Is there really an apartment view tax?
Should an owner pay an apartment view tax just because their apartment has a better view? Different councils around Australia apply different methods to calculate their rates. Some apartment owners pay higher rates because their apartment is more valuable. Is that fair? Or should all apartments attract the same rates? I recently discussed this issue…Read More→
Will apartment rents keep rising? Live on 3AW
Apartment rents have been volitile over the last few years. Lately they have risen sharply and everyone wants to know if they will keep rising. Listen here or you can read the transcript below. On afternoons on 3AW afternoons, the property update, thanks to Wood Property apartments make it possible, and Wood property makes apartments…Read More→
Why are there vacant apartments?
In such a tight rental market are there really vacant apartments? Well there are reportedly almost 100,000 apartments or houses “vacant” in Melbourne. How can this be? Why would people leave a property empty for so long? It appears there are many reasons. Some more rational than others. The most recent report by Prosper Australia,…Read More→
Housing crises or housing choices?
Labelling our current housing situation as a “housing crises” implies it is a short-term deadlock or impasse. It makes us think of the housing shortage like a situation that just needs diplomatic agreement between various parties such as government and industry to resolve. If only it was that simple… While there are many issues at…Read More→
Will migration policy impact apartment rents?
Apartment rents have been rising strongly for almost two years due in part to high net migration. With changes in Australia’s migration policy both owners and renters want to know how it will impact rental rates. While apartment capital values are influenced by a cocktail of inputs like job security, personal balance sheet, cost of…Read More→
Is your apartment tax ready?
Are you and your apartment tax ready? With the financial year end fast approaching it’s time to get your investment apartment tax ready. Part of the challenge is understanding what can and can’t be claimed as a tax deduction. Then you need to pull all the information together for your accountant. Yes I know …..Read More→
Will Melbourne apartment rents hibernate this Winter?
Historically, Melbourne apartment rents spike in Summer and hibernate in Winter. But last year they didn’t. Now as the days shorten through the middle of the year, we all want to know, what will happen to the rental market in the Winter of 2024. The apartment rental market was so strong in 2023 it ploughed…Read More→
Is an apartment lease what you think?
At its core, an apartment lease is a simple agreement. An owner gives their apartment to someone for a period of time in return for rent. Broadly speaking a lease is a mutually beneficial pact that works very well and is centuries old. There are many lease rules like “quiet enjoyment” that are important. The…Read More→
Melbourne apartment values rising
Melbourne apartment values rose in more suburbs that Melbourne house values during the last 3 months according to recent CoreLogic research released this week. Suburbs where apartment values rose the most in the last 3 months include; Carlton – 6.7% Docklands – 4.6% North Melb – 3.9% Windsor – 3.6% Clayton South – 3.5% Mill…Read More→
Tiny apartments provide choice
Could it be unfair or even disrespectful to call tiny apartments dog boxes if that is the accommodation choice of its occupier? Perhaps poorly designed apartments deserve the title, but this just highlights that size is not the issue. For tiny apartments, clever design is key. Planning and design regulations like those in Victoria such…Read More→
Rents are going up… what about values?
We know rents are going up but there were two apartment research reports released to the market this week that caught my eye. Tim Lawless of Core Logic – “Gap widens between houses and unit values“ Louis Christopher of SQM Research – “Vacancy rates sharply decrease over January“ Core Logic and SQM are both highly…Read More→
Off the shelf apartments are coming…
Have you checked to see if your street and suburb is about to be developed with off the shelf apartments? The Victorian Government has released an interactive mapping tool showing the precise location where off-the-shelf apartments can be built. What is an off-the-shelf apartment I hear you ask… (had to research it a bit myself…Read More→