CBD Office Markets Vary Greatly

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THIS IS CERTAINLY a two-speed story, according to the Property Council’s most recent Office Market Report.

The vacancy rate in Perth currently sits at around 20%; with office rentals down about 40% since there 2012 peak.

Sydney saw a 100,000 sqm take-up in the 12 months to December — which is three times its historical average. And the demand for office space was also strong for Melbourne.

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Depreciation: 3 Tips to Know

 

Are We Now Finally Seeing a Retail Revival?

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A RECENT ARTICLE in the Financial Review (11 January, page 32) summarised the influx of overseas retailers, who are about to launch new stores within Australia this year.

The key locations being: Melbourne (18), Sydney (10), Brisbane (8) and Perth (4).

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Deductions If You Own Hotel or Motel Accommodation

 

Capital Gains Tax: Subdividing & Amalgamating Land

THE FOLLOWING is a little-known (but should be widely-known) ATO explanation on how to calculate CGT on a property that was formerly your home that you subdivide much later. And how the principal place of residence can be lost.

More…

Let’s go through it in some detail … for a Dwelling that was purchased on or after 20 September 1985, and then subdivided after that date.

Kym bought a house on a 0.2 hectare block of land in June 2014 for $700,000. The house was valued at $240,000 and the land at $460,000. Kym lived in the house as her main residence. She incurred $24,000 in stamp duty and legal fees purchasing the property.

Kym found the block was too big for her to maintain. In January 2015, she subdivided the land into two blocks of equal size. She incurred $20,000 in survey, legal and subdivision application fees; and $2,000 to connect water and drainage to the rear block.

In March 2015, she sold the rear block for $260,000.

As Kym sold the rear block of land separately, the main residence exemption does not apply to that land. She contacted several local real estate agents who advised her that the value of the front block was $30,000 higher than the rear block.

Kym apportioned the $460,000 original cost base into $215,000 for the rear block (46.7%) and $245,000 for the front block (53.3%). Kym incurred $6,000 legal fees on the sale.

The cost base of the rear block is calculated as follows:

  • Cost of the land $215,000
  • 46.7% of the $24,000 stamp duty and legal fees on the purchase $11,208
  • 46.7% of the $20,000 cost of survey, legal and application fees $9,340
  • Cost of connecting water and drainage $2,000
  • Legal fees on sale $6,000

Total Cost Base = $243,548

The capital gain on the sale of the rear block would be $16,452.

She calculated this by subtracting the cost base ($243,548) from the sale price ($260,000). As Kym had owned the land for less than 12 months, she uses the ‘other’ method to calculate her capital gain.

Kym will get the full exemption for her house and the front block, because they were used as her main residence for the full period she owned them.

Not a bad result. But imagine if she had bought it 10 years earlier, used it as her principal place of residence the whole time and where the value was about half of the value it is now:

That is: $350,000 purchased with a value of $120,000 for the home and land at $230,000 … which is now valued at the $700,000 10 years later.

For tax purposes, you do not use the market value — you must use the original value.

The cost base of the rear block is calculated as follows:

  • Cost of the land (46.7%) $107,410
  • 46.7% of the $24,000 stamp duty etc on the purchase $11,208
  • 46.7% of the $20,000 cost of survey, legal and application fees $9,340
  • Cost of connecting water and drainage $2,000
  • Legal fees on sale $6,000

Total Cost Base = $135,958

The capital gain on the sale of the rear block would now be $124,042 … with no allowance for the past use as the primary residence.

Bottom Line: As you can appreciate, this can be a real trap. And yet, it is one you can often avoid, with proper restructuring before any sub-divisions occur.

 

Under the Hammer: The Epidemic of Underquoting

 

Have You Sorted Out Your Holiday Reading Yet?

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ABOUT TWO WEEKS ago, my latest book was launched on Amazon. And I gave first look at it to everyone who had bought some of my training materials in the past — as well as, to my Inner Circle. [Read more…]

Tax Benefits for Collins & Pitt Street Farmers

 

The Truth Behind Falling Office Workspace Ratios

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THE QUESTION IS: Have the major corporate tenants been “sold a pup”? Or have their Financial Controllers merely been focusing upon cost savings, rather than employee productivity?

Why not watch this short video and then, make up your own mind?

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Some More Construction Issues, Plus Solutions

 

Commercial Property Should Regain Some Normality

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SEVERAL RECENT ARTICLES in the Financial Review have flagged a slowdown in Asian money flowing into the Australian property market.

And that is principally as a result of China clamping down on capital movements out of the country.

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