Is it better to invest in a house or an apartment? That’s an age-old question, but not one easy to answer. In fact, a few things have happened over the last few years that have caused investors to increasingly shy away from investing in apartments. So today, I’m going to discuss this topic with Brett…
Why do I suddenly owe tax this year? This is one of the most Googled questions in Australia right now. And rightly so. Ever since Australia’s transition to self-assessment for income tax returns, we have been primed to expect an annual refund. That’s by design. Thinking we will get a refund acts as an incentive…
A lot has been written about the good fortune of ‘baby boomers’ in that, overall, they have enjoyed a long period of economic, share market, and property market prosperity. Whilst they haven’t enjoyed the full benefit of compulsory super (which only began in 1992), other assets such as property have certainly compensated for that. This…
Victoria has led the states and territories in setting out a detailed housing statement that it says will help tackle the state’s housing shortage. Broad in scope and ambition, the plan includes new dwelling supply targets for Melbourne and regional Victoria, new fast-track deadlines for dwelling approvals and legislative reforms to protect private tenants. There…
The cul-de-sac is a suburban trap. It’s virtually useless as a road, doesn’t support public transport, cycling or walking, and doesn’t work well as a play or gathering place. Its literal translation from French is “bottom of a sack” – which sounds a lot less glamorous, you’ll agree. And yet we persist with them. The…
Yes, you read it right, 1.2 million homes in the next five years. The headlines have been filled with the Australian Labor Party’s ambitious plan, but if you look closely, the numbers just don’t add up. The Grand Mirage Firstly, let’s clear the misconception: the government isn’t going to lay down the bricks and mortar…
Global markets are actively exploring how to repurpose now empty office buildings, as the post covid impacts of work-from-home and distributed employment take their rising toll. Typically, it is the older-style office buildings that are most affected. Owners of premium office property compete more aggressively for premium, large-scale tenants who still want the high-performance CBD…
More Australians are currently saving for a major expense or purchase than they were last year, according to new research from Canstar. Their survey of over 9,500 Australian adults found 71% were currently saving for a big purchase or expense. This is an increase from 66% last year and comes at a time when the…
Estate planning is different for everyone and especially in today’s modern environment of potentially blended families. So, with more people remarrying, it’s critical to prepare for the distribution of your wealth upon your passing. While you are alive, the estate planning process allows you to manage and preserve your wealth for those you will one…
When was the last time you went on holiday? For some that may be a touchy subject, as many Aussies were restricted in their movements over the last few years But now that the borders have opened again and holidays are back on the agenda, I would suggest there will be a similar process involved…