Stamp Duty is Holding Australia Back: Dr. Nicola Powell on Why We Need Bold Reform

Australia’s housing market is under pressure from many directions, but one of the most overlooked barriers is stamp duty. Once a relatively modest transaction cost, stamp duty has ballooned into one of the biggest financial hurdles for homebuyers.

Just to give you an idea – in Sydney, stamp duty on a median-priced house has gone from around 45% of a household’s disposable income in 2000 to 120% today.

And it’s not just buyers who are suffering. Stamp duty distorts housing decisions, locks people into homes that no longer suit them, and acts as a handbrake on productivity.

Today, I'm joined by Dr Nicola Powell, Chief of Research and Economics at Domain, whose recent report makes a compelling case for replacing stamp duty with a fairer, broad-based land tax.

Whether you're a property investor, a home buyer, or just somebody who's interested in the housing markets, I'm sure today's chat with Dr Nicola Powell will give you a new perspective as I also want to discuss their latest report on who has profited from property over the last few years.

Takeaways 

·         A growth mindset is essential for success in property investment.

·         Stamp duty presents significant financial barriers for home buyers and investors.

·         The burden of stamp duty has increased over time, affecting housing mobility.

·         Capital gains tax on family homes could discourage movement and exacerbate housing issues.

·         Stamp duty is economically inefficient, costing more in lost activity than it raises.

·         Housing misallocation is a significant issue in Australia, with many living in homes that exceed their needs.

·         Consumer confidence is a key driver of property market trends and price growth.

·         Longer holding periods for properties generally lead to greater capital gains.

·         Location plays a crucial role in property investment success.

·         Reform of stamp duty is necessary for improving housing mobility and economic productivity.

Chapters 

01:58 Introduction

05:14 Australians Holding Their Homes for Longer

08:07 How Stamp Duty Deters People from Moving

09:56 The Inefficiency of a Stamp Duty

11:34 The Caveats of a Stamp Duty Reform

14:02 Recent Domain Report Results

18:35 The Confidence has Come Back into the Market

Links and Resources:

Answer this week’s trivia question here- www.PropertyTrivia.com.au

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Michael Yardney – Subscribe to my Property Update newsletter here

Dr Nicola Powell, Chief of Research and Economics at Domain  https://www.domain.com.au/news/author/dr-nicola-powell/

Domain’s property profit and loss report:https://www.domain.com.au/research/profit-and-loss-report-1410018/

Domain’s Stamp Duty suggestions: https://propertyupdate.com.au/stamp-duty-is-holding-australia-back-why-we-need-bold-reform/?

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