Strategic Property Insights

This article was originally published in 2021. It has been updated in September 2026 to reflect the significant changes to land tax thresholds, rates and policy that have occurred across Australian states and territories since that time. All figures in this article were correct as at 21 August 2026. Land tax is a tax imposed by all state and territory governments (except in the Northern Territory, where no land tax is imposed). The tax payable is based on the combined unimpro

Now that the dust is starting to settle on this year’s Budget announcement, we sat down with Dave, the Managing Director of Property Planning Australia to talk through what happens next. Here's a high-level view of how we think the Budget's flow-on effects, on wealth creation, rents, prices and long-term financial behaviour, will play out: Prices will fall initially, as they already have. This is likely to prove the best time to buy. Rental stock, already at historic lows, wi

The 2026 Federal Budget proposes the biggest changes to property taxation in a generation. Some of the proposed reforms are significant, while others have been overstated. But the strategic implications differ depending on whether you're buying your first home, growing an investment portfolio, or renting. Whether these changes survive in their current form is an open question. But the proposals are on the table, and they're already changing the way buyers, investors and rente

Learn how choosing the right ownership structure for your investment property can protect tax outcomes and long-term wealth.

Before you renovate, learn how to prepare your property for sale and avoid costly mistakes that reduce your final sale price.

Learn how debt recycling works, when it helps build wealth, and why it may slow paying off your home loan.

Competition in property isn’t just what happens on auction day. It operates on two levels at once. There’s the micro level, where buyers are directly competing against each other, and there’s the macro level, where the broader market is quietly heating up or cooling down in the background. Understanding both is critical, because by the time competition becomes obvious, it’s often already too late to adjust strategy. Early Signs of a Highly Competitive Property At the coalface

It’s that time of year again. We’re dusting off the crystal ball, pouring over the data and we take a hard look at where the winds are actually blowing. Here’s how we see 2026 unfolding. Inflation: The Deciding Factor Inflation is the single most important variable in our 2026 outlook. If it’s brought under control, interest rates can ease and property prices can move higher with confidence. If inflation proves sticky, rate cuts stall and the risk of further increases remains

A critical driver of capital growth The ‘Land to Asset Ratio’ is a phrase we have been using since the early 2000’s to describe one critical assessment we undertake when reviewing the quality of investment properties. This phrase has steadily crept into the vernacular of other property professionals, but is not yet readily understood by most investors. What is Land to Asset Ratio? Knowing the Land to Asset Ratio is important because increasing land value is a primary driver o

We dive into what happens in the final week leading up to the auction and the intricacies of the day itself from the perspective of real estate agents, to give you the inside scoop. We’ll explore the meticulous preparations, potential hurdles, and behind-the-scenes activities that define the auction process.

In this blog, we will delve into the performance risks and potential downsides you need to be aware of before making such an investment.

Why short-term investing has long-term consequences Property is a unique asset class, particularly considering the amount of money outlaid on costs other than the asset itself each time a property is traded. This means that mistakes on your property journey can be terribly expensive and carry long-lasting effects on your future wealth. If you start […]

Houses have outperformed units and capitals have outperformed regionals overall, but Hobart, Darwin and Canberra all buck the trend. What does the data really tell us?

Interest rate cycles since 1990 reveal a clear pattern: property values rarely move the way people expect when rates rise or fall. Here's what the data tells us.

Your gearing is positive when your rental income is higher than your expenses (loan interest, rates, insurance, maintenance and so on), meaning you're making a profit and paying tax on it. It's negative when your expenses outweigh your income, meaning you're running a loss that you can (for now) offset against your other taxable income. Sitting neatly between the two is a neutrally geared property, sometimes called a neutral cashflow property, where your rental income roughly

Bigger isn't always better. Land size, orientation, corner blocks and location all affect capital growth differently, so understand what actually drives value before you buy.

In this week’s episode Dave, Cate and Pete take you through how to factor land tax into your property portfolio, cash flows and future decision making.

Timing the property market causes paralysis by analysis. Episode 12 explores why now is always the best time to buy, if it suits your personal economy and long-term plan.

Why is it so important to have a Property Plan before you make your next purchase? The simple answer: it’s a really expensive mistake if you only consider your short-term. Property is the most expensive asset class for most AND the only asset class we live in. The combination of it being a lifestyle asset, […]