The federal budget introduced major tax reforms for property investors, but it may still be possible to enjoy the potential tax benefits of negative gearing. Here’s how it could be done.

The 2026 Federal Budget may have changed many of the rules for property investors.

But a rental property can still be an attractive long-term investment.

And yes, you may still be able to benefit from negative gearing.

The key lies in the type of property you buy.

That’s because different rules will apply from 1 July 2027, depending on whether you buy a new or established property.

Let’s take a closer look.

What is negative gearing?

‘Negative gearing’ occurs when the costs of holding onto a rental property exceed the rent it generates each year.

Costs which may add up to exceed income include real estate agent fees, maintenance, mortgage interest and depreciation.

This loss is then claimed against an investor’s total annual income (including wages/salary), which can lower their personal tax bill.

Investors usually accept this annual loss on a rental property because they believe the profits that come from selling the place – known as ‘capital gains’ – will more than make up for the yearly shortfall.

How the rules for negative gearing are changing

From 1 July 2027, investors who buy an established property will only be able to offset the ongoing costs of a rental property against other income from residential properties or against capital gains arising from the sale of a rental property, rather than against their wage/salary income.

This may be fine for investors who own multiple properties.

The thing is, the vast majority of investors in Australia only own one rental property.

But that doesn’t mean the end of negative gearing.

Here’s the potential opportunity.

Under the Budget reforms, investors who purchase a newly built property – one that adds to housing supply – may still be able to use negative gearing as a way to save on tax and support personal cashflow.

Additionally, your current home could also be a negatively geared investment property in the future if you upgrade (or downgrade) into another home, and keep your existing home.⁣

That’s because the new negative gearing rules that take effect from mid-2027 only apply to properties purchased after 12 May 2026 – even if it’s currently your principal place of residence.

Why is negative gearing still being allowed for new properties?

Australia faces a well-publicised housing shortage.

And as our population continues to grow, more people are competing for a place to live in.

By allowing negative gearing for newly built investment properties, the government is hoping to boost the supply of housing.

Newly built homes can have other advantages

It is important to speak with your accountant about any issues related to tax.

The ability to negatively gear newly built properties may be just one part of their appeal.

From 1 July 2027, additional Budget reforms mean that investors who buy a newly built property can choose to claim a 50% capital gains tax discount on the sale of the property (if they hold onto it for more than 12 months).

Or investors can use indexation to adjust gains for inflation and pay capital gains tax at a minimum of 30%. This is the method that will be used to determine capital gains tax on established properties.

There is another possible upside of a newly-built rental property, and that’s the potential to claim increased depreciation costs – both on the building as well as fixtures and fittings such as carpets, curtains and appliances.

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Yes, there have been reforms to how investment properties are taxed.

But financial experts generally agree that investment decisions shouldn’t be based on potential tax benefits alone.

Residential property has been a successful long-term investment for many Australians, and despite occasional dips, property prices have risen over time.

If you’re thinking about a rental property, call us for help finding an investment loan that could help make your goal a reality.

Disclaimer: The content of this article is general in nature and is presented for informative purposes. It is not intended to constitute tax or financial advice, whether general or personal nor is it intended to imply any recommendation or opinion about a financial product. It does not take into consideration your personal situation and may not be relevant to your circumstances. Before taking any action, consider your own particular circumstances and seek professional advice. This content is protected by copyright laws and various other intellectual property laws. It is not to be modified, reproduced or republished without prior written consent.

In today’s easing market, it may be tempting to wait for property prices to fall further. But it’s a strategy that could see first home buyers left disappointed. We explain why.

There is no shortage of media headlines touting big falls in home prices.

But the reality may be less sensational.

While some property values at the luxury end of the market could be seeing price falls of up to 10%, it’s a very different picture at the more affordable end of the market.

We look at what’s happening with home prices, and why holding out for prices to fall further could  work against first homebuyers.

Good news for buyers: values have softened in most capital cities

The big picture is that home values nationally dropped 3.1% over the three months to September, taking annual price growth to just 2.7%, Cotality reports.

However, conditions vary between capital cities, and across market segments.

And here’s what first home buyers need to know.

Higher-value housing is recording larger price declines than affordable homes.

The affordable end of the market is proving resilient

As Cotality puts it, high-end homes are leading the downturn, while lower-priced houses and units are proving more resilient.

As a guide, in the three months to August, property values across the top 25% of the Sydney market fell by 5.7%. By comparison, values in the most affordable 25% of the market, fell by just 2.1%.

In Melbourne, the most expensive segment of the market saw values fall 5.3%, while the cheapest quarter of the market saw prices drop by just 1.3%.

And it’s a similar pattern across almost every state capital, Cotality research shows.

Hobart and Darwin bucked the trend, with home values in the most affordable segment of their respective markets rising over the last quarter.

These findings matter for first home buyers.

That’s because most first-time buyers start out in the more affordable end of the market – and that’s exactly where home values are experiencing softer price falls, if any at all.

Why are affordable homes seeing lower price falls?

Several factors are helping to limit price falls across affordable neighbourhoods.

These include steady entry-level demand.

In the June quarter of 2026, for example, over 29,000 first homebuyers purchased a place of their own. That’s about the same number for the same quarter in 2025.

Demand for affordable homes is also being supported by a range of first home buyer initiatives such as the 5% Deposit Scheme, the First Home Owner Grant and stamp duty savings initiatives.

It can also come down to numbers. There are simply fewer people who can afford to buy a luxury home.

What does this mean for first home buyers?

“Affordability” is the name of the game for plenty of today’s home buyers.

That’s because three rate hikes this year have reduced the borrowing power of many buyers.

Not surprisingly, that’s seen plenty of Australians hone in on affordable suburbs, which remain sought-after for their lower entry prices.

Across some cheaper suburbs, the number of online buyer searches has more than doubled compared to a year ago.

This doesn’t necessarily mean prices will rise in these neighbourhoods.

However, an increase in the number of buyers competing for a limited number of affordable homes may put upward pressure on prices – or limit the extent of any future price falls.

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As affordability pressures push demand toward cheaper markets, lower-priced suburbs may continue to be hot property among budget-conscious buyers.

This could see values in these areas hold their ground – or even buck the trend by starting to climb higher.

The bottom line is that if you’re a first home buyer, and you’re waiting for home prices to fall further, you could be disappointed.

Talk to us today to know if you’re home-loan ready right now.

Disclaimer: The content of this article is general in nature and is presented for informative purposes. It is not intended to constitute tax or financial advice, whether general or personal nor is it intended to imply any recommendation or opinion about a financial product. It does not take into consideration your personal situation and may not be relevant to your circumstances. Before taking any action, consider your own particular circumstances and seek professional advice. This content is protected by copyright laws and various other intellectual property laws. It is not to be modified, reproduced or republished without prior written consent.

Australia’s peak property season is underway, and spring 2026 is shaping up as a buyers’ market. Here’s what the experts say we can expect in the weeks ahead.

Spring is traditionally the biggest selling period of the year for real estate.

It’s a season that can see more homes come onto the market, with listings rising, on average, by 15-20% compared to winter, as sellers take advantage of gardens that are in full bloom.

This year, spring is starting out on a different footing from recent times.

Plenty of signs suggest we are shifting to a buyers’ market, and that could be a plus if you’re looking for a first home, or upgrading to your next place.

Let’s take a look at what’s happening in the market, and how the experts see the season panning out.

Property values are softer

The good news for buyers this spring is that home prices are cooling in most capital cities.

Cotality’s national Home Value Index fell 0.9% in August.

That’s seeing home values nationally sit 3.6% below the market peak of March 2026.

The thing is, price declines aren’t occurring evenly across the board.

Across most state capitals, higher-value housing is recording larger price declines than lower-priced homes, Cotality says.

This may be a plus for upgraders.

Rather than being put off by selling in a softer market, upgraders may be able to take advantage of lower prices on their next home as they climb the property ladder – so long as they buy and sell within a relatively short time.

For example, a 3% price drop on a $1.5 million home that they’re keen to buy is a lot more than a 3% price drop on an $800,000 home they’re looking to sell.

More choice, better bargaining power

The supply of homes listed for sale across our major cities is now 24% higher than a year ago, and 8% above the 5-year average.

That’s quite a turnaround from last spring, when the supply of homes advertised for sale was below average.

Interestingly, the number of homes being advertised for sale by auction is down 31%. This may help reduce some of the stress involved in competing for a property at auction.

The upshot is that spring 2026 has the potential to tick plenty of boxes for homebuyers – more homes to choose from, greater scope to negotiate on price, and the potential to pay less for your new home than you may have a few months ago.

Will home prices fall further this spring?

No one really knows whether home prices will fall further or when they might start to level out.

What matters is a sense of perspective.

Westpac, for instance, is describing the current cooling property market as an “air pocket”, not a lasting downturn. It expects prices to stabilise as we head towards year’s end, then firm slightly over the course of 2027.

More homebuyers turn to a broker for help

One thing we can say for sure is that more Australians are now turning to their broker for help finding a home loan that matches their needs.

Mortgage brokers facilitated 82% of all new residential home loans during the June 2026 quarter.

That’s the highest market share on record.

It’s a clear sign that Australian homebuyers place a lot of value in having a broker in their corner.

Talk to us today

Is spring 2026 the season you will buy your first home, or next home?

Make us your first port of call, and enjoy the homebuying journey with a clear picture of your borrowing power, buying budget, and the reassurance of having a home loan that matches your needs.

Disclaimer: The content of this article is general in nature and is presented for informative purposes. It is not intended to constitute tax or financial advice, whether general or personal nor is it intended to imply any recommendation or opinion about a financial product. It does not take into consideration your personal situation and may not be relevant to your circumstances. Before taking any action, consider your own particular circumstances and seek professional advice. This content is protected by copyright laws and various other intellectual property laws. It is not to be modified, reproduced or republished without prior written consent.

Several of the big banks have pivoted on their rate outlook, and are now predicting rate hikes (rather than no change or a fall) this side of Christmas. It could be a cue for homeowners to plan rather than panic.

After three back-to-back rate hikes earlier this year, homeowners have enjoyed a welcome break from further rate rises in recent months.

But the reprieve may be short-lived.

Three of Australia’s four biggest home loan lenders have sounded the alarm on possible rate hikes, which could happen before Christmas.

We look at what’s driving the forecasts, and how you can plan ahead.

Inflation remains higher than expected

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has made it clear that it’s aiming for inflation of 2-3%, and only weeks ago, the RBA signalled it will “do what it considers necessary” to bring inflation down.

The trouble is, inflation is proving remarkably stubborn.

The latest CPI figures show inflation is currently sitting at 3.5%, and while it’s on a steady downward trend, 3.5% is still well above the RBA’s preferred range.

That’s seeing the major banks rethink their rate expectations.

Rates could rise as early as September

While the big banks hold differing views on the timing of possible rate movements, the common thread is that the next move may be up, rather than down.

NAB, for example, is expecting a 0.25% rate increase in just a few weeks – when the RBA Board meets in late September.

The Commonwealth Bank and ANZ Bank also expect the RBA to lift the cash rate by 0.25%, though not until November.

Among the four major banks, Westpac alone holds the view that the next move for rates will be down – though it’s not expecting rates to fall until September 2027.

How a rate rise could impact your home loan repayments

If three of the four big banks are right, and rates rise by 0.25% over the next few months, this would see the RBA’s cash rate climb from 4.35% at present to 4.6% by year’s end.

We haven’t seen the cash rate at that level since 2010.

If it happens, a 0.25% rate hike could add around $91 to monthly repayments on a $600,000 loan with 25 years remaining, according to an analysis by Canstar.

On a $800,000 loan, monthly repayments could rise by $121, and on a $1 million mortgage with a 25-year term, a 0.25% rate hike could add $152 to monthly repayments.

What you can do now to prepare

No one can say with certainty if we will see a pre-Christmas rate hike.

But it certainly doesn’t hurt to plan ahead.

The first step is to check your current rate.

This gives you a baseline figure to gauge if you are paying more than necessary – regardless of any possible future rate hikes.

As a benchmark, today’s average variable home loan rate is 6.65%.

Close to 50 lenders are currently offering variable home loan rates below 6%.

Not all these loans will be suitable for every borrower.

Even so, it highlights the level of competition in today’s mortgage market – and a benchmark for what’s potentially available.

Why wait for possible future rate hikes?

We can let you know today if you could save by refinancing to a new loan and lender. Or, we could assist with asking your current lender to match what else is out there in the market.

Call us to find out how your current loan shapes up, and whether you may be able to access a more competitive home loan rate or improved loan features.

Disclaimer: The content of this article is general in nature and is presented for informative purposes. It is not intended to constitute tax or financial advice, whether general or personal nor is it intended to imply any recommendation or opinion about a financial product. It does not take into consideration your personal situation and may not be relevant to your circumstances. Before taking any action, consider your own particular circumstances and seek professional advice. This content is protected by copyright laws and various other intellectual property laws. It is not to be modified, reproduced or republished without prior written consent.