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Free Report: Tax Traps to Avoid If Your Property Was Damaged in the Fires or Floods

By in Case Study, Free Resources

There’s no doubt that we are seeing an increasing amount of natural disasters… from unstoppable flash floods to raging bush fires.

And it’s always devastating when your property is damaged by fires or floods, be it your home or investment.

Unfortunately, it’ll never be an easy fix either as it can range from significant repairs to a complete rebuild. Needless to say, the financial and emotional consequences are hard to bear. What’s worse, sometimes when you’re on your way to recovery and decide to rebuild your property, you get hit by a big fat tax bill 😨

So to help raise awareness of this tax debacle, Bryce, Ben and Julia unpacked all the key details in Episode 386 | BEWARE Tax Traps! How to rebuild or repair after a natural disaster. The best part is… Julia has also helped create a free report to help provide more clarity!

So what are you waiting for?

Let’s get started! Simply fill in the form below and we’ll email the PDF to your inbox 😊


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p.s. If you are affected emotionally, please do not hesitate to reach out for help. That’s the first step to recovery.

Here are some useful links that might help you take that step:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

366 | How to Break into the Property Market?

By in Podcast

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Folks, the last time we unpacked a case study on the podcast was back in Episode 64 on 19th of May 2016. (WHAT?!!!)

So… you can imagine how excited we were with this episode, can’t you? 😉

In fact, Ben said this at the very start…

“MAAAAATE…. This is a MEGA episode!”

And no, he’s not exaggerating!

What we are doing today is a bit of Myth Busting coupled with some data, graph and cashflow modelling. And here’s a spoiler… You’ll be very surprised at our proposed strategy for this case study cause it’s not exactly what we’ve been banging on about for the last 300+ episodes.

Why are we proposing this then?

Well….

Cause we are going through a rapid price growth cycle and our strategy needs to be flexible and agile!

But before you start tearing off those pages in your custom-made The Property Couch Textbook (just joking but if you have one, please let us know!) remember this…

…. The fundamentals are still very much the same 😉

 

Free Stuff Mentioned

  • 334 | Bernard Salt: The BIG Shift In Australian Property! – Listen here
  • 308 | Pain & Gain: The Wealth Effect & The Housing Affordability Debate – Chat with Eliza Owen from CoreLogic – Listen here
  • PICA’S WEBINAR on Estate Planning – Watch Replay here.
  • ABC News Most Popular Australian Story on Gayle and Mac Shann – Read more here
  • John Kehoe’s Article on Financial Review – Read here
  • FREE Downloadable! Download here or fill in the form below…
  • Free Book: The Armchair Guide to Property Investing! – Get Your Copy Here
  • (85% OFF) Here’s the link to our Black Friday Sale!! >> https://thepropertycouch.com.au/blackfriday
  • (25% OFF) Get Access to Select Residential Reports here! – Don’t forget to key in this discount code: SRPRPT25

  

We recommend you to…

Download this free report before you proceed folks! We’re going through some charts and graphs today so if you’d like to play along at home, fill in your details below and let us know where to send them to! 😉


  • Are you also interested to have a better understanding of your cashflow position via our FREE Money SMARTS Platform?

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Here’s some of the gold we cover…

  • 1:40 – Thinking about your Estate Planning? Check out PICA’s webinar here!
  • 3:03 – THIS Quote from James Clear is epic folks!
  • 4:51 – What is the Real Myth that we Busting today?
  • 6:44 – If you feel like it’s all impossible…. Check this part out.
  • 8:27 – The start of the STRATEGY segment
  • 9:02 – What are the 5 Types of Investors?
  • 11:31 – The TWO Pathway to Equity that we are focusing on today…
  • 14:03 – Moving on to TACTICS!
  • 14:35 – How much deposit is needed for this strategy??!!
  • 16:06 – Practical tips to boost your borrowing power
  • 17:29 – Let’s be honest… here’s what you need to sacrifice.
  • 21:28 – Asset Selection 101
  • 23:11 – What are the TWO Asset Aspects a millennial should focus on?
  • 25:11 – How do you fast track your research for this strategy?
  • 26:59 – THIS is the price range we’re looking at today…
  • 28:37 – What are the areas that you want to stay away from?
  • 32:03 – What’s our definition of “Buying Below Market Value”?
  • 34:11 – Over _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ : One of the Core Risk for this strategy
  • 36:00 – The biggest bang for buck you get in terms of dollar down versus dollar return is…
  • 39:11 – Here’s when you should consider sub-division
  • 41:21 – Serious about research? Which data you should focus on?
  • 43:30 – Everything that you need to AVOID!
  • 47:07 – Download this Free One Pager here before you proceed!
  • 47:45 – The hero of today’s episode… our CASE STUDY!!

And…

  • 1:05:28 – Our BLACK FRIDAY Sales!!
  • 1:11:11 – What’s making property news – Soaring stamp duty ‘bracket creep on steroids’

 

 

 

 

 

 

352 | Healthy Houses: Is This The New Way For Property Investors? – Chat with Amelia Lee & Raphael Siket

By in Podcast

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Is your property HEALTHY? Look, this question probably isn’t what property investors commonly ask themselves… but after listening to this episode, we reckon’ you’ll start thinking completely differently about the health of your home & your investments!!

Full disclosure: our minds were blown! Sure, we all spend a significant amount of time in our homes, which has obviously increased since the great ‘work from home experiment’… but once you learn exactly how your property affects your physical and mental health… well, wow. This will TOTALLY shift your thinking!)

Here’s the deal: Today’s topic is largely around ‘healthy’ homes – with a unique spin on what’s called ‘passive houses’– that is, ultra-low energy buildings that are truly energy efficient, comfortable, affordable and ecological at the same time…

And ‘cos this is such a special episode, we have a guest co-host joining Bryce today…. PLUS, a very, very special guest!

Co-hosting today’s podcast as part of our AweGuest series is Amelia Lee, the architect behind Undercover Architect, an award-winning online resource to teach folks how to design, build or renovate their homes. To give you an idea, she’s been in the industry for over 25 years and has solid personal experience in the trenches as a “serial renovator” and has worked on more than 250 projects and counting.

And here with an interview that you won’t ever forget is Raphael Siket – Director of Ecolibria – a leading building biology service in Australia. He is a qualified building biologist and has completed the most comprehensive course of study currently in his field with an Advanced Diploma in Building Biology, a Bachelor of Commerce and – wait for it – is a Certified Mould Testing Technician (ACES) and past president of the Australasian Society of Building Biologists.

And, here’s where it gets EVEN MORE interesting……

… Let’s just say some guy called Bryce Holdaway first met Raph Siket under personal circumstances he’d rather not have been in…. and, yep, it had to do with the HEALTH (or rather ‘unhealth) of his home.

Oh, and get this… Raph has PERSONALLY built his own passive house… from a once- volume-built home. Yep.

Are you ready to see things COMPLETELY differently?

Tune in now for one heck of an episode – let us know what you think 😉

 

Free Stuff Mentioned

 

Here’s What We Cover…

  • 00:50 – Meet Amelia Lee…
  • 02:01 – 12 years of living in construction sites!?!
  • 03:21 – Amelia’s Mindset Minute!
  • 04:48 – What was money like growing up for Amelia?
  • 07:47 – Overcoming a scarcity mindset…
  • 10:48 – Is ‘the hustle’ all it’s cracked up to be?
  • 13:01 – Meet Raphael Siket…
  • 14:32 – Money beginnings in South Africa…
  • 16:36 – What does Raph teach his own kids about money?
  • 17:00 – How Bryce met Raph! :- /
  • 18:34 – The M Word: Where unhealthy houses start…
  • 21:22 – How does Raph keep himself safe?
  • 22:53 – How many buildings are impacted by condensation?
  • 22:36 – Confronting property conversations…
  • 24:22 – Can mould exposure cause depression?
  • 22:50 – Remediation: Steps to remove mould from your home!
  • 28:49 – Be aware of the quick paint job!!!
  • 30:42 – Bryce’s BIG issue in the Alphington property…
  • 27:26 –  … What to do for properties in a humid environment!
  • 34:43 – The massive clean-up!
  • 36:35 – What is a Passive House?
  • 38:42 – An overlooked pleasant surprise of passive houses!
  • 40:50 – What’s an AVERAGE energy star-rating for homes?
  • 42:00 – Average air changes per hour: Normal vs Passive House
  • 43:32 – 5 Basic Principles Of A Passive House!
  • 44:37 – WHY did Raph turn his home into a passive house??
  • 46:35 — …They FILMED the whole thing!?!
  • 47:01 – How many…!?! (oh dear!)
  • 49:46 – What does a passive house feel like?
  • 53:13 – How has living in a passive home affected Raph’s life??
  • 54:13 – EMF electrical circuit: What’s the deal?
  • 57:46 – … Umm, NO Wi-Fi in the house!?!
  • And…
  • 1:00:45 – How much does all this cost!?!
  • 1:03:47 – How to source the on-demand light switches
  • 1:08:39 – Paint choices for good health…
  • 1:10:36 – The glue in your floorboards… (!)
  • 1:14:47 – GAH! Don’t put your meter box here!!!!!!
  • 1:18:18 – Do EMF Curtains work on meter boxes?
  • 1:20:49 – Geeking out on the numbers!
  • 1:21:48 – Solar Panels – are they worth the cost!?!
  • 1:28:06 – Buying With The Sun – the best thing you can do!
  • 1:29:17 – Amelia’s Life Hack!
  • 1:31:11 – Changes coming for construction on condensation!

 

 

Episode 351 | Why The Cost Of A Brick Can Get You More Cash Back! – Chat with Bradley Beer

By in Podcast

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Did you know that the BRICKS on your investment property actually influence the amount of tax depreciation you can claim?

… Wait, what!?!

Yep. Here to unfold the tax secrets only Quantity Surveyors know about is none other than Bradley Beer, CEO of BMT Tax, the largest and most trusted quantity surveying firm in the country.

Basically, Brad is going to walk you through the little-known legalities of depreciation – and how much you can really claim when the totality (and history!) of your investment property is considered. Handy hint: a LOT of investors are leaving money on the table when it comes to this!

Co-hosting today’s episode as part of our AweGuest Series, Brad Beer is THE expert you want to hear from when it comes to tax depreciation claims – to give you an idea, his company has completed almost 750,000 depreciation schedules for property investors… so let’s just say he knows more than the “ins and outs” of how to maximise the cash you can get back while still staying on the right side of the law!

A bit more about today’s co-host: Aside from working with BMT Tax Depreciation since 1998, Bradley Beer is also a member of the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and the Auctioneers and Valuers Association of Australia, which means he contributes to the latest information within the quantity surveying and the property industry in Australia. His knowledge as both a quantity surveyor AND property investor means he is a highly sought-after speaker and regularly features in national events, conferences and the media to share his knowledge with the wider property investment community.

 

So. WHY can the cost of a brick get you more cash back???

Tune in now to find out, folks!

 

Free Stuff Mentioned

Hust a quick update on our NEW TAX SERVICE as well folks, the response rate had been really good! So Bryce has asked our Tax Accountants to free up their calendar and move things around so that we can help more of The Property Couch Community! So if you are on the hunt for a specialised property tax accountant, simple fill in the form below and we’ll get in touch with you very soon. 😉

  • Please select your type of Tax Return

  • If you've engaged our services before, tick the checkbox below:

 

10 Mission-Critical Answers You’ll Get…

  1. WHAT is property tax depreciation?
  2. WHY is it important for investors?
  3. WHO is a quantity surveyor and why do they get involved in providing depreciation schedules?
  4. … But doesn’t an accountant look after depreciation!?!
  5. Is it worth getting a depreciation schedule for OLDER properties?
  6. HOW does depreciation work when renovating?
  7. WHEN should an investor be thinking about property depreciation?
  8. What can an investor do if they have been missing out on depreciation deductions?
    • Can they go back and get and missed deductions?
  9. How can an investor find out if getting a depreciation schedule completed will be WORTH IT?
  10. What is involved in preparing a tax depreciation schedule?

 

 

The Listener Questions We Answer

Question from Sharon Paterson on “Improvement or Repair” For A Leaking Hot Water Service

Hi Bryce and Ben, my name is Sharon, and I’ve been listening to your podcasts now for quite a few years and I love listening to them every week. My question is probably for Julia or for Brad –it’s in relation to replacing a hot water service. It was leaking so it had to be replaced, it wasn’t an improvement, and because the cost was nearly $1800, I am just wondering if that can be written off against my tax or do I have to depreciate it?

 

Question from Mick on “Improvement or Repair” For Replacing Cracked Tiles On Roof

Hi Brad, just a quick tax depreciation question from me. We have an investment property that’s getting on age a little bit now and has a concrete tile roof. Some of the tiles on this roof are cracked and need to be replaced, charge for facing is they are beyond repair and

we’re finding it difficult to source tiles to replace them with. Say the recommendation from our builder is to reroof the house with Colorbond… can we claim this as capital works or can we claim it as a repair? We’re hoping we can claim this as a repair because we’ve been told that the roof is not replaceable. Any advice would be appreciated. Cheers!

 

 

Question from Leonard on How To Choose A Quantity Surveyor

Hi my name is Leonard and I’ve got a question for Brad Beer. Hi Brad, how should investors go about choosing a quantity surveyor to work with? What can a good quantity surveyor do that a not so good one can’t? And if depreciation values are determined by a set of rules, isn’t the outcome going to be the same anyway regardless of who we work with? Is it just a matter of picking who provides the best price? Thank you very much and looking forward to your response.

 

 

Question from Leonard on Turning PPR Into A Rental

Hello everyone, my name is Leonard and I have a depreciation question for Brad here. We have a PPR which we have lived in for three years. We are the first occupiers as we

bought it new. Next year, on the 4th year, we will move out and turn our PPR into a rental property. I have 2 questions.

First, how many years of depreciation deductions do we have remaining on the property? Will it be 40 years starting from the time it became a rental? Or 37 years as the depreciation had already commenced when we lived in the property but it was just not claimable as a tax deduction?

Second question: will we still able to claim depreciation on the fixtures and fittings because the property is rented out for the first time?

Thank you.

 

Question from Kim on Overcapitalising?

Hi this is a question for Bradley Beer. Bradley, I wanna know, I often hear people overcapitalising on their investment or even their home property— is there a general rule you think clients should stay with for insuring that they don’t fall into this trap of overcapitalising? Thank you!

 

 

 

323 | Rising From A Decade Of Addiction: The Phenomenal Property Investment Story You Have To Hear To Believe – Chat with Sam

By in Podcast, Real life stories, Summer Series

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There are stories you hear about that stay with you for the longest time. Stories of triumph, stories of heartbreak, stories of beating the odds. Personal stories so authentic and transparent that, no matter what, hit your core and you can’t forget.

This episode is THAT story. And today’s remarkable guest is Sam, a Couch Listener who is as inspiring and impactful as they come!

Seriously. This is one of the BIGGEST transformations – both the biggest financial AND life transformations – we’ve heard on the podcast, and indeed will go down as one of our favourites… ever.

Meet Sam .

Over four years ago, life was very different for Sam. For almost a decade she struggled with mental health and substance abuse… to the point where she was caught in a revolving door of psychiatric hospitalisation.

Since high school she has battled with mental health challenges, which continued for 9 years, while her struggles with illicit substances lasted for about 7 years…

Obviously, and quite understandably, you can imagine that financial matters weren’t exactly a priority. Let alone the thought of investing in property!

Fast forward to today, and Sam’s life is “we have no words” different. A PHENOMENAL turnaround you just have to hear to believe, folks!

Oh, and just FYI… Sam is a young single woman on a modest income who has never known ANY other property investors… yep, that’s ON TOP of her incredible backstory.

Just listen to it. You’ll be blown away.

We know we were.

 

P.S. This is the LAST EPISODE in our 2020 Summer Series… and while we’ve absolutely loved each and every one of our guests, we reckon we might’ve saved the best ‘til last.

For us, this has been the most impactful interview of all time!

 

Free Stuff Mentioned…

 

Here’s some of the stuff we talk about…

  • 02:52 — Meet Sam…
  • 03:09 — What was money like growing up?
  • 05:10 — The poem…
  • 06:04 — The incredible backstory
  • 08:11 — What triggered such massive change?
  • 11:00 — Warning signs…
  • 11:45 — Sam’s advice for people who might be going through mental health issues…
  • 12:39 — How can you best help someone who is struggling?
  • 14:29 — How many mental health professionals has Sam likely worked with?
  • 16:59 — The pivot!
  • 17:41 — Wow — the foresight to do this was incredible!
  • 19:10 — The first property…
  • 21:05 — How did she rebuild her habits?
  • 21:40 — Her savings tips!
  • 22:32 — The biggest thing she’s learnt about money management
  • 23:24 — How many bank accounts did she have open?
  • 24:15 — Her money management system (and the infamous Word doc!)
  • 26:39 — How did the podcast come across her radar?
  • 27:53 — The first episode she listened to!
  • 30:45 — When you’re sceptical about professional advice…
  • 33:48 — What made her take advice?
  • 36:20 — How does it feel to have a Property Plan in place?
  • 37:44 — When’s her first investment property scheduled for?!
  • 39:33 — What if you don’t know anyone else who in invests in property?
    40:29 — What does Financial Peace look like for Sam?
  • 44:33 — Some wisdom from Sam to you…
  • 45:00 — The power of self-belief!
  • 46:23 — Mindset vs Mechanics – Which is more important?

 

Note: There are more real-life investor stories like this in our Summer Series! Make sure you check them all out here.

Keen to Get Started with Money SMARTS like Sam?

Fill in the form below and create your account on our Money SMARTS Platform now!

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