Big real estate lobby pushes to open up super to home buyers
The government is being pushed to allow further access to superannuation for first home buyers (FHBs), calling for an expansion of the First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS) to address housing affordability.
The FHSSS will, from 1 July 2018, enable FHBs to access their tax-exempt voluntary superannuation contributions, as well as the rate of deemed earnings, made from 1 July 2017.
Lobby group the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) has called for the government to allow FHBs to access their super contributions made prior to 1 July 2017.
“Allowing access to a pre-1 July 2017 voluntary contributions to superannuation funds would help prospective buyers to save for a deposit faster,” the REIA said.
“The use of retirement savings for a first home purchase has already proven to be successful in Canada, New Zealand and Singapore.”
Further, in its submission, the REIA urged the government to “take a leadership role” and encourage all states to adopt a uniform provision of assistance program for first home buyers, irrespective of whether a purchased dwelling is new or established.
The FHSSS was introduced as part of the Turnbull government’s housing affordability package, but whether FHB incentives genuinely remedy the issue of housing affordability is contentious.
Many prominent economists believe increasing the purchasing power of first-time buyers will simply see prices rise, until housing supply issues along the eastern seaboard are addressed with effective infrastructure and building developments.
“History shows that anything which allows Australians to spend more on housing than they otherwise would… results not in more Australians owning houses, but rather in the houses Australians already own becoming more expensive,” economist Saul Eslake said around the time of the federal budget last year.
You can read more about SMSF Adviser's position on the matter here.
