No wonder its getting harder to sell the family home. It seems everybody is staying put and renovating instead. The Bureau of Statistics figures just released for Sydney state that large alterations grew by 11% last year. The Masters Builder Association calculates renovations at $10 billion nationally for this year while new home construction in volume is at 1950s levels (Australias population then 9,000,000). This does not mean people are trying to save money. Archicentre is quotes as stating the average Sydney reno is now $500,000.
Interestingly, the average house prices in Australias capital cities are:
Sydney $582,000
Melbourne $499,000
Brisbane $460,000
Adelaide $400,000
Perth $495,000
ATO plans to charge GST on manufactured home parks scrapped
A concerted effort by the Residents Association of manufactured home parks has headed off the ATO which had planned to impose GST in mobile homes. This would have added 10% to the cost of the purchase of a home