary education and technology hub.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="77a882bb-14b1-4d28-99ff-9438e39508c0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20site.png?VersionId=cevgo_vN0eKPK78P8YcEu3mKPLkpFqE7" />

The proposal is being advanced through the NSW Housing Delivery Authority pathway after being declared State Significant Development in June 2025. The accompanying scoping report states the development aims to “maximise the site’s proximity to the Newcastle Interchange by delivering transit-oriented development” while increasing housing supply and affordable housing provision within the Newcastle LGA.

Urban Property Group’s plans align with the long-term strategic vision established under the Wickham Master Plan, which identified the interchange precinct as suitable for substantial uplift in height and density. The current proposal would significantly intensify that vision, positioning the tower among the tallest developments proposed for Newcastle.

The site sits immediately north of the Newcastle Interchange, bounded by Dangar Street, Hannell Street, and Charles Street. It is surrounded by a rapidly growing cluster of residential towers and mixed-use projects that have emerged following the completion of the light rail and transport interchange.

First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s latest tower at Wickham interchange

Bottega House has completed settlement of a landmark riverfront site in Macquarie Street, St Lucia, representing its first major Brisbane development.&nbsp;

Positioned on the banks of the Brisbane River, the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/180-macquarie-street-st-lucia-qld-4067">premium site at 180 Macquarie Street</a> features uninterrupted river frontage in one of Brisbane’s most tightly held residential precincts.&nbsp;

The proposed development, currently under assessment with Brisbane City Council, has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/plus-studio">Plus Studio</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/mim-design">Mim Design</a> and will deliver a boutique collection of premium residences positioned specifically for owner occupiers and downsizers.&nbsp;

The residences are set to redefine luxury apartment living in the area, with a focus on architectural quality, refined finishes, landscape integration and elevated amenities including curated wellness facilities, resort-style pools and recreation spaces rarely seen in the local market.&nbsp;

Exclusive sales for the project will be led by Keenan &amp; Byrne, ahead of an anticipated launch later this year.&nbsp;

Bottega House Managing Director Nick Malloch said the project reflects the group’s ambition to deliver a highly curated residential offering within one of Brisbane’s most tightly held precincts.&nbsp;

“This is an incredibly rare riverfront opportunity and one we have approached with a long-term perspective,” Malloch said.&nbsp;

“Our vision from the outset was to create a boutique collection of residences that feel more like private homes than traditional apartments, with generous proportions, refined finishes and exceptional amenity throughout."

Malloch says there is a&nbsp;lack of premium owner-occupier stock of this quality in the market, particularly for downsizers wanting space, privacy and a true lifestyle offering without compromise.&nbsp;

"Demand is expected to be strong given the scarcity of premium riverfront opportunities of this nature within Brisbane’s inner-west."&nbsp;

Bottega House secures landmark riverfront site in St Lucia 

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The arrival of the first piling rig officially marks the commencement of construction at SIERA’s new beachside apartment development, Exhale, in Northcliffe.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/exhale-surfers-paradise-8-enderley-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Exhale</a>, a glass-encased tower featuring 54 large-scale apartments at 8 Enderley Avenue, is SIERA’s third Gold Coast development. It follows the recently completed PIPIS Bilinga beachfront project, which achieved suburb-record prices, and the soon-to-be-completed Chevron Island development, Tapestry.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359603]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/siera">SIERA</a> Founder and Managing Director Brent Thompson said the arrival of the piling rig represented a significant milestone for the development, which is scheduled for completion in late 2028.

Over the next month, around 260 piles are expected to be installed as work progresses on the basement structure. The building is anticipated to rise above ground level early next year, before unveiling its sculptural glass curtain wall, developed in collaboration with specialist façade engineers.

“The façade was designed to maximise panoramic coastal views while creating a distinctive architectural identity,” Thompson said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=355935]

Designed by BDA Architecture, Exhale will comprise just 54 two- and three-bedroom residences across 26 levels, a level of low-density living rarely delivered in this beachside pocket between Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.

The project has been conceived as a resident-only building, with no short-stay accommodation permitted. SIERA says the model is intended to appeal to long-term owner-occupiers rather than transient holiday demand.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=361052]

Residences have been designed with large-format layouts and expansive glazing, with most apartments featuring more than 30 metres of glass frontage to maximise natural light and ocean views.

The amenity offering spans two levels and centres on wellness and lifestyle, including a heated magnesium pool, sauna, yoga and Pilates studio, gymnasium, private dining facilities, cinema lounge, and dedicated surfcraft storage.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359607]

More than half of the apartments have already sold. SIERA has also opened a sales gallery for Exhale at its Chevron Island commercial premises, near its Tapestry tower and the site of its second Chevron Island apartment development, which is slated to launch in early 2027.
</section>
</section>

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112661]

SIERA kicks off construction at Northcliffe tower Exhale

Local Little Bay residents, along with buyers from premium postcodes across Sydney’s affluent Eastern Suburbs, have dominated purchases in developer-builder Urban Property Group’s first Eastern Suburbs apartment development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/este-little-bay-jennifer-street-little-bay-nsw-2036">ESTE Little Bay</a>.

The $250 million coastal project, one of the first new developments in the area in several years, has proven particularly popular with downsizers, especially those from Coogee and Bondi. One Double Bay downsizer paid $4.7 million for a four-bedroom penthouse, setting a new local apartment price record in the process.

Buyers have been attracted to the combination of coastal tranquillity, premium design and amenity-rich neighbourhood living. The walkable village setting, along with proximity to three of Sydney’s leading golf courses, New South Wales Golf Club, St Michael’s Golf Club and The Coast Golf Club, has also been a key drawcard.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112343 project_image_fid=352689]

Built across two low-rise buildings designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hill-thalis-architecture-urban-projects-pty-ltd">Hill Thalis</a> and set along a lush, landscaped green spine, designed by leading landscape architect <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/arcadia-landscape-architecture">Arcadia</a>, ESTE Little Bay offers a collection of one, two, three and four-bedroom residences with interiors by Richards Stanisich.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a> Sales Director, Tom McIvor said the response to ESTE has been "nothing short of extraordinary."

“Buyers have been quick to recognise ESTE as a rare opportunity to invest in a coastal sanctuary that offers both seclusion and connectivity to the heart of Sydney,” McIvor said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112343 project_image_fid=352687]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/srm-residential">SRM Residential</a> Senior Director, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/srm-residential">Clayton Ross</a> said the local market has responded incredibly well, driven by ESTE’s exceptional location and the rarity it offers.

“We’ve seen strong interest from a variety of buyer groups, all of whom are drawn to the exclusivity and quality of the build and construction by the 4.5-star iCIRT-rated builder / developer, Urban Property Group. There’s truly nothing else like it along Sydney’s coastline.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112343 project_image_fid=352690]

The project also includes robust buyer protections, including Resilience Insurance’s Latent Defects Insurance, providing 10 years of structural cover, and an independent iCIRT-rating of the developer.

“The iCIRT-rating adds another layer of confidence,” Ross added. “Buyers see it as a safeguard for their investment and their lifestyle.” A highlight of ESTE’s offering is its exclusive wellness amenities, including a heated rooftop infinity pool and outdoor heated spa, a state-of-the-art Technogym fitness centre, and a sauna.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/este-little-bay-jennifer-street-little-bay-nsw-2036">ESTE Little Bay</a> is topped out and is on track to complete towards the end of 2026, with residents moving in before Christmas.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112343]

Eastern Suburbs buyers snap up ESTE Little Bay apartments

Sydney’s property market is known for high prices, competitive bidding, and mounting pressure on first home buyers. But change is on the horizon.

From late 2025, eligible first home buyers in New South Wales will have access to a new federal government initiative aimed at addressing affordability: the Help to Buy Scheme.&nbsp;

<h2>What is the Help to Buy Scheme?</h2>

The program introduces a shared equity model intended to reduce the upfront cost of entering the property market, particularly in high-demand urban areas such as Sydney.

The scheme operates under a shared ownership structure in which the federal government takes an equity stake of up to 40 per cent for new homes, or 30 per cent for existing dwellings. This arrangement allows eligible buyers to significantly reduce their loan size and avoid the added cost of Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).

Under this model, purchasers can enter the property market with as little as a two per cent deposit, well below the traditional 10 to 20 per cent usually required. The government’s contribution is not a loan but a co-ownership stake in the property. As such, there is no interest or rent charged on its portion.

Because the government’s equity combined with the buyer’s deposit typically meets or exceeds the 20 per cent threshold, LMI does not apply. The remaining balance, generally between 60 and 70 per cent of the property’s value, is financed through a standard home loan with a participating lender.

The government's equity in the property remains in place until the buyer chooses to repay it voluntarily or until the property is sold. Buyers can buy back the government’s share over time, in increments of at least five per cent, depending on their financial situation.

There is no fixed repayment timeline, but the amount to be repaid will be based on the property's market value at the time of repayment, not the original purchase price.

<h2>How do you qualify for the&nbsp;Help to Buy Scheme?</h2>

To qualify for the Help to Buy Scheme, applicants must meet the following conditions:

<ul>
	<li>Be an Australian citizen at least 18 years of age.</li>
	<li>Be a first-home buyer who does not currently own property.</li>
	<li>Intend to live in the property as their primary residence.</li>
	<li>Earn less than $100,000 per year for individuals, or $160,000 for couples.</li>
	<li>Purchase a property within the regional price caps, currently $950,000 in Sydney, though this is expected to rise to approximately $1.3 million ahead of the program’s launch.</li>
</ul>

While the Help to Buy Scheme does not solve affordability challenges across the board, it does offer a more accessible pathway for a defined segment of the market, particularly younger buyers with moderate incomes who have been priced out of traditional lending routes.

The scheme is expected to commence in NSW in late 2025, as part of a national rollout.

Under the new model, purchasers can enter the property market with as little as a two per cent deposit, well below the traditional 10 to 20 per cent usually required

Help to Buy Scheme: What first home buyers in NSW need to know

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Those of us in the SMSF sector who hoped that property spruikers would be driven out of the industry, and thankfully it’s the vast majority, have been sorely disappointed.
When the spruikers first realised that the combination of leverage and SMSFs were an ideal vehicle for pushing residential sales in a bullish property market, irrespective of the merits of the asset or how it fitted into a trustee’s portfolio, the anticipation was that the regulators would step in and end this questionable behaviour.
I am the first to admit the regulators have issued warning after warning about the practice, and the media has given it wide coverage, but it has had little or no effect. There still seems to be more spruikers than you find at a country fair.
I have had my own first-hand experience dealing with spruikers several years ago when I was asked to assist a Gold Coast property group with a series of workshops where my role was to explain the compliance requirements in running an SMSF.
That was my specific brief – trustee education. But it soon became evident that was not what the property group had in mind. They were there to sell property, by fair means or foul, to the trustees, with my role to give the sordid little sales pitch a semblance of respectability as an SMSF specialist. The moment I saw there were no qualified financial planners there to give holistic advice on any purchase, I realised our values were not aligned and took my leave. But not before giving the organisers a piece of my mind!
It is practices such as this that are bringing into question the legitimacy of SMSFs to use leverage – limited recourse borrowing arrangements (LRBAs) to be technical – as part of their investment strategy. There is no better evidence of this than the fact the Financial System Inquiry has firmly put it on the agenda in its draft report by posing the following policy option – “restore the general prohibition on direct leverage of superannuation funds on a prospective basis” – for further discussion. In the view of many in the industry, a ban on leverage is a lay-down misère. 
In my opinion leverage does have a role to play in an SMSF. Considering less than 1% of assets in their portfolios are LRBAs, it’s hard to argue that trustees have been borrowing with their ears pinned back, although their use is undoubtedly increasing.
What needs to happen is for lenders to get a statement of advice about using a LRBA, or, at the very least, some evidence that they have sought appropriate financial advice before pursuing this strategy.
There are any number of items trustees need to consider, such as anticipated time to retirement, fund liquidity and the ability for the fund to pay a pension to its members, and life insurance – so that the fund can pay out death benefit payments without the need to sell the property.
LRBAs are complicated investments and need to be treated with caution. As a rule of thumb, recognising there can and will be exceptions, it’s not a strategy I endorse for those in the pension phase when the name of the game for most trustees is capital preservation.
Like everyone else in the industry I will be waiting with bated breath to see what the FSI recommends. Even if it does suggest an outright ban, the final decision will rest with the federal government that promised no adverse changes to superannuation in this parliamentary term.
Whatever the outcome, what remains deeply frustrating for all professional advisors is how a rogue minority continues to wag the industry’s tail on this issue.
Olivia Long is CEO of <a href="https://www.superguardian.com.au/" target="_blank">SuperGuardian</a> and <a href="https://www.xpresssuper.com.au/" target="_blank">Xpress Super</a>.
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Property spruikers cast a long shadow over the SMSF industry

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Savills have advised clients on what they see as the four advantages of utilising SMSF for direct commercial property investment, in preference to other asset classes.
<ol>
<li>Commercial property is one of the few assets that can be bought by an SMSF from its members. Your SMSF can potentially buy your own business premises and then you can pay rent to your SMSF. A residential property, on the other hand, cannot be lived in by a fund member or any fund members’ related parties, nor can it be rented by a fund member of any fund members’ related parties.  </li>
<li>
The MoneySmart website details the strict rules against using borrowed funds to make improvements to residential property that forms an asset in your SMSF portfolio, so don’t even think about buying a renovators’ delight. This can severely limit potential capital gains as you cannot renovate it to increase its value. In contrast, an investment such as a bulk storage unit or warehouse has very low capital expenditure requirements. 
</li>
<li>Commercial leases are typically for a longer period than residential leases – usually around five years with a further option for another five years with incremental rental increases built into the lease. If you choose the right property and tenants with stable businesses which are unlikely to be adversely affected by an economic downturn you won’t have to deal with a regular turnover of tenants and can rely on a steady rental return.  </li>
<li>Many industrial properties are purely functional in design and construction, so there is less concern about tenants maintaining them or investors having to pay for costly renovations, which is often the case with residential property investments. That said, it’s important to ensure any essential, expensive upgrades, such as those required to meet new fire safety or health and safety standards, have already been carried out before investing in a commercial premise.</li>
</ol>
Visit the <a href="https://www.asic.gov.au/" target="_blank" title="Australian Securities and Investments Commission ASIC">Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)</a> website to familiarise yourself thoroughly with all the rules and regulations surrounding SMSFs and property investment.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Four reasons why commercial and industrial property suits SMSFs: Savills

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Self-managed superannuation funds allocated almost twice as much of their assets to residential property in 2013 compared with the year before, a report into the funds has found.
The fourth annual Intimate with Self-Managed Superannuation report found that 9.9% of SMSF assets were held in residential property last year, up from 5.6% in 2012. The increase came as fund members reduced their cash allocations to 31% of total assets, down from 33.9% of assets held in cash in 2012.
The report, released at the SMSF Professionals’ Association of Australia (SPAA) conference in Brisbane recently, revealed that one third of SMSF trustees plan to consider investing in residential property through their super fund.
More than two thirds of SMSF trustees who invest in property are self-directed in their decision to do so, however many people do seek advice from financial planners or accountants, particularly regarding the loan structures that super funds can use to borrow for investing, known as limited recourse borrowing arrangements.
However the report, which was commissioned by fund manager Russell Investments and SPAA, and produced by research house CoreData, found that fewer financial advisers intend to offer assistance in on limited recourse borrowing arrangements in future.
While almost half of financial advisers surveyed had previously advised SMSF trustees on the rules on borrowing through SMSFs, only 7.7% planned to provide advice in that area in future. Almost 30% of advisers surveyed had never given advice on limited recourse borrowing arrangements.
The report’s findings on property investment were at odds with the latest Australian Taxation Office statistics, which showed that in September 2013, only $18.6 billion or 3.5% of the total $531.5 billion held in SMSF assets were held in residential property.
<a href="mailto:news@propertyobserver.com.au" target="_blank">news@propertyobserver.com.au</a>
           
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zfielding-GvX3Uq9KTa

SMSF residential property allocation nearly doubles over 2013

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The government’s proposed changes to superannuation are likely to impact on the most satisfied account holders, the latest Roy Morgan Research Superannuation Satisfaction report suggests.
The government proposes a <a target="_blank" href="/news">tax of 15% on super income above $100,000 per annum</a> from July 1 2014, which is expected to impact on around 16,000 super funds with income-earning assets (such as property) of around $ 2 million or more – assuming a return of 5%.
Many of these 16,000 super funds are likely to be self-managed super funds.
According to Roy Morgan, over the six months to January, self-managed super funds, which have a growing proportion of their assets in direct property, remain the clear leader with a 72.2% financial performance satisfaction rating.
And satisfaction with the performance of SMSFS has been rising since about September last year.
In comparison, satisfaction with other fund types, where members have less control, has been declining since the GFC and continues fall.
Industry funds are a distant second with a satisfaction rating of 48.7% with retail funds further back (41.9%).
The results of the survey suggest on overall high-level of dissatisfaction with super fund performance with the satisfaction rating for financial performance of superannuation across all types of funds in the six months to January 2013 of just 46.6%.
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The survey also found that satisfaction with financial performance of superannuation increases the bigger the super balance.
The highest satisfaction rating (65.7%) was for funds with balances higher than $500,000 with the satisfaction decline to 56.9% for funds with balances from $250,000 to $499,999; to 48.7% for fund with balances from $100,000 to $249,999 and to just 43.7% for funds with balances under $100,000.
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The findings are based on over 30,000 interviews with people with superannuation.
“Our research shows that although there is a strong correlation between satisfaction with superannuation financial performance and the amount in super, the issue regarding who manages the super also has a major impact,” says Norman Morris, industry communications director at Roy Morgan Research.
“It appears that satisfaction with superannuation has a lot to do with the level of engagement, which is higher among self-managed funds and higher balances. “The poor satisfaction levels of Retail Funds across all balance levels obviously are of concern, considering that financial planners are more likely to direct their clients to them,” he says.
Photo by Martin Howard, courtesy of Flickr.
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SMSF satisfaction rates soar above disgruntled retail and industry fund members: Roy Morgan 

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An Australian Securities and Investments Commission report warns that while most advice given to SMSFs was "adequate" there were "pockets of poor advice".
Most of the poor pockets of advice arose from aggressive advertisements urging ill-suited investors to start a DIY fund and borrow to invest in real estate inside the fund.
"In the right hands, SMSFs can be very effective retirement savings vehicles," ASIC says.
"In the wrong hands, however, SMSFs can be high-risk.
"We do not want to see SMSFs become the vehicle of choice for property spruikers. Where we see examples of unlicensed SMSF advice, or misleading marketing, we will be taking regulatory action," ASIC commissioner Peter Kell says.
As the restrictions around borrowing to invest in real estate through a SMSF had been relaxed over recent years, ASIC noted the emergence of property spruikers touting the tax advantages of holding property inside superannuation's low tax environment.
Self-managed super funds represent the fastest growing superannuation sector in Australia, with $439 billion assets held by funds. 
Since their official introduction in 1999, the number of SMSFs has grown strongly with SMSFs now accounting for a third of total superannuation assets in Australia, with $439 billion in funds under management.
As at 30 June 2012, there were over 478,000 SMSFs, with approximately 913,550 members.
Kell said ASIC had ramped up its attention given its growing importance to more Australian investors.
"We want to help ensure that we have a healthy SMSF sector. "The decision to establish an SMSF is one of the most significant steps an investor can take in relation to their retirement savings.
"It involves taking greater personal responsibility for retirement investments.
"ASIC therefore wants to make sure those investors can be confident they can obtain good quality advice through gatekeepers such as accountants and financial planners," Kell said. "At the very least, investors need to understand the time, resources, compliance obligations and risks associated with do-it-yourself superannuation, before moving their superannuation savings out of an APRA-regulated environment," he said. ASIC conducted a review of over 100 investor files relating to the establishment of an SMSF considered to be in higher risk categories. "While most advice provided was rated as adequate there were pockets of poor advice," it found.
The majority of files we reviewed had a fund balance of $150,000 or less and included some, or all, of the following features:
 (a) older members (i.e. members at, or close to, retirement age); (b) members with a low income; (c) borrowing; and (d) investment in a single asset class (e.g. real property).
ASIC found issues in the following areas:
<ul type="disc">
<li>advice was not sufficiently tailored to the needs of the investor </li>
<li>replacement product disclosure was absent or inadequate </li>
<li>insurance recommendations were absent or inadequate </li>
<li>an inappropriate single asset class was provided to investors </li>
<li>suitable alternatives to an SMSF were not considered, and </li>
<li>there was inadequate consideration of the investor’s long-term retirement planning objectives. </li>
</ul>
 Kell said that ASIC is also particularly concerned about the rise in aggressive advertisements pushing property purchases through SMSFs. "We do not want to see SMSFs become the vehicle of choice for property spruikers.
"Where we see examples of unlicensed SMSF advice, or misleading marketing, we will be taking regulatory action." 
ASIC established an SMSF taskforce in September 2012 in response to an increase in geared investment strategies, increasingly aggressive advertising and the collapse of Trio and the subsequent Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services’ inquiry. 
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ASIC states retirement incomes at risk from some SMSF property spruikers

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The federal government’s off again, on again super tax grab has likely done irreparable damage to public confidence in Australia’s superannuation system and simultaneously created the likelihood of a future lose-lose environment for up to 50% of self-managed super funds.  
Many more Australian super fund holders will be hit both in short and long term bull and bear markets than the government has conceded and the short term ‘cash grab’ nature of this proposed legislation has ridden roughshod over much needed long term vision which will short change Australia of future infrastructure investment.  
<a target="_blank" href="/news">Whilst the government has argued it will only target super funds with balances of $2 million or more</a>, funds with just a quarter of this figure may in better years accrue earnings revenue that easily exceeds the $100,000 cap and therefore be subject to the punitive higher rate of tax. Case in point is the significant positive upturn seen in the Australian share market which over the last 12 months has exceeded the 20% growth necessary for someone with an investment balance of $500,000 in their super to see a return of $100,000 or more if cashed out for retirement purposes or to pay out home loans.  
Furthermore, for someone hitting the age of 60 there is now a strong likelihood of living a further 30 years and given the cyclical nature of investments many self-funded pensioners could see themselves selling down portfolios when entering downward markets only to be hit with taxes to safeguard their retirement funds. Conversely when they buy back in and in the next cycle sell will be hit with further taxes.  
This means the possibility of four to six tax penalties over their remaining life.  
The government’s lack of foresight will create a lose-lose situation whereby people entering retirement on this figure will over the next 30 years likely see their retirement fund slashed with cyclical downward directions and and then when the market corrects itself they will get slugged again. The super cash grab tax will not just hurt retirees but also small business owners wanting to sell their businesses  
In the current regime small business concessions allow business owners to roll between $500,000 and $1,200,000 of profits from sale of business into superannuation. Given this will automatically be subject to potentially higher tax, business owners are likely to reconsider where they put their funds and look instead at more risky mechanisms than the current relative safety of their super. The hot spots for proposed legislative changes will now see the possibility of the business owner having to pay more tax if they invest through superannuation than if investing outside.  
This is completely at odds with the purpose of superannuation. Small business, property owners and self-funded retirees are the hardest hit again. The compulsory contributions increase from 9% to 12% over time, younger Australians who indubitably will accumulate substantial funds in their super will find themselves in the $500,000 target ‘super pool’ many years before retirement.  
With approximately 50% of self-managed super funds having a balance between $200,000 and $1,000,000 (many more than advertised) hard working Australians will be hit by this regressive impost over time. We could even see the hard work of many experts that have successfully pushed financial literacy into the school curriculum negatively impacted by the constant change in what should be long term and stable financial legislation.  
The industry has talked about a class divide, but the reality is that here we have a government setting itself up against small business, property investors and SMSF trustees as well as every day Australians. This is almost a silent push to get people out of super, which is ironic given it was the same party that introduced the compulsive scheme in the first instance.  
Equally concerning is the lack of government acknowledgement, let alone vision, for the potential of wide scale super fund investment in domestic infrastructure projects, with the heads of large super funds readily admitting that they have funds to invest but no dedicated infrastructure assets in which to invest thanks to the government’s short-sightedness.  
There is no shortage of capital to invest and as a properly managed tool for the future, super should be a mechanism for large scale capital investments that deliver tangible community benefits. For example super funds could be invested into a national first time buyer mortgage scheme which would help many Australians get onto the property ladder and over the long term bridge the growing property gap.  
We should be thinking in terms of abundance instead of scarcity, but sadly the government can’t see can’t see the forest from the trees.  
National Property, Business Tax Accounting and Wealth Advisory Group Chan &amp; Naylor supports the Business Council of Australia’s call to action for the current and future governments to end short-term political fixes in favour of substantial economic reform.
Ken Raiss is a certified accountant and director of <a target="_self" href="https://www.chan-naylor.com.au/" title="Chan &amp; Naylor " rel="nofollow">Chan &amp; Naylor</a> national accounting firm. Chan &amp; Naylor offers a free five-minute question-and-answer session on its website under the<a target="_blank" href="https://www.chan-naylor.com.au/ask-the-experts/" rel="nofollow"> "Ask the Experts" section.</a>
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Government's SMSF changes a lose-lose situation for many funds: Ken Raiss

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The proposed changes to super rules announced by the federal government last week will hit the back pockets of ordinary pensioners with small super balances not just those with property-laden self-managed super funds.
Federal treasurer Wayne Swan <a target="_blank" href="/news">announced that from July 1 2014</a>, earnings above $100,000 will be taxed at the same concessional rate of 15% that applies to earnings in the accumulation phase.
Swan said this would impact on just 16,000 account holders and result in a fairer superannuation system.
However, the announcement also included the extension of normal deeming rules to superannuation account-based income streams for the purposes of the age pension income test.
“Under the change announced today, standard pension deeming arrangements will apply to new superannuation account-based income streams assessed under the pension income test rules after 1 January 2015,” said Swan.
“All products held by pensioners before 1 January 2015 will be grandfathered indefinitely and continue to be assessed under the existing rules for the life of the product so no current pensioner will be affected, unless they choose to change products.
According to financial planner Phil Clinton the changes to deeming rules will mean that a single person with a modest pension of $150,000 will receive $26 less per week.
Speaking to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.2gb.com/article/pensioners-be-hit-hard-new-superannuation-rules">Ross Greenwood on 2GB</a>, Clinton, from Halcyon Wealth Advisers, explained that in the past if you had your money in an allocated pension – the next phase after accumulating it in a super fund – you would not be deemed to have earned anything from that fund and could claim a full pension.
“That was the benefit of having your money in that pension fund,” he said.
But under the proposed extension of deeming rules, from January 1 2015 the first $45,400 will be deemed to earn income at 2.5% and anything above that at a rate of 4%.
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
Clinton provided the example of someone with a modest super fund worth a $150,000, who owns their own home (which is exempt from the asset test) and have bank accounts plus some home contents, which add up to less than $192,500 – the assets limit for a single homeowner before the age pension reduces.
“[Under the proposed changes] they are deemed to get 2.5% on the first $45,400, which equals $1,135 and the remaining $104,600 is deemed at 4%, which equals $4,185.
“So a pension would be deemed to earn a total of $5,319 that that they previously would not have earned.
“Currently they receive a full pension if their income does not exceed $152 a fortnight.
“Under this rule they will be deemed to have earned $204.57 per fortnight
“The pension reduces by 50 cents for every dollar over the $152 limit, so they will lose $26.28 per fortnight in pension,” said Clinton.
Clinton acknowledged the federal government's statement that products held by pensioners before January 1 2015 would be grandfathered indefinitely but said the key words were “for the life of the product”.
That he said was “the kicker”.
“What happens if you change from one allocated pension to another, you are now in a separate product?
“We don’t know for sure but they may remove the grandfathering in that case.”
As of March this year, a single person eligible for the full age pension can now expect an annual income of around $21,020.
A couple is eligible for around $31,700.
 
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Pensioners not just property-laden SMSFs to be hit by super changes: financial planner

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The release of a report this week shows self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) are more expensive to run than once thought.
The Rice Warner report into SMSFs found that if you have $500,000 and more in a self managed fund, it is cost-competitive with public funds, but if you have between $200,000 and $500,000 in assets, the financial viability depends on how much administration work you can do yourself and whether you need advice in investing.
The costs that large funds spread across thousands of members and billions of dollars have to be met by each SMSF. They include annual audits, tax lodgements, investment arrangements, advice, administration and legal costs.
SMSFs are favoured by professionals and business owners who are confident with financial responsibility, want control over their wealth and typically want direct ownership of property. SMSFs are also popular with retirees who take an active interest in running their affairs.
One third of all Australian superannuation assets are held in these funds.
However, control is one thing: you also have to make sufficient returns to live in retirement. If your fund costs are greater than your returns, you are not doing yourself any favours.
Luckily, there are other ways of gaining control of super while avoiding the headache of SMSFs.
For a start, you could ensure that you understand every option in your current fund’s portfolio. Control can start with becoming informed about which particular investment option you should be in.
If the choices aren’t there, look around: many public superannuation funds now offer options such as cash, term deposits and direct shares. So people may be going to the extra cost of establishing an SMSF when their preferred options are available in a public fund.
One of the real advantages of an SMSF is the access you get to direct property. Recent rule changes allow superannuation funds to borrow to buy property which has seen property promoters push SMSFs as a way of buying property. However, superannuation is just a tax structure. The investment decision must still follow fundamentals: does this investment give you the required income in retirement?
For conservative retirement savers, taking more control outside an SMSF could involve public products that invest in cash and bonds, to give a similar risk profile to cash but a higher return.
I mention this because around 29% of all SMSF investments are held in cash, even though conservative retirement savers can find security in a retail environment without having to administer their own super fund.
And don’t forget to calculate the insurance benefits in a public fund. Generally the life and TPD premiums are lower in a super fund than can be sourced through a SMSF.
A final word: in the end, super assets must compound in value and (after fees) at least outstrip inflation. If you want to be in a self-managed fund, you must ensure that the costs don’t inhibit the point of the exercise, which was to have enough money to live well in retirement.

<hr>
Mark Bouris is executive chairman of <a href="https://www.ybr.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yellow Brick Road</a>, a financial services company offering home loans, financial planning, accounting and tax, and insurance.
You can contact Mark on <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/markbouris" rel="nofollow">Twitter</a>.
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SMSFs are more expensive to run than first thought: Mark Bouris

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Australia’s superannuation system, the fourth largest in the world, is huge and growing.
The total assets held in superannuation accounts in Australia are currently worth 100% of annual GDP. By 2033, Deloitte reports that will grow to 180% of GDP – an extraordinary savings pool for a country with historically low savings rates.
Accountancy Deloitte has, for the past six years, been conducting an annual overview of the sector, and how it is meeting Australia’s retirement needs.
The latest report, <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.deloitte.com/assets/Dcom-Australia/Local%20Assets/Documents/Industries/Financial%20services/Deloitte_Dynamics_of_Superannuation_2013_report.pdf">released yesterday</a>, is a fascinating glimpse into how the money that leaves our weekly pay cheque will end up serving us. Here are four gems from Deloitte’s report.
How much you need to retire comfortably
Going on current life expectancy rates, Deloitte has calculated how much super you need to retire with a ‘modest’ or ‘comfortable’ lifestyle.
For men aged 65 today, they need $330,000 in superannuation to fund themselves to the tune of a ‘modest’  $22,654 every year. For women, who generally live slightly longer, they need $360,000 in superannuation assets to pay out the same amount every year.
For those who want a ‘comfortable’ lifestyle in retirement, the figures are nearly double. A man requires $590,000 to pay themselves $41,197 a year, while women need to have $660,000 in superannuation assets for the same.
But most people don’t have anywhere near that
For most Australians nearing retirement, these figures are far, far more than they currently have in their superannuation balances.
According to the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia, the average male 60-64 year old has $85,000 in superannuation assets. For women, who on average live longer, the disparity is even more stark – most have just $59,000 in superannuation assets.
For those slightly older – the 65-69 year olds, some of whom are already in retirement – the figures are worse. Men in that age group have, on average, $77,000 in superannuation assets while women have $55,000.
For those who have lived only a few decades under the current superannuation regime, there is no way they will have enough in their balances to fund their retirement, Deloitte notes. They will have to rely on the aged pension instead.
As the report’s author, Deloitte partner Wayne Walker, puts it, “despite the $7.6 trillion asset pool we project for 2033, [the potential of superannuation] to generate wealth and prosperity may well bat risk for the average Australian”.
“Many Australians now approaching retirement have only received super for a limited portion of their working lives as our system is still maturing.”
“The concern is that current policy settings, including changes to caps and drawdowns, and the SG 12% increase, will not deliver the lifestyle that the majority of those retiring in the next 20 years are seeking. The reality is that many Australians will need to work longer and where possible contribute more.
“To that end our report projects the possibility of Australians deferring retirement by two and five years respectively. The results are significant.”
 For Gen X, the situation is better
For those who’ve worked most of their life paying money into superannuation, the system is working, but not perfectly.
For a statistically average 30 year old working currently on $60,000 a year (the average income for people of that age), Deloitte estimates they’ll retire with $1.1 million in superannuation.
Given rising inflation, Deloitte thinks this’ll be enough to support themselves until they’re 94, but only on a ‘modest’ retirement. If this worker choses a ‘comfortable’ retirement, the $1.1 million will last them only until they’re 77. To have a comfortable retirement that doesn’t run out, Deloitte thinks that worker will need $1.6 million in superannuation assets if male, or $1.8 million if female.
Superannuation hasn’t recovered from the GFC
The financial crisis, which began in 2009, had a huge impact on Australia’s superannuation assets, eclipsing that of recent economic crises such as the dot-com crash.
Deloitte sees the superannuation asset pool remaining below GFC levels until 2016 (see graph), highlighting how much of a setback it was to the balances of millions of Australians, particularly those about to retire.
<img style="max-width: 540px; max-height: 480px;" width="470" height="355" src="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/images/stories/news/super-picture-540-408.jpg" alt="super-picture-540-408">
Industry funds as popular as SMSF
For much of the past few years, self-managed superannuation funds have <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/finance/057570-asic-warns-smsf-trustees-when-it-comes-to-fraud-you-re-on-your-own">grown strongly in numbers</a>. But in the years to 2033, Deloitte expects industry funds to grow just as fast. Ultimately, most people move from industry funds to SMSFs as they retire.
Over the past year, growth in SMSFs has slowed, Deloitte notes. This reflects the reduction in concessional contribution limits and product innovation in industry and retail funds, which have blunted the advantages of SMSFs.
 
<hr>
 This artcile originally appeared on <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au" target="_blank">SmartCompany</a>.
 
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How much superannuation do you need to retire comfortably?

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Buyers should be able to pinpoint reasons why a particular property will appreciate in value and, if they can’t, they should give it a miss.  
Perth property researcher Gavin Hegney, founding director of LMW Hegney, says this is particularly relevant now as many older buyers – often through their SMSFs - base their retirement incomes on, hopefully, rising property values.  
Presently, growth in the self-managed super funds and their frequent use as property-buying vehicles – perhaps in over 70% of transactions - has prompted some commentators to say they are helping create a property ‘bubble’.  
While property investing is an acknowledged ‘super’ strategy, it can only be judged on the income a property generates and its increase in value over time.  
Mr Hegney says that, to generate a decent income, a property has to have a good reason to grow in value. Investors should be able to identify that - or those - reasons before buying.  
‘’My thoughts are not so much the volume, but that often the SMSFs are buying the wrong types of properties,’’ he said.  
‘’Regardless of the ownership of the property, be it in a private name or a SMSF, its financial success relies on one thing: that the property goes up in value and that, when combined with the rental return, that it creates wealth for the owner or beneficiaries over time.  
‘’History has shown that, to create wealth during the early and mid section of the property cycle, there must be a realistic and identifiable reason why a property will increase in value, and the owner must have a best guesstimate as to what that value should be.  
Mr Hegney said experience and research can help identify these points.  
He said significant developments in most capital cities will have a knock-on effect on the values of property in surrounding areas. For instance, in Sydney it may be the effect of the Barangaroo development and its flow-on effect to specific pockets of Sydney, or, in Perth, it may be the City Link and waterfront developments and their knock-on effects.  
‘’There are numerous examples in most cities which simply require an identification of major changes and then an answer to the question: ‘What would this property be worth if this new development or infrastructure was in place?’  
‘’One concern I do have is where a SMSF simply buys a new apartment that has very little identifiable reason to increase in value, and then holds onto that property for 10-20 years .  
‘’Typically, that new apartment of, say, $600,000 becomes worth, say, only $450,000 as a 20-year-old apartment in today’s dollar terms.  
‘’That difference in value must be made up in value terms, plus a reasonable growth factor as well, before the owner of the new apartment creates real wealth.  
‘’If it has a real location reason to increase in value it may be worth buying, but, without it then the prospect of real growth may be very difficult.’’  
Mr Hegney said this situation ‘’becomes very interesting’’ considering that SMSFs today control about $200 billion in property investments with gearing of around $2.4 billion.  
‘’If they decided to gear up then this sector could increase over 100-fold in today's dollars. Let’s hope most of them get it right.’’    
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