As of 1 July 2017, a 1.5% land tax surcharge is being imposed by the Queensland Government on absentee land owners. An ‘absentee’ land owner is not just a foreign owner – it can include Australian citizens who do not ordinarily live or reside in Australia. If you are living or working overseas, and are
Foreign Investors – the effect of Budget 2017 changes
Let’s recap on changes which have now taken effect following the latest Federal Budget. The tax increases and charges to foreign buyers are estimated to bring in an extra $600 million for the government over the next 4 years. Buyers and sellers need to be on their toes in order to comply with the changes.
Disclosure Statements for unit or townhouse conveyancing – is it just a whole lot of useless paperwork?
Well, it is more paperwork… but it is important! Queensland legislation requires sellers of units to disclose certain matters to buyers. The amount of disclosure that is required will depend on whether the property you are purchasing is completed, or if it is to be completed at some stage after the contract has been signed.
Selling or buying for $750K+ – ATO Clearance certificates now required
What’s the change? Last year, the Australian Taxation office brought in new requirements for property sellers to assist with the collection of foreign resident’s tax liabilities. On 1 July 2017, the requirements changed so that more sellers are required to obtain clearance certificates prior to settlement. Do I need an ATO Clearance certificate? Only if
Why do I have to get insurance for my property before it settles?
When you sign a contract to purchase a house or unit, one of the first things your solicitor will tell you to do is – take out insurance. But what kind of insurance do you need? And why is it so important? It is easy to think – After all, I don’t own the property
Do I have to pay a body corporate special levy charged on the unit I am buying?
What is a body corporate special levy? The normal body corporate levies payable by unit owners are the Administrative Fund levies for the everyday running costs of the body corporate, and the Sinking Fund levies which are saved for future capital works on the building which comprises the Community Titles Scheme. To use business terminology,
How do I extend the date for Settlement under my Contract?
In Queensland property conveyancing, dates are crucial and essential terms of the contract. In the real world, it is very common for dates to be varied by agreement between the parties. However, there are traps for the unwary! Sajen Legal are experts in smoothly handling extensions and taking the worry out of it. We take a
What is aggregated stamp duty?
If you ever buy or transfer two or more properties in one arrangement, this article is for you. Most people in the property market know of transfer duty (formerly known as stamp duty). It is the tax payable on most property transactions. Duty is calculated based on the purchase price of the property or the
Have you lost your title deed?
What is a title deed? A title deed, most commonly known as a certificate of title, is a paper record showing the current owner and title particulars of a property. Pre-1994, a paper title deed existed for every property in Queensland. Since 1994 the Queensland Land Titles Register has been electronic and paperless, and certificates
Sellers – make sure you disclose all easements in the contract!
Sellers need to avoid giving buyers an easy “out” of the sale contract. One of the most common of these is if an encumbrance on the property, such as an easement, is not disclosed to the buyer in the contract. The seller has an obligation to make the buyer aware of all easements related to