Insights

Read before you invest.

Plain-English takes on what's actually happening in Australian property, SMSF, cash flow, equity release, NDIS, market structure. Written by people who do this work daily, not by content marketers.

396 articles · Page 1 of 27

More from Insights.

How to bid at auction as a first home buyer — without overpaying

Auctions move fast and the rules are unforgiving. Here is what first home buyers need to know before they raise their hand.

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The 6-year CGT rule: how it works and when investors can use it

Move out, rent it out, and still sell CGT-free? The 6-year rule makes that possible, but there are conditions most people miss.

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What a duplex actually is — and how it differs from a dual occ or dual key

Three property types. One confusing cluster of terminology. Here is what each one actually means before you commit to a strategy.

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The sole purpose test: the SMSF rule that catches more trustees than any other

Most SMSF trustees know the rule exists. Far fewer understand exactly how it applies when property is involved, and what it costs when it goes wrong.

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Why your SMSF needs its own bank account — and how to set it up correctly

A dedicated SMSF bank account is not optional, it's a legal requirement with real consequences if you get it wrong. Here's what the rules say and how to do it properly.

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Shares, ETFs, and managed funds inside an SMSF: the basics

An SMSF can hold more than property. Here is how shares, ETFs, and managed funds actually work inside the fund, what the tax looks like, and what to weigh before mixing asset classes.

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Rentvesting in one sentence

You rent where you want to live, and buy where the numbers work. That's rentvesting. Here's what it actually involves.

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Why I'd never cross-collateralise an investment loan

Cross-collateralisation looks like a shortcut to your first investment property. Here is what the loan contract you sign actually hands over to your lender.

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Genuine savings vs gifted deposits: what lenders actually accept

Your deposit source matters as much as its size. Here is how lenders read genuine savings, family gifts, and other deposit types before they say yes.

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The deposit myth: why you don't actually need 20% to buy in Australia

The 20% deposit figure gets repeated so often it starts to feel like law. It isn't. Here's how the real rules work for investors, owner-occupiers, and first home buyers.

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What a $50,000 deposit actually looks like across three buying strategies

The same $50,000 behaves very differently depending on how you deploy it. Here's what each path actually costs, what it gets you, and what the gaps are.

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How depreciation can turn a negative cashflow property positive

A property that bleeds cash each month can look very different once depreciation enters the equation. Here is how the numbers actually work.

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Here's what $700k actually buys in five Australian markets right now

Seven hundred thousand dollars means very different things depending on which city you're looking at. Here's a grounded, market-by-market breakdown.

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Why most property investors never own more than one

ATO data shows over 70% of Australian property investors stop at one property. Here is what holds them back and what separates those who build further.

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