The role of SMSFs in creating a residential property market bubble is insignificant compared to factors that directly influence property prices such as interest rates and the demand for residential land, said Michael Hallinan, special counsel superannuation at Townsends.
Other factors, such as the federal government’s subsidies and incentives, can also translate into increased property sales, he added.
“It’s been suggested by the Reserve Bank of Australia that super gearing by SMSFs may be overheating the residential property market,” Mr Hallinan said.
“Whether this suggestion is pre-justifying any future restriction or the closure of limited recourse borrowing for SMSFs, which may arise from the previously proposed review of limited recourse borrowing, is not known.
“Those SMSF investors who are thinking about limited recourse borrowing may have two or so years to determine whether a gearing strategy is appropriate for them before this investment class is [potentially] closed off or restricted,” he added.
The Reserve Bank should look at itself with its ridiculous policy of following the American Federal Reserve into competitive currency debauchery and low interest rates which destroy any incentive to save.
Why wouldn’t people be buying hard assets?