Your Investment Property in Australia Doesn’t Have to be Pre-Owned
Whether you buy an old or new property is one of the key decisions you’ll have to make when buying an investment property in Australia. Both have their advantages. With an old property, you can often secure a great deal, plus there’s potential to renovate and add value. You can also feel more certain about how the property will perform
A new investment property in Australia may not come with those assurances. However, you shouldn’t discount them outright. In fact, investing in new homes comes with several benefits that may earn you more money.
Benefit #1 – Higher Capital Growth
As we all know, location is important when buying an investment property in Australia. Choose the wrong location, and you limit the capital growth your property will enjoy. Buying an old property in a desirable location practically guarantees you’ll enjoy capital growth. That’s a given.
But many don’t realise that the same applies to new properties as well. In fact, a new property may enjoy greater capital growth than an old property in the same location. Newer properties tend to enjoy higher levels of demand than old properties. Buyers and renters want the latest mod cons, which they won’t always get with an old property. This increased demand makes the location more desirable which contributes to increased capital growth for your property.
Benefit #2 – Construction Quality
Have you ever bought an old investment property in Australia, only to find that you have to spend thousands of dollars on renovations? It’s not an uncommon problem. Properties wear out over time. Fixtures need replacing and appliances need maintenance. This is all money coming out of your pocket.
Yes, you can claim tax deductions in Australia for some of this work. But you may not want to deal with the hassle.
A new property allows you to avoid those problems. There are stringent regulations in place to ensure all newly-built properties meet certain standards. They have to be built to a certain quality level, plus they must be energy efficient. This means you can feel certain that the construction quality of a new building will be high. As a result, you don’t have to spend more money on making improvements.
Benefit #3 – Lower Prices
A lot of people will tell you that it’s almost impossible to get a new property at a low price. Developers know the value of their properties and won’t sell for anything less.
This may be true when trying to buy a new property after the developer has already sold most of their stock. However, it discounts the potential savings you could by getting in early.
Keep your ear to the ground so you can find out about upcoming development work. If the houses are in a desirable location, you should try to get in as early as possible. Many developers sell their new properties for less than they’re worth to investors who make early offers. If you’re among that group, you’ll have a great property that cost you less than it should have.
Benefit #4 – You Attract More Tenants
We touched on this point earlier, but it’s worth coming back to. Tenants want properties that offer the latest appliances. They also want to pay as little as possible on their utility bills.
Buying an old investment property in Australia sometimes means that you can’t offer these things to your prospective tenants. The fixtures and appliances may be out of date, which lowers the demand. The property may also not be energy efficient. In the end, you have to charge less rent than you may wish so that you can attract tenants.
That shouldn’t be a problem with a new property. The developers will have installed modern fixtures and appliances, which attract more tenant applications. You don’t have to pay for renovations, plus, you can charge higher rents.
Benefit #5 – You Get a Blank Slate
Let’s assume you aren’t buying the property as an investment. Instead, you want to live in it yourself. If you buy an established, older property, you’re going to have to deal with the previous owner’s choices. You may have to spend a lot of money to change things until they’re just the way you like them.
When buying a new home, you have more choice. For example, you can discuss your preferences with the developer to ensure the home is built to meet your needs.
The prospect of having a blank slate appeals to many buyers. Plus, you get to enjoy the other benefit’s we’ve mentioned if you do decide to take on some tenants.
Our Location-Based Property Investment Strategies in Australia
You need to consider much more than the state of the property when buying an investment property in Australia. The location plays just as big of a role in your decision. After all, a property in the wrong location won’t attract any demand. With no demand, you can’t find tenants. This leads to an investment property in Australia failing to generate the income you expected.
So how do you choose the right location? There are several location-based property investment strategies in Australia that you need to keep in mind.
Mapping the Suburb
You should already have a general idea of how much you’re willing to spend on your new property. If you don’t, then organising your budget should be your first step.
However, let’s assume you already know. Now’s the time to start looking at different suburbs. What you’ll find is that the majority of suburbs have what some professionals refer to as “preferred pockets”. These are areas where the demand for properties is at its peak.
If you buy an investment property in Australia in one of these pockets, you should enjoy capital growth almost immediately. However, you can also use preferred pockets as part of a long-term strategy. As preferred pockets become more popular, so do the pockets around them. You could buy in a preferred pocket, while also investing in some of the less popular pockets around it.
As your preferred pocket grows, you’ll reap immediate rewards. However, you’ll also enjoy long-term rewards as the surrounding pockets become preferred pockets in their own right.
Read the Data
It’s not difficult to find organisations that can provide you with the sales data for the area you’re considering. You can use this information to track how much prices have grown or fallen in a location. Many reports even allow you to break this down by month or year, often up to a 10-year limit.
So how can this help you? Firstly, it helps you to identify if the location is in an upswing or downswing. Ideally, you should avoid properties in areas that are about to swing downwards.
However, you could also take advantage of a downswing. If it looks like a location has bottomed out, you could buy a property in preparation for a rebound. The data will show you how likely this rebound is.
Check Infrastructure Trends
One of the best property investment tips for beginners is to track infrastructure trends across several locations. As a general rule, more infrastructure leads to higher house prices. After all, most people want to live in areas that offer easy access to amenities or the city.
The trick here is to look at what’s planned, rather than what’s already in place. Speak to local councils to find out what work may be planned in an area.
You’re looking for the “hot spots”. These are areas for which there are plans for infrastructural improvements that either haven’t started yet or are just beginning. Upon completion of those improvements, you should find that the demand for properties in those areas skyrockets. If you got in early, you can reap the rewards.
Avoid High Population Areas
This is one of the simplest property investment tips for beginners. The more houses there are in a location, the less demand you will experience.
It comes down to the basic concept of supply and demand. Property prices and rents fall whenever housing is in high supply. That’s because buyers and tenants have more room to negotiate because there are always going to be more options.
As a result, you should avoid areas with high populations. These tend to have a lot of supply, which means the demand is already met. Instead, look towards developing areas in desirable locations.
Check the Attractions
People buy or rent properties because of what the location offers as well as the property itself. This is where local attractions could shape your decision. A property that has a lot of nearby attractions will generally experience more demand than one that doesn’t.
So what is an attraction? On the basic level, you have things like creeks, beaches, and hiking trails. A lot of people like to have those things on their doorsteps, especially if they have families that they need to entertain.
However, you also need to consider the proximity of these attractions to the property. For example, let’s assume you’re buying a house near a beach. However, a freeway separates one set of properties from another. Those on the beachside of the freeway will command higher prices, often tens of thousands of dollars more than those for properties on the other side. In this example, it’s often best to invest in one of the lower-priced properties. They offer the same attractions, which means they’ll still be in demand. However, you pay less money to benefit from that demand.
Conclusion
You have to consider the location whenever you buy an investment property in Australia. After all, the location plays a huge role when it comes to the income you generate from the property.
Speak to professionals and find out as much information as you can. This will ensure you don’t end up buying in an undesirable location.
Make Sure You Claim All Depreciation on Your Commercial Real Estate
If you’re thinking about buying commercial real estate in Melbourne, you need to prepare yourself. Many people fail to claim the commercial tax deductions in Australia that are due to them. This results in thousands of lost dollars.
You can claim for all sorts of things on your commercial real estate property. For example, you can claim deductions for the wear and tear of your fittings, furniture, and the structure itself. In fact, making the right deductions at the right time can affect cash flow. You can change a negatively geared property into one that enjoys a good cash flow.
So now you’re probably wondering how to maximise depreciation on your commercial investment property in Australia. Our guide will show you how.
Get the Ownership Structure Right
How you buy your commercial property is just as important as the type of property you buy. You need to have the right structure in place if you’re going to claim the maximum depreciation.
For example, you can increase your deductions if you buy the property using a trust. The same is true if you buy with your self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF). In both cases, you can split your deductions. You can make claims on the building as a standalone entity. Furthermore, you can also claim on any tenancy assets. However, you must operate a business in the property to do this.
Furthermore, you can claim for any capital works you undertake during your ownership. These can include extensions and many other general improvements. Finally, if you occupy the building as a business owner, you can also claim depreciation for any fixtures or fittings. Again, you must use these as part of your business operations.
Maintain Your Records
It should go without saying that it’s vital that you maintain accurate records if you want to claim commercial tax deductions in Australia. However, a remarkable number of people don’t do this.
Document every expenditure that relates to the building. These include both the immediate and ongoing costs. Furthermore, you should add day-to-day expenditure to the list. Keep anything that relates to a financial transaction involving your building. These records can help you to claim more.
Use a Quantity Surveyor
Every commercial property investor should employ the services of a quantity surveyor. These professionals can help you to create depreciation schedules. A good schedule ensures you can claim as much as possible on your property.
A quantity surveyor will carry out regular inspections of your property. These help to determine what deductions you can make each year. They’re ideal for long-term planning as well. A good depreciation schedule will lay out how to claim deductions for the next 40 years.
Furthermore, quantity surveyors understand how to maximise your depreciation based on your timeline. You may only intend to invest in the property for a short period of time. That’s okay. A good surveyor will take this into account, just like they would for a long-term investment.
It’s likely your surveyor will recommend the diminishing value method if you’re a short-term investor. This assumes the value of your assets depreciates most during their early years. As a result, you can claim for more depreciation in the short-term.
Long-term investors may prefer the prime cost method. This assumes uniform depreciation over the lifetime of your assets. As a result, you claim the same amount each year, rather than the bulk in the early years.
Which method works best for you will depend on the time commitment you make to your commercial real estate investment. A good quantity surveyor can talk you through the different timelines.
Take Advantage of the First Year
Your first year of ownership is vital. It’s when you will set up the structure through which you will manage your commercial property for the years that follow. Getting things wrong during the first year makes things more difficult than they need to be later on.
However, you also need to take depreciation into account from the moment you invest in the property. This is where your quantity surveyor can help again. You may be able to depreciate some of your assets faster with a commercial property than you would a residential one. Your surveyor will point this out to you. As a result, you can make more upfront savings using depreciation, which means you have more cash to use during that difficult first year.
The Final Word
Maximising your depreciation from a commercial property isn’t easy, but you can do it. Use the services of a reputable quantity surveyor and don’t put anything off.
Remember that you can make claims for depreciation from the moment you invest in the property. Don’t lose money because you were slow on the uptake.
Spend Less with the Right Tactics
Information goes a long way when you’re buying an investment property in Australia. Without information, you can’t prepare for the negotiations. This is when you sit down with the seller to try and find the right price for your investment property in Australia.
However, the information you have isn’t the only weapon in your arsenal. There are plenty of other tactics that you can employ to get a good deal. With that in mind, we’ve come up with five hot investment property tips for beginner negotiators.
Tip #1 – Learn as Much as You Can About the Seller
You may think the state of the property market would make it impossible to negotiate a good deal. If property prices are going up, it’s easy to assume that all sellers you meet will ask for more money.
However, this line of thought doesn’t take the seller’s situation into account. You need to find out everything you can about the seller when buying an investment property in Australia. For example, do you know the reason why the seller is getting rid of the property? If not, then you need to find out.
Many people sell because they’re in distressed situations. They may be in financial difficulties, or need to sell quickly to fund a new purchase. You can use this to your advantage and negotiate a better deal. After all, a motivated seller is one who will listen to lower offers.
Tip #2 – Sweeten the Deal
This ties into our first tip. Sometimes, a seller wants something really specific, which will make your bid for their investment property in Australia more attractive.
Consider the following example. The seller is currently going through a divorce. It’s a heartbreaking and emotional situation, but they really need to sell their property before the divorce is settled. As a result, that seller may be looking for a buyer who can help them settle the sale quickly, so they can get on with the rest of their life.
That’s where you come in. If you limit the terms attached to the transaction, you can speed up the process. That gives you some leeway to negotiate a lower price with a seller who wants to get rid of a property quickly.
Tip #3 – Get Pre-Approval on a Home Loan
Sellers love serious buyers. If you enter negotiations knowing that you don’t yet have the money to make the purchase, you’re going to sour the seller to any offers you might make.
This means it’s best to get pre-approval on a home loan before you try to buy an investment property in Australia. Lodge your application and ask your lender to provide proof of the pre-approval.
You can then take this into your negotiations. Having pre-approval shows that you’re a serious buyer who wants to move forward. This will make the seller more willing to negotiate terms with you, which could be your pathway toward making a lower offer that saves you some money.
Tip #4 – Make the Right First Offer
The first offer you make on your investment property in Australia is crucial. Go too low, and you may insult the seller so much that he or she stops taking you seriously. Make a high offer, and you may end up spending more than you need to.
This is where your research is going to help. Find out how much similar properties in the same area are selling for. You can use this to get an approximate figure for the value of the property. Compare this to the seller’s valuation to ensure you’re both on the same page.
From there, you need to make your offer. It’s usually best to offer somewhere between 5 and 10% less than the seller’s valuation. This shows you’re a serious buyer, while giving yourself some wiggle room if the seller comes back to you with a higher figure.
Tip #5 – Don’t Mention Your Budget
Remember that your seller’s agent is going to try and extract as much information as they can from you. After all, they want to secure the highest possible price for their clients.
Talking to the seller’s real estate agent can offer you more information. However, it can lead to you giving away information that the seller could use against you.
The key is to not let the seller know how much you’re willing to spend. If they have that figure, negotiations are going to start at a much higher price than you had hoped for. Play your cards close to your chest, while still making offers that show you’re a serious buyer.
You Could Use Your SMSF to Save on Your Tax Bill
You can use a SMSF (self-managed superannuation fund) to buy an investment property in Australia. However, this has previously been quite difficult. Many lenders would not allow SMSFs to borrow money, which means they had to fund the full purchase themselves.
However, that changed after the 2017 Budget. Now, a self-managed super fund can borrow the money needed to fund the purchase of an investment property in Australia. As a result, those who previously couldn’t afford to use their SMSFs to buy an investment property in Australia now have a pathway to do so.
The first thing to remember is that you shouldn’t set up a SMSF solely to buy a property. However, having it available makes sense for a lot of small business owners. After all, a business owner can occupy the SMSF’s investment property in Australia, as long as they use it for business purposes.
However, managing an SMSF takes a lot of time and hard work. To help you along, we’re going to show you some of the secrets of using an SMSF for property investment.
Getting Started
You’ll need some money in your SMSF before you can use it to buy an investment property in Australia. How much will depend on your situation, but as a rough guide you should aim to have $200,000 available.
This will help you to cover the deposit and the fees associated with taking out a home loan. Furthermore, you’ll probably have some money left over for diversification. This is important, as investing only in property could come back to bite you if the market crashes.
The funds should come from every SMSF member. You don’t have to fund the entire thing yourself.
Know How Much You Can Borrow
Most lenders are still quite wary of lending to SMSFs. That shouldn’t come as a surprise, as many have only just started doing so following the 2017 budget. As a result, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to secure a home loan with a loan to value ratio (LVR) above 80% of the home value.
In fact, most lenders prefer to offer 50% LVR on SMSF loans. Having a 50% deposit available for your investment property in Australia increases the lender’s confidence and puts the property closer to being positively geared.
Making Repayments
Of course, you need to make repayments on the home loan once you’ve secured it. This is where the self managed super fund can really help an investor. You can use your super contributions, which you can deduct from your taxes, to make the repayments. The same goes for any rent or other payments that the SMSF receives.
As a result, you often won’t need to spend any of your own money to repay the home loan. Better yet, you can deduct quite a large portion of the repayments from your tax bill. Of course, it’s best to work with a tax professional to ensure you set up the correct structure for this.
The Tax Benefits
Let’s look at the tax benefits of buying an investment property in Australia using an SMSF in more detail. For one, the fund only has to pay a maximum tax rate of 15% on any income the property generates.
However, the bigger benefits come if you choose to sell the property. Assuming the SMSF has held the property for at least one year, you only have two-thirds of the capital gains tax (CGT) you would have paid on a property you personally own.
Better yet, both of these tax contributions disappear if the SMSF keeps the property until its members start claiming their retirement pensions. As a result, retired SMSF members can benefit from the property’s income, without having to pay any tax. They also receive larger lump sums if the SMSF sells the property because they don’t have to pay CGT.
Can Everybody Do It?
Property investing using an SMSF sounds appealing, and it can provide you with a lot of benefits. However, it’s not for everybody.
As mentioned earlier, you should avoid using your SMSF to invest in property if it doesn’t have a large sum of cash available. Diversification is crucial when investing, so you don’t want to be in a situation where your SMSF relies only on the property’s income. A lost tenant or property market crash could cause major problems.
Furthermore, those on low incomes should think twice about investing using an SMSF. Remember that you have to make regular SMSF contributions. These contributions benefit you when it comes to your taxes, but they’re also long-term benefits. You may struggle in the short term if you don’t have the money to make regular SMSF contributions.
You Could Bag a Great Investment Property in Australia at Auction
Trying to buy an investment property in Australia at an auction is something of a mixed bag. On one hand, you have the chance to snap up a bargain. A lot of sellers use auctions as their last resort. As a result, they may ask for less than the value of their property. As long as you don’t get caught up in the heat of the moment, you may get a great investment property in Australia at auction.
However, you also have to consider the other possibility. Auctions are emotional places. If you get caught up in a bidding war, you could end up spending more than you intended. That makes it much more difficult to generate a good return on your investment property in Australia.
So how do you get the most out of your visit to a property auction? We have a few tips that should help you.
Tip #1 – Prepare Your Finances
Did you know that you have to pay the deposit for any properties you win on the same day as the auction? There’s no cooling down period, which means you need to be prepared financially.
This means you need to prepare yourself financially for the auction. Firstly, make sure you have a budget, and enough cash available to pay the deposit relevant to that budget.
You also need to consider how you’ll buy the investment property in Australia. If you’re buying using a trust or self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF), you need to make sure it’s organised for the purchase.
Finally, lodge a home loan application and get it through to the pre-approval stage. This means the lender is confident that they’ll approve your loan, barring a couple of extra checks. Having pre-approval means you can feel more confident in your bidding. It also places you in a good position to negotiate if the property doesn’t meet its reserve price, and you’re the highest bidder. The seller will see that you’re serious about buying if you have pre-approval, which may help you pull the price down.
Tip #2 – Look the Part
Impressions play a bigger role than you might realise at an auction. There are going to be all sorts of people there, so you need to play to the crowd a little bit.
Make sure you look the part. Ideally, you should arrive in business wear, so you look like the investment professional that you are. Bring a small notebook to jot things down. You may not need to write anything important, but it’s a little thing that could make inexperienced bidders wary of you.
The key is that you need to look confident, so people think you’re an experienced auction-goer. If you look like you have money to burn, a lot of people will refuse to bid against you. This gives you a distinct advantage, so you may secure an investment property in Australia for less than it’s worth.
Tip #3 – Bid Early
Many people try to lodge late bids when buying an investment property in Australia at auction. This tactic seems to make sense. You wait until the last second before making your bid. You rattle the other bidder, which lends you an advantage.
That tactic can work, but it has some risks attached. If you leave it too late, you may miss your bid. The auctioneer will bang the gavel, and you’ve lost out on a great property.
It’s much safer to bid early. This puts you in the running straight away, plus the auctioneer will start paying attention to you. As a result, you may get a touch more time to make that last bid count. Furthermore, jumping straight in with a strong bid can unnerve your opposition. This can reduce the bidding pool, so you face less competition.
Tip #4 – Don’t be Afraid to Walk Away
Walking away from a property you want is one of the hardest things you may have to do. However, it’s sometimes necessary.
Remember that you have a budget, and that every property you buy has to offer a good return on your investment. The bidding may get heated, and there may be people who can top every bid you make. It happens. You just have to make sure to react in the right way.
Stay calm and walk away if it looks like you’re going to spend more than you’re comfortable with. This protects you financially and ensures you have more money left over for any other properties you may be interested in.
Conclusion
You can make a lot of great purchases at property auctions. However, you need to avoid getting caught up in the emotion of the event.
If you follow these tips, you’re sure to bag some bargains eventually.
On Friday 14th July, the Treasury Office released a draft bill regarding how depreciation deductions on a second-hand property can be claimed moving forward. They also invited interested parties to make submissions.
It’s complicated, to say the least, so I’ve tried to simplify this Bill and the key points. Here are my 9 Key Takeaways from the Legislation;
- If you acquire a second-hand residential property after May 10, 2017, which contains “previously used” depreciating assets, you will no longer be able to claim depreciation on those assets.
- Acquirers of brand new property will carry on claiming depreciation exactly the way they have done so to date. This is great news for the property industry and the way it should be.
We suspected this would be the case and I believe the property industry can collectively breathe a sigh of relief.
- The proposed changes only relate to residential property. Commercial, industrial, retail and other non-residential properties are not affected in the slightest.
- The building allowance or claims on the structure of the building has not changed at all. You will still need a Depreciation Schedule to calculate these deductions. This component typically represents approximately between 80 to 85 percent of the construction cost of a property.
- The proposed changes do not apply if you buy the property in a corporate tax entity, super fund (note Self-Managed Super Funds do not apply here) or a large unit trust.
This is interesting and I suspect a lot more people will start buying properties in company tax structures.
- If you engage a builder to build a house and it remains an investment property, you will still be able to claim depreciation on both the structure and the Plant and Equipment items.
- If you renovate a property that is being used as an investment, you will still be able to claim depreciation on it when you have finished the renovations.
- If you renovate a house, whilst living it in, then sell the property to an investor, the asset will be deemed to have been previously used and the new owner cannot claim depreciation.
- Perhaps the most interesting point: Whilst investors purchasing second-hand property can now no longer claim depreciation on the existing plant and equipment, they will have the benefit of paying less capital gains tax when they sell the property.
How? Well, in summary, what you would’ve been able to claim in depreciation under the previous legislation, now simply gets taken off the sale price in the event you sell the property in the future.
Here is an example of how this will work:
Peter buys a property in September 2017 for $600k, included within the property was $25k worth of previously used depreciating assets.
As they were previously used, Peter can’t claim depreciation on those items.
Peter sells the property in 2022 for $800k, which included $15k worth of those depreciation assets.
Peter can now claim a capital loss of $10k ($25k-$15k) for the portion that Peter has not claimed in depreciation.
SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES
In my view, the Draft Bill could’ve been a lot worse for both the property industry and the Quantity Surveying professions.
It will certainly address the integrity measure concern of stopping “refreshed” valuations of plant and equipment by property investors.
It may, however, create a two-tier property market in relation to New and Second-hand property.
You can see the ads now “Buy Brand New – We’ve Got The Depreciation Allowances”.
It will still be just as critical for all property investors to get a breakdown of the building allowance & plant and equipment values so you can:
- Claim the building allowance (where applicable) and
- Reduce the CGT payable when selling the property by deducting the unclaimed Plant and Equipment allowances.
The Quantity Surveying industry, just like the property development industry just breathed a huge sigh of relief.
I believe this integrity measure could’ve been better addressed and will be making a submission accordingly.
But it wasn’t a bad ‘first run’ by the Government!
P.S. If you purchased an investment property prior to The Budget, and it’s been an investment property the whole time, you are not affected and you should get a depreciation schedule quote now.
9 Ways to Cut Tax Bills Through Depreciation
Firstly, what is property depreciation?
Well, just like you claim the wear and tear of your car against your taxable income or the wear and tear of the desk in your office, you can claim the wear and tear of your property against your taxable income.
But the property must be income producing. You can’t do this on your residential house. Property depreciation laws vary from country to country. I feel we have pretty good depreciation laws in this country. In a lot of countries, you can’t claim depreciation. So we’re lucky in Australia.
In summary, any property depreciation you claim would reduce the taxable income by the amount of depreciation you claim.
Now there are two parts of a depreciation claim:
First part is what’s called the capital works allowance that relates to the building and the structure. It lasts 40 years. This is commonly referred to as the building allowance. Now the amount of the deduction is determined by the actual construction cost, NOT what it costs to buy the property.
And in order for you to claim this building allowance, the property must be bought after 1985 for residential properties.
The second part that we’re going to talk about is what’s called plant and equipment- division 40. It refers to things like ovens, dishwashers, carpets, blinds, and also common property like lifts, fire services, and ventilation systems.
Note: Deductions for plant and equipment items and the following information may only apply if you bought the property prior to May 9, 2017 – Read about the Budget changes here.
Now, the more of this stuff you have in your property, the greater the tax savings. Why? Because this stuff wears out quicker.
Now let’s get into some tips:
1. The higher the building, the higher the depreciation
Why? Because it has more of that plant and equipment stuff that I’m talking about and this stuff depreciates faster. It also has things like gyms, pools, etc.
2. Old properties depreciate too
You’ve already paid something for it. So while you can’t claim the structure of the building, you may be able to claim the ovens, the dishwashers, the blinds, etc. This is because the plant and equipment is based upon what you pay for it and the effective life of each item can be a benefit. That means that if the carpets is going to last two years, you may be able to claim it over for 50% each year.
And at Washington Brown we are so confident that we actually guarantee our results. So if we can’t get you at least twice our fee in the first year, we won’t charge you!
3. Buy items that actually cost you under $300
For instance, if I was going to buy a microwave, I wouldn’t buy one that costs $330 because I would have to claim it at 20% per annum. However, I’d buy one at $295 because I would be able to claim it immediately.
4. Sometimes furnishing your property can actually result in a greater depreciation deduction
Why? Because the furniture depreciates rather quickly compared to bricks and concrete. So putting things like dining tables, bedding and all that stuff into a furnished property can actually accelerate your claim to the point that if you were to buy $20,000 worth of furniture, you could possibly get a $10,000 deduction in year 1 alone! But you’ve got to be smart about this. You can’t furnish all properties as it really depends on the location. So, this tip does not apply to all properties.
5. The actual construction cost must be used
Now that’s not a tip, that’s in the law. But what we found lately is that there are a lot of properties out there that are actually being sold close to their construction cost – certainly in some areas.
For instance, a property is sold at the original selling price of $95,000 in 2004. Our client just paid $45,000 for it. The original construction was $52,000. Now, I don’t know any other way that you can get a deduction greater than what you pay for something.
6. Utilise the residual value write-off
If you were to renovate a property that was built after 1985, you should get a quantity surveyor out before you do the renovation so that we can put some values onto items that you are about to remove and you can get a written down value of those items and claim it immediately as a tax deduction.
So if you remove the kitchen, the light fittings, the shelf screens, etc., all that stuff can be written off if your property was built after 1985.
For instance, you bought a property that was built in 1989 and in that property there was a kitchen that was originally installed and you now wish to upgrade it. If you were to demolish now halfway through its effective life, you could get a $10,000 immediate tax deduction for it! However, just remember that the property needs to be income producing before you rip it out.
So the tip here is to get a quantity surveyor out before you renovate a post-1985 property.
7. Always use an expert
Quantity surveyors have been recognised by the Australian Taxation Office to estimate construction costs where the costs are not known. Accountants and valuers for instance, are not allowed to estimate costs unlike quantity surveyors. However, be careful as not all quantity surveyors specialise in this service, but Washington Brown certainly does.
Also, as far as I know, a depreciation report is the only tax deduction that can be subjective and open to interpretation skill. Every other tax deduction is based on what you pay for it.
8. You get more depreciation on a new property
Now let’s have a look at the difference between the depreciation of a new property versus that of a four-year old property. It’s very similar to the effective lives of the property, that in fact, you’ll be surprised. Now, most of the deduction within a property is actually related to the building allowance. However, you’ll definitely get more depreciation on a new property compared to a pre-1985 property.
9. Use the Washington Brown Depreciation Calculator
Now, this is a good tip. You can go online and check the depreciation available on your own property using our calculator, the first calculator that uses live data! You can check new versus old properties, get an accurate depreciation assessment, and the great news is that it’s free!
Now, here are some bonus tips:
Bonus tip # 1: Don’t use a builder’s depreciation schedule
Builders are good at building. They miss out items and they sometimes don’t understand that the design and council costs can be included. Let a quantity surveyor do the depreciation schedule for you.
Bonus tip # 2: The type of materials is a huge factor
If you renovate, you might want to consider the type of materials you are going to use. For instance, carpets depreciate over 10 years but the floor tiling will depreciate over 40 so it can add up.
As another example, various types of partitioning may yield varying depreciation allowances. Some depreciate a lot quicker than others.
Moreover, we have air-conditioners and fans as examples too where the depreciation differs…
The types of materials used may vary and in turn, may change the depreciation allowance you can claim. So it pays to consider the item you’re about to install.
Bonus tip # 3: You can claim renovation even if you haven’t done the work
If you buy property that was built in 1900 for instance, but was renovated in 1990 not even by you, you can still claim depreciation. You can claim the renovation cost even if you didn’t do the renovation.
Bonus tip # 4:
Our iPhone app is downloadable from the iTunes store for free, enabling you to get numbers at the tip of your fingers! This great app also works on the iPad.
If you want to crunch the numbers yourself, you need to input the 5 pieces of information below:
- Purchase price
- Nearest city
- The year the property was built
- Property type
- State of the finish within the property
Then, click calculate and Bingo! You can compare the depreciation deductions between the diminishing value method and the prime cost method!
And if you’re happy with the results, simply get a quote from us and give us a call so we can discuss the property over the phone. It’s all in the power of your hands!
Here are five things for you to take away today:
- Old properties depreciate too
- You don’t have to buy new to claim renovation
- Renovation helps your cash flow
- If you’re about to renovate a property that was built after 1985, get us out before you do so
- And remember: Always use an expert!
Thank you and if you have any questions, please contact us at 1300 990 612 or send an email to info(‘at’)washingtonbrown.com.au
If you need a depreciation schedule for your investment property – get a quote here or work out how much you can save using our free calculator.
It’s hard to believe, but we’re approaching that time of the year again – tax time!
As the end of the financial year draws closer, you’ll likely start thinking about that big fat tax refund and what you can do with it. But first you need to make sure you maximise your cheque.
To help property investors get their fair share of the tens of billions in tax refunds handed back each year to individuals and put themselves in good financial stead for next year, we’ve put together the following tips:
Maximise your deductions
The easiest way to maximise your tax return is to maximise your deductions.
As a property investor, know all of the expenses you can claim as a deduction and make those payments before the end of the financial year.
Claim for everything you’re entitled to, no matter how small it is. Every dollar will contribute to your investment’s return – and your wealth.
As a guide, landlords can usually claim the following as tax deductions:
- Interest on an investment loan
- Holding costs, including council/water rates and body corporate bills
- Tenancy costs, including property management fees and the cost of advertising for a tenant
- Insurance premiums, such as landlord insurance
- Legal costs for troublesome tenants
- Repairs and maintenance caused by tenant wear and tear
- Depreciation
Some tax deductions allowed for investment properties are often overlooked and some, such as the cost of renovations, are included when they shouldn’t be. To get it right, consult a professional.
Don’t forget about depreciation
Up to 80 per cent of property investors are missing out on thousands of dollars in tax savings because they fail to take maximum advantage of depreciation.
Depreciation is a reduction in the value of an asset over time due to wear and tear, and for income-producing assets, can be claimed as a tax deduction.
There are two types of depreciation allowances for investment properties. The first is plant and equipment, which covers removable items such as dishwashers. The second is capital works on the building, covering the property’s structure. If the property was built after July 1985 depreciation can be claimed on both elements. (Deductions for plant and equipment items may only apply if you bought the property prior to May 9, 2017 – Read about the Budget changes here).
Depreciation is one of the key ways to maximise tax returns, and it can be done without spending a cent because it’s a non-cash deduction.
Get a professional quantity surveyor to prepare a depreciation schedule for you to maximise your deductions, with the fee also being tax deductible.
Prepay expenses
If you expect to have a lower income next year then consider prepaying expenses on your investment property, such as interest or other holding costs – for up to a year in advance – before June 30. This will give you greater deductions to reduce the tax payable on your higher income this year.
Consider delaying income
Minimise this year’s tax liability by delaying income until after July 1. For property investors this will largely be applicable to property you’re selling – if you know you’ll be up for capital gains tax, consider delaying the sale until next year.
Seek the help of professionals
Getting advice from a great accountant or tax specialist will pay off, saving you both time and stress, while also maximising tax return.
The fee will be tax deductible and if they do a good job you’ll get your money’s worth by getting the best possible refund.
Often a good accountant will find deductions you never even knew existed, and they’ll also make sure everything you claim is legal. This will avoid a visit from the taxman down the track.
Keep good records
Do you always find yourself scrambling to sort through the piles of papers at the end of the financial year, desperately trying to find receipts for your tax deductions, let alone trying to make sense of them?
While it can be tedious, you’ll find it’s much easier to be organised throughout the year. File away your tax documents so you know where they are come June 30.
This will enable you to maximise your deductions, as you’ll have every receipt and will be able to claim every single penny you’re entitled to. You’ll also be more accurate in what you claim and will have good records to substantiate your claims.
Do everything by the book
Investment properties can sometimes be targeted by the ATO, so make sure whatever you do to maximise your tax return is legal.
An accountant can make sure you claim only the deductions you’re entitled to claim, in the right way.
Remember, if you get audited it could cost you significant sums of money, so it’s not worth fudging the figures.
Fancy a villa in Tuscany? What about a condo in LA or a loft apartment in New York? Yes, please!
But the question everyone wants answered; can I claim depreciation on this property… The simple answer is yes!
Difference between overseas and Australian property depreciation
The main difference between an overseas property and one in Australia is in regards to claiming the building allowance. That’s the wear and tear on structural elements of the property like bricks and concrete.
With Australian properties you’re entitled to claim 2.5% of these construction costs per annum, as long as the property was built after July 1985. The rate for overseas properties is the same – but the date is different. Construction of an overseas property must have commenced after 1992.
So, the easiest way to maximise your deprecation benefits on an overseas property, is to look for a newer property that has been built in the last decade or two. Internal items like carpets, ovens, lights and blinds – can also be depreciated, as you would with an Australian property. This is often referred to as plant and equipment.
A good place to start your research is on the ATO’s website. You can download a publication called Tax Smart Investing: What Australians Investing in Overseas Property Need To Know.
Research
Like any property investing, you’ll need to do your homework. This entails researching the local market, finding out about rental yields and occupancy rates. But the best thing about research nowadays, it that this can all be done online at the tip of your fingers.
The main barrier to depreciating an overseas property is working out the constructions costs, along with the expense of flying a quantity surveyor overseas.
Washington brown has a number of affiliations around the world. We regularly inspect properties in London and New Zealand. I even did an inspection in Koh Samui, Thailand recently.
So there you have it. You can still invest in overseas property and reap the benefits of the Australian Tax system’s depreciation laws. But remember, the property must have been build or renovated after 1992.
If you need a depreciation schedule for your investment property – get a quote here or work out how much you can save using our free calculator.
