New vs Established Investment Property in 2026: Why the Tax Rules Now Favour New Builds
From 1 July 2027, two investors paying the same price for the same rent can face very different tax bills, simply because one dwelling is new.
From 1 July 2027, two investors paying the same price for the same rent can face very different tax bills, simply because one dwelling is new.
TL;DR The May 2026 Federal Budget abolished negative gearing for established properties purchased after 12 May 2026 and will replace the 50 per cent CGT discount with indexation from 1 July 2027. New builds are exempt and keep both tax benefits. With ABS data showing rents still rising and housing the biggest driver of inflation, high yield new builds such as co-living, dual occupancy and duplex homes now offer stronger cash flow and better tax treatment.
TL;DR The Australian Government has agreed to support an amendment that would ban future limited recourse borrowing arrangements, or LRBAs, for residential property by superannuation funds. Existing SMSF borrowings are not intended to change, and the Government has described a 45-day transition period for investments already in progress. There is no confirmed August cut-off yet, but investors relying on SMSF lending should treat August as a planning window, not a guaranteed deadline.
This report provides a quarterly review of pricing across current market listings analysed by Aus Investment Properties. It is designed as an investor-grade market snapshot of build pricing, land pricing and package pricing across residential investment product types and key states. Unless otherwise stated, all standard residential analysis excludes Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), which is reported separately because specification, compliance settings and package structure differ materially from non-SDA stock.
Australian property market forecasts for 2026 are generally positive, with most analysts expecting moderate price growth across the country. For property investors, however, headline growth figures tell only part of the story. The real question is not whether prices will rise, but where investment property fundamentals still stack up under tighter borrowing conditions and higher holding costs.
Don't just observe the housing crisis – leverage it. Understand how Australia's unprecedented dwelling deficit could be the catalyst for your next successful investment. Australia is grappling with a significant housing shortage, a topic dominating headlines and impacting individuals across the nation. While the human element of this crisis is undeniable, for astute property investors, it also presents a compelling, long-term opportunity.
Capital Growth 12 months, measures the increase in a property’s value over the previous 12 months, indicating how much the investment has appreciated in that timeframe.
Capital Growth 10-year annualised, reflects the average annual increase in a property’s value over the last decade, smoothing out short-term fluctuations to show long-term appreciation trends.
Vacancy Rate, indicates the percentage of properties that are currently unoccupied in that postcode, It’s a key indicator for investors to assess the rental demand.