How Does Property Depreciation Fit into Your SMSF Startegy?

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Self Managed Super Funds and Property Depreciation (Part 2)

IN THE FOLLOWING EXAMPLE, your SMSF owns a commercial warehouse purchased for $700,000 with a rental income of $1,200 per week … resulting in a total income of $62,400 per annum.

Expenses for the property such as interest, rates and management fees totalled $42,000. Therefore, the net earnings of this commercial property was $20,400.

Without claiming depreciation, your SMSF would have to pay 15% tax on the net earnings, which would result in a tax payment of $3,060. By claiming $14,500 in tax depreciation, the total earnings is reduced to $5,900 leaving the total tax payable of just $885. [Read more…]

4 Key Tips for Couples Arranging Loans

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WHEN BORROWING against Residential or Commercial properties for investment, it is important to keep in mind the most effective ways of claiming tax benefits, if you wish to maximise the return from your investment.

This is particularly so, when the purchasers are couples — because working with the correct loan set-up can ensure the household tax burden is considerably reduced. [Read more…]

How to Manage Those Fearsome Project Variations

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YOU THOUGHT you had negotiated a fixed-price contract for your planned building works, only to find yourself being progressively hit with expensive “Variations” as the construction phase progressed.

So, perhaps it is worth exploring how this comes about, in a little more detail.

What is a Variation? [Read more…]

Commercial Property and Your SMSF — Understand The True Benefits

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Self Managed Super Funds & Property Depreciation (Part 1).

FOR MANY AUSTRALIANS, superannuation is one of the most important investments they have to help them save for the future. 


Although most people may choose professionally managed super funds, an emerging trend has seen a growing number of people who elect to set up a Self Managed Super Fund (SMSF).


A few Facts

According to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO): In the four years leading up to the 30 June 2012, the SMSF sector grew by $109 billion or 33 per cent. In dollar terms, this represents the strongest growing super sector. The SMSF sector contributed the largest proportion of overall growth with 42 per cent of the total growth in super assets.
 [Read more…]

Commercial Property Investors are Relishing the Current Drift

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Confusion
EVER SINCE Julia Gillard announced the September election in February … the ensuring political hiatus has meant almost everything (including our thinking) has simply been moving sideways.

Neither up, nor down … just drifting!

And that is completely understandable — because, when uncertainty reigns … people tend to do nothing.

What are the Experts saying? [Read more…]

Maximise Your Tax Benefits on Commercial Property

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WHEN INVESTORS purchase a Commercial property, they will often consider renovating the property after settlement. Especially, if it is an older property in need of a face-lift before tenanting.

By renovating your Commercial property, you can create additional equity and generate extra rent in the process. But the real benefit is that you can also claim thousands of dollars in depreciation deductions — whenever renovations are done to your property. [Read more…]

Due Diligence: 5 Key Issues to Verify + Questions to Ask!

Due-Diligence
WHENEVER YOU embark upon a physical Due Diligence for any Commercial property, there are five key issues on which you should focus. And all of them need to be fully explored.

Depending on the size and type of the building, you may well require a more-detailed analysis. But for the time being, this will provide you with a basic checklist. [Read more…]

Never Cross Collateralize Your Loan Arrangements

Cross-Collateralizing
Part 1: Don’t be easily Swayed by your Bank.

A COMMON piece of advice given by mortgage brokers to Commercial property investors — at least, by astute brokers — is to keep securities for each loan separate. In other words, any form of Cross Collaterization (as it’s known) is to be avoided at all costs.

So, just what is Cross Collaterization; and why is it so bad?

Put simply, it is the combining of one mortgage registered against two or more properties (or sometimes even your business) as security. [Read more…]

Where There’s a Will … There’s a Way

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TO DIE “Intestate” is to die without having made a Will. That means the distribution of your estate would then be in accordance with the law, and potentially against your wishes.

And that’s because, without a Will to provide a clear allocation of your assets and property … estates are divided according to the applicable state or territory legislation.

The legislation provides for the distribution of an estate in light of considerations such as … whether the deceased leaves any partners, children, living parents, brothers, sisters, or children of brothers and sisters. [Read more…]

Commercial Property Owners Could Be Saving $’000s in Depreciation

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COMMERCIAL building owners still remain unaware of the full taxation benefits their property could generate. One of the most worthwhile (yet often missed) deductions available is building depreciation.

As a building gets older and items within it age, they depreciate in value. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) recognises this and allows property investors to claim deductions relating to the wear and tear on buildings and the fixtures and fittings within.

Claiming depreciation is the key to increasing the cash flow you generate from your Commercial properties. [Read more…]

As a Developer or Investor … What Should You Expect from Your Project Manager?

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EVERY CONSTRUCTION or refurbishment project is unique, in its specific requirements and challenges.

Accordingly, each project requires a broad range of skills and experience — which a professional project manager needs to be able to deliver.

So what is it you should be looking for, when appointing a Project Manager? [Read more…]