Posts by Mike
My 2021 Predictions – thoughts on what 2021 will deliver
Profound predictions, bold statements and audacious utterings are not something normally associated with the button-down persona of quantity surveyors. But I’m about to buck the trend. Perhaps I’ve been I’m emboldened by this year of challenge. Maybe I’ve gone lockdown stir crazy. Possibly, it’s just the end of the year and it’s time to pop…
Read MoreDo you know how many investment properties you need to retire on?
In a way, I hope you don’t have an answer to that, as the number of properties isn’t really the answer. You could have ten properties worth $200,000 on 90% interest only loans in areas with no growth. Or 3 blue chip properties worth 1.5m each returning 7% growth per year unencumbered. The true answer…
Read MoreThe NSW Stamp Duty fallout: my three big predicted outcomes
There’s been a cacophony of opinion this week filling column inches and taking over the airwaves of property centric media. Refreshingly, the big news wasn’t pandemic related. Nor did it involve a concession speech of any description. No, the chatter has been dominated by a NSW government discussion around the abolition of stamp duty which…
Read MoreProperty Investors are being ignored and it’s hurting Australia
The government’s helping hand during 2020 has seen assistance arrive thick and fast to all corners of the community. And rightly so! Our economy would be tanking into an unholy mess if it weren’t for the help on offer. Fortunately, the past decade’s worth of decent fiscal management has seen the nation in a strong…
Read MoreInstant Asset Write-off – Budget 2020. What has changed?
The instant asset write-off has been featured in various forms for the last few years. It’s role is to stimulate business investment via the enticement of immediate deductibility of newly purchased plant and equipment assets. So what changed in the budget? The announcement means that assets purchased from 7.30pm on the 6th October through to…
Read MoreHow to claim working from home deductions and depreciation
We have been transitioning from the workplace to the home office slowly over the years but throw a pandemic into the mix and we are now talking about a mass migration! In fact, research from Roy Morgan shows over 4.3 million people (32% of working Australians) have been ‘working from home’ (WFH) during the last…
Read MoreSpotlight on Property Investing Data – Suburb Trends
Property investing continues to evolve day by day as we find ourselves with greater and greater access to property professionals, as well as the data and tools to do our own research. One such research resource I wanted to put under the spotlight is ‘suburbtrends.com’. Suburbtrends offers research and data visualisation solutions. The website showcases…
Read MoreIt’s never too late to claim depreciation. Well, except when it is
The other day I saw someone in an interview say “It’s never too late to claim depreciation.” Now in fairness, perhaps in the following sentence, they added some caveats but even though I tuned out and got back to work, I don’t think that’s a prudent way to start a discussion about deductions, whether you’re…
Read MoreCoronavirus creates the most competitive building environment since the GFC
A study by MCG Quantity Surveyors has revealed property owners are now securing the most competitive building and renovation environment in almost a decade. MCG Quantity Surveyors were recently featured in the Australian Financial Review on the back of their recent analysis of construction contracts prompted a survey of builders which revealed most are dramatically…
Read MoreFinal NSW Government Report into Building Standards and Quality
On the 30th April 2020 the release of the final report of the Public Accountability Committee, titled ‘Regulation of building standards, building quality, and building disputes’ was tabled with the Clerk of the Parliaments of NSW. The report and its recommendations are now with the government for consideration. The government is required to respond to…
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