Previous Issues

Welcome to The Bill

Why is this newsletter called The Bill? Despite what many of my friends think, it has nothing to do with my passion for the BBC drama. The Bill of Quantities is in fact the central document used by quantity surveyors in tendering.  Wikipedia goes as far as saying the bill of quantities was the raison d'etre for the development of quantity surveying. Well, this newsletter's 'reason for being' is simply this: to keep you informed of important news and information that effects your property investments.

This edition we focus on some hot issues including:

If you have any feeback about the newsletter or want to chat about The Bill, please .

Regards,

Tyron Hyde

Man Eating Sweet

First home owners - How to have your cake and eat it too!

What other country in the world gives you money to buy a property and then gives you a tax break for owning that property once you're no longer living there?

It may sound crazy but that's exactly what the Australian government has done.

Right now if you are a first home buyer, under the goverment's first home buyers scheme you are entitled to $21,000 for buying a new home and $14,000 for buying an established home. That in itself is a pretty good break considering interest rates are at their lowest in decades and property prices around the country have fallen.

But the real icing on the cake for first home buyers is that they are still eligible to claim depreciation on the property if they decide to rent the property out some time in the future. Learn more…

Warning Signs

Who's responsible for Occupational Health and Safety?

Occupational health and safety (OH&S) is a very serious issue for Strata Managers and Owners Corporations. Failure to comply with OH&S regulations can result in heavy fines (up to $1.6 Million) and or imprisonment (up to five years). Yet surprisingly, many Strata Managers remain unaware that it is now their responsibility to ensure that the property and common areas are assessed and checked to be a safe environment for all users. Read more…

Depreciation Highlight

It's tax time - don't forget to claim depreciation!

If you own investment property or have bought investment property in the 08/09 tax year it is time to get your property depreciation schedule prepared so that you can maximise your tax savings.

Did you know:

  • 80 percent of investors do not fully maximise their tax entitlements.
  • You are legally entitled to claim the depreciation of your investment property against your taxable income.
  • All properties will attract depreciation deductions - new property and previously owned property qualify.
  • If you have not been claiming or maximising your entitlements you can backdate your tax return!

How much can you claim? Read more…