Capital gain required to justify investments
As part of its monthly Home Truths report, it has looked the rate of capital gains that an investor would require to justify buying a house.
The net rental yield on residential investment properties, once maintenance and management fees are considered, is usually less than the mortgage rate required to finance the purchase.
Westpac said: "Investors are willing to accept such low yields only because they anticipate capital gains - the kicker being that those capital gains are tax-free, whereas other investment returns are taxed."
During the early part of last decade, just 3% year-on-year capital gain was required to break even because interest rates were low and rents were relatively high compared to house prices.
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