The Reserve Bank of Australia has finally chosen to tighten monetary policy. Variable interest rates, which had been very low for some time, are expected to rise again affecting many homeowners’ mortgages across the country. Banks immediately boosted their rates after the first rise and more rate rises are expected throughout the year.
An upward trend for interest rates may mean homeowners and aspiring homeowners look for alternatives to the ‘knock down rebuild’ project or upsizing with a new purchase. So, let’s consider – the great Australian Granny Flat.
A granny flat could help you insulate your lifestyle against cost of living and interest rate rises. Building a granny flat on an existing property allows you to make the most of every square foot of your home – and you’d be surprised how spacious and accommodating they can be. Most importantly, a granny flat can offer your build project financial advantages including making the best utilisation of existing space.
Why are granny flats such a good investment right now?
Building granny flats on houses in Australia allows for secondary and independent living space. By renting out a granny apartment, you can more quickly pay off your mortgage and gain return on investment. Yesterday’s granny flat designs have transformed into today’s trendy home spaces, providing all of the comforts and facilities of a complete home.
Affordability for the Investor
Purchasing or constructing a granny flat is often less expensive than financing a stand-alone investment property. Depending on size and spec, a granny flat with all its inclusions is a fraction of the cost of buying or building a brand new three-bedroom home. Lower capital requirements make them easier to save for, or finance.
Improved Property Value
When it comes time to sell down the track – your investment now, will pay off later. Recent research found that more than half a million homeowners could boost home values by 30 per cent by building a granny flat.
Many buyers will jump at the chance to purchase a property with alternative living space or option to use for income streams. Whether it’s used as a guest house or a teenager’s getaway. Making space for additional occupancy always pays off when it comes to home and land valuation.
Give family space – and a leg up
Keeping your adult kids close in a granny flat makes sense. Constructing a granny flat could be a way to help your children in saving for a deposit at a time when rental prices are at all-time high, and prices keep buying out of reach for some first-time purchasers. You may even consider the option of trading places later in life, to let your children and grandchildren move into the family home.
Bring family home – release assets for use in later life
If your parents are ready to downsize and release equity from a larger home, building a granny flat could be a way to provide ‘instant superannuation’ for your aging parents. By selling the family home and building a brand-new, purpose-built granny flat on your property, your parents can be close at hand and living independently – or using it as a home base while they travel. Entering a non-commercial written arrangement or ‘granny flat agreement’ with your parents could also help them provide the funds to build the granny flat, without you later incurring capital gains tax. There are specific rules around this you can check with the tax office and Centrelink.
Hassle-Free Approval
Granny flats under a Complying Development Certificate (CDC) can be authorised in as little as ten days, depending on compliance with the Affordable Rental Housing SEPP. With an experienced in-house council planning and drafting team who take care of the approval process, you can rely on the Aplus team to accompany you during the entire process.
At Aplus, we’re passionate about making the entire building process an enjoyable and stress-free experience for our customers. This is why we have a high-calibre team of friendly customer service representatives, design consultants, in-house council planning and approval experts, and a reliable construction team.
Information contained in this article is of a general nature and does not address the circumstances of any individual or entity. Nothing in the site constitutes financial advice. You should consider seeking independent legal, financial, or taxation advice.