Last updated: 5 August 2026  |  General information only Refinancing in a nutshell Start by asking your current lender for a better rate. Compare the interest rate, comparison rate, fees, features and remaining loan term. Calculate how long it will take to recover every switching cost. Check break fees, lender's mortgage insurance (LMI) and your serviceability before applying. A lower repayment is not automatically a saving if the new loan extends your term. A lower home-loan rate can reduce both your monthly repayment and the interest you pay over time. But refinancing is not automatically a good deal. Fees, a longer loan term, fewer useful features or a new LMI premium can wipe out the benefit. The right question is not simply, “Can I get a lower rate?” It is: “After all costs, will the new loan leave me better off over the period I expect to keep it?” As at 5 August 2026, the Reserve Bank of Austral...

Last updated: July 2026  |  Reading time: 13 min Australia's capital gains tax system just went through its biggest change since 1999. The 50% CGT discount that investors have relied on for 27 years is being replaced — and if you own investment property, shares, or any other CGT asset, understanding what changes, when, and for whom is now genuinely urgent. This guide covers how CGT works under the current rules, exactly what the 2026 budget reforms change from 1 July 2027, and what it means for different types of investors depending on when they bought and what they own. How CGT Works — The Basics Capital Gains Tax isn't a separate tax — it's the tax you pay on a capital gain when you sell (or otherwise dispose of) an asset. The gain is added to your taxable income in the year you sell, and taxed at your marginal rate. For most assets, a "capital gain" is simply the difference between what you received for the asset and what you paid for it (your c...

Last updated: July 2026  |  Reading time: 11 min When I bought my first investment property, my accountant asked at tax time whether I had a depreciation schedule. I didn't — I hadn't even heard of one. Turned out I'd been leaving roughly $6,000 in deductions unclaimed every year. I had the schedule done retrospectively and amended two years of tax returns. It cost me $650 for the report and came back more than ten times that in deductions over the following three years. A depreciation schedule is one of the few tax deductions available to property investors that requires no cash outlay in the year you claim it. It's the ATO's recognition that your asset is physically wearing out — and that wear is a legitimate cost of running an investment. Here's how it works and why most investors with property built after 1987 should have one. The Two Types of Depreciation — Division 40 and Division 43 Australian tax law divides property depreciation into two ...

Last updated: July 2026  |  Reading time: 12 min Negative gearing has been part of Australian tax law since 1936 and one of the most debated property investment strategies for decades. In May 2026, the federal government made its biggest change to the rules in almost 90 years — and if you own investment property, or you're thinking about buying, you need to understand exactly what changed and what didn't. This guide covers how negative gearing works, the 2026 rule changes in plain language, and what they mean for existing investors versus new buyers. What Is Negative Gearing? Negative gearing occurs when the costs of owning an investment property exceed the rental income it generates. The "loss" — the gap between what you earn in rent and what you pay in interest, fees, maintenance, and other expenses — can be deducted from your other taxable income, including your salary. In practical terms: if your investment property costs $45,000 per year to hold ...