News & Insight

Bathla downfall one of many warning signs for construction industry

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 15:18:56 +0800

Sydney faces ‘quickest and deepest’ housing crash in at least 20 years, CBA warns

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 23:25:15 +0800

With falls accelerating, how far could Australia's property market drop?

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 15:22:09 +0800

Smarter tenancy laws key to purpose-built student accommodation

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 10:48:40 +0800

Crippling housing debate paralysis ignoring the real issue

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 10:41:55 +0800

Australia's home prices extend declines in August as downturn deepens

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 09:04:19 +0800

One of the world’s longest housing booms is cracking in Sydney

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 07:13:44 +0800

Australian Property Market - Crisis or Opportunity?

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 07:32:28 +0800

The recent Australian Federal Budget introduced changes to Capital Gains Tax for all asset investments, including property, removing the previous 50% tax free discount and replacing it with a tax free allowance for inflation uplift.

Furthermore, changes to Negative Gearing, the ability to offset property holding costs against tax payable on other income, have now been limited to investors that acquire newly constructed properties only.

Despite the Government's claims that these changes are good for the country, general market sentiment has been negative, and falling auction clearance rates and softening, declining values across the country are being experienced.

Fear of a market collapse is real and rampant across traditional and social media channels, creating nationwide paralysis, with buyers sitting on the sidelines waiting for lower priced expectations to arrive.

Do these changes really mean an impending period of crisis and concern for the property market, despite the strong returns of recent times, or will the underlying market forces of low supply and population growth be able to support the market in the long term?

In this video Steve Douglas, Executive Chairman of SMATS Group, examines:

The impact of the Budget changes and how they impact owners and investors
The current market factors impacting returns
Whether the underlying facts support a property crash
What are the key drivers of the market, both upwards and downwards
Whether more pain or more opportunity will evolve in the coming months
How to understand and take advantage of the new tax position on property

Relief for sellers ahead of spring 'revival' for troubled property market

Sun, 30 Aug 2026 15:51:44 +0800

Hidden Australian property boom that hit $19 billion in 2026

Sun, 30 Aug 2026 15:47:02 +0800

The Sydney multimillionaires buying their neighbours’ houses

Sat, 29 Aug 2026 05:02:40 +0800

Fresh RBA hike tipped while lenders cut rates

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 16:21:05 +0800

Most profitable areas to own property revealed

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 19:16:34 +0800

These 15 Australian suburbs just lost their million-dollar titles

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 15:38:00 +0800

Major NSW property developer Bathla Group falls into administration

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 14:10:08 +0800

First home buyers chase more loans as property investors step back

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 14:05:25 +0800

Why $130,000 a year is no longer enough to avoid housing stress in WA

Sun, 23 Aug 2026 04:14:48 +0800

Foreign property approvals fall after home buyer ban

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 14:51:21 +0800

Big risk for Aussies buying first home

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:42:05 +0800

This WA mining town is one of Australia's fastest-growing property markets

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 16:46:07 +0800

Calls for rent freeze as grim warning handed down

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 15:00:10 +0800

NAB clarifies wild predictions of 30 per cent rent increases in Australia

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 14:56:45 +0800

How Perth’s most in-demand schools impact nearby property prices

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 16:36:53 +0800

Tax Time & Planning Essential

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 09:27:30 +0800

Another Australian financial year has concluded on the 30^th June and reminds us of our obligations to lodge tax returns.

If you intend to lodge your own returns, then you need to lodge by 31^st October 2026, however if you wish to allow us to assist with your returns we can get extensions to lodge sometimes as far in the future as May 2027.

The recent changes to Capital Gains Tax, Negative Gearing and Trusts also highlight the critical importance of professional help with your overall tax planning, regardless of your levels of income or status as working, investor or retired.

Our tax planning team has been very active and you are always welcome to a free introductory chat to discuss how we can use our 30 years of experience to assist and give you some clarity on the options available to optimise your tax position and most importantly your after tax income.

Feel free to reach out at your convenience.

AUD Holding Around 70c

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 09:23:59 +0800

Since starting its climb at the start of 2026, the AUD has been able to stay above USD0.70c for most of this year, with only a few short dips under USD0.70c seen.

We had predicted this on the basis of the USD being overvalued due to the deficit and accumulated Federal Debt, now fast approaching US$40 Trillion.

Confusion and conflict has underpinned stock market and commodity price volatility and that is likely to remain for at least until the US Mid Term Elections in November.

We remain confident that we are in the “natural range” between the AUD and USD, while the AUD seems to still be at great value against the SGD & GBP.

A reminder that a key element of considering sending funds to or from Australia should always be what your intention is to do with the money once sent. Bear that in mind as sometimes waiting for the right currency value can be lost by the change in value of your intended acquisition.