How to decide if negative gearing will pay off

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May 29 2019
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Going into debt or putting in place a negative gearing strategy is a popular wealth-building strategy for many Australians. However, some experts believe there are other options long-term investors should weigh up.

Negative gearing, particularly with property, can be an effective strategy for investors if the value of the property appreciates enough over time to deliver a strong capital gain.

However, as wealth management partner at HLB Mann Judd, Jonathan Philpot, points out, this isn’t always the case, as many investors have experienced during current market freefalls.

For Mr Philpot, these investors with long-term aspirations could be exploring other tax-effective vehicles at their disposal, like superannuation.

“Using gearing to build wealth can be risky, and negative gearing into property carries a higher risk without a guarantee of a greater return opportunity.

“A negative gearing strategy can pay off... but this isn’t always the outcome. And the capital costs of running and maintaining an investment property can be high,” said Mr Philpot.

Considerations for super savings

Given the restricted concessional contribution limits of $25,000 a year that applies, investors cannot deposit a large sum into super.

Rather, investors should view this as a long play, as they would with property investment.

“One smart strategy is to begin this from the age of 40, with the aim of building a super fund up to the $1.6 million balance cap limit,” said Mr Philpot.

Myth busting

Many Australians view superannuation as an illiquid asset, as it is locked away until retirement.

However, Mr Philpot reminds investors that by comparison, property also doesn’t have a high liquidity value.

“Property is an illiquid asset and investors can only access the capital upon the sale of that property,” he said.

“The income generated from rental is generally low – often at around 3 per cent per annum or less – and this income is often being utilised to meet loan repayments,” he said.

“For a property investment to achieve its potential, it should be at least a 10-year holding, meaning the wealth invested in a property can also be viewed as locked away,” he said.

Nestegg readers also give thought to the labor's new policy about negative gearing labor for the year 2020.

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About the author

Cameron is a journalist for Momentum Media's nestegg and Smart Property Investment. He enjoys giving Aussies practical financial tips and tricks to help grow their wealth and achieve financial independence. As a self-confessed finance nerd, Cameron enjoys chatting with industry experts and commentators to leverage their insights to grow your portfolio.

About the author

Cameron is a journalist for Momentum Media's nestegg and Smart Property Investment. He enjoys giving Aussies practical financial tips and tricks to help grow their wealth and achieve financial independence. As a self-confessed finance nerd, Cameron enjoys chatting with industry experts and commentators to leverage their insights to grow your portfolio.

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