Brisbane, particularly among east coast cities, has sustained house price growth even as Sydney and Melbourne have lost steam. With stamp duty remaining inert for several years, and Brisbane becoming Australia’s ‘property darling’, more and more buyers are inevitably paying higher stamp duty, and earlier on in their home buying journey. So, is it time to bump up the threshold?

The case for increasing Queensland’s stamp duty threshold

CoreLogic data from October 2021 shows Brisbane had an annual property price growth of 22.30%, and the median dwelling value now sits at $642,097 - more than $100,000 higher than the threshold in which many buyers start to pay stamp duty.

Queensland first home buyers usually do not pay any stamp duty until $540,000. However, the median dwelling value (dwellings include units - not just houses) is $642,097. That equates to nearly $15,000 in duties payable if you’re a first home buyer or owner occupier. If you’re a property investor it’s nearly $22,000.

And that’s the median dwelling value for Brisbane. Analysis of Aussie Home Loans' ‘Suburb Spotter’ tool with a 20% deposit on the median shows not much in Brisbane is available (pictured below) in terms of houses - certainly nothing within 10km of the CBD. This implies you’ll have to spend a lot more, and hence a lot more in stamp duty, to be within coo-ee of the capital.

AussieSuburbFinder (1).jpg

Source: Aussie Home Loans

Head of research at Propertyology Simon Pressley told Savings.com.au Queensland’s stamp duty is still more favourable compared to its southern neighbours'.

“House prices have already increased by circa 20 percent over the last 12-months and the volume of transactions increased sharply. This means state governments are clicking a lot more tickets and taking a bigger slice off the back of property buyers,” Mr Pressley said.

“Aside from a poorly-performing apartment, one can’t get much in Brisbane for under $800,000 these days. Stamp duty on that is $22,000 for owner-occupiers while that same property will cost $29,000 in stamp duty if the buyer is an investor.

“Queensland’s stamp duty is more gentle on the household budget relative to other states. Stamp duty on an $800,000 dwelling is $31,000 in NSW and Tasmania, $38,000 in SA and a whopping $43,000 in Victoria.”

Savings.com.au contacted the office of Queensland Housing Minister Leeanne Enoch for comment, but they did not respond in time for deadline.

SimonSeagull.jpg

Propertyology's Simon Pressley. Image supplied.

Stamp duty or property tax?

Mr Pressley said stamp duty was a “political football”.

“Taxing those who transact in real estate is every state government’s biggest revenue source. This revenue is what funds state infrastructure and public sector jobs,” he said.

Instead, Mr Pressley favoured a property tax.

“Taxing people several years of cash savings to buy a piece of real estate is incredibly inefficient. It suppresses fundamental aspirations like accommodating a growing family, pursuing a job promotion, improving their lifestyle and investing in their future,” he said.

“NSW has proposed a new model that gives property buyers the option of paying a one-off large stamp duty or a much smaller land tax every single year will be interesting to observe. I think it’s a step in the right direction.”

See also: Why a property tax is not the answer


Advertisement

Buying a home or looking to refinance? The table below features home loans with some of the lowest interest rates on the market for owner occupiers.

Update resultsUpdate
LenderHome LoanInterest Rate Comparison Rate* Monthly Repayment Repayment type Rate Type Offset Redraw Ongoing Fees Upfront Fees LVR Lump Sum Repayment Additional Repayments Split Loan Option TagsFeaturesLinkCompare
6.04% p.a.
6.06% p.a.
$2,408
Principal & Interest
Variable
$0
$530
90%
Featured 4.6 Star Customer Ratings
  • No monthly or ongoing fees
  • Unlimited free redraw
  • No application fee
5.99% p.a.
5.90% p.a.
$2,396
Principal & Interest
Variable
$0
$0
80%
Featured Apply In Minutes
  • No application or ongoing fees. Annual rate discount
  • Unlimited redraws & additional repayments. LVR <80%
  • A low-rate variable home loan from a 100% online lender. Backed by the Commonwealth Bank.
6.09% p.a.
6.11% p.a.
$2,421
Principal & Interest
Variable
$0
$250
60%
Featured Unlimited Redraws
  • No annual fees - None!
  • Get fast pre-approval
  • Unlimited additional repayments free of charge
  • Redraw freely - Access your additional payments when you need them
  • Home loan specialists available today
Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

Base criteria of: a $400,000 loan amount, variable, fixed, principal and interest (P&I) home loans with an LVR (loan-to-value) ratio of at least 80%. However, the ‘Compare Home Loans’ table allows for calculations to be made on variables as selected and input by the user. Some products will be marked as promoted, featured or sponsored and may appear prominently in the tables regardless of their attributes. All products will list the LVR with the product and rate which are clearly published on the product provider’s website. Monthly repayments, once the base criteria are altered by the user, will be based on the selected products’ advertised rates and determined by the loan amount, repayment type, loan term and LVR as input by the user/you. *The Comparison rate is based on a $150,000 loan over 25 years. Warning: this comparison rate is true only for this example and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate. Rates correct as of . View disclaimer.

Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

Photo by Valeria Davgon





Ready, Set, Buy!


Learn everything you need to know about buying property – from choosing the right property and home loan, to the purchasing process, tips to save money and more!

With bonus Q&A sheet and Crossword!

By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy