Shifting equity advantages?

Chieu asks:
(updated on Friday, February 14th 2014)

In regards to the' "Hold or sell now" posting, what are the advantages of refinancing your investment property when the market is at its peak and moving any increase in equity to downsize personal home mortgage? Is this for tax purposes? I was told that the tax "calculation" at the end of financial year was done on the original purchase price? Thanks!

Our Experts Answer:

Yes you are correct about tax calculations however shifting equity around is also about sleeping better at night, particularly if you are a baby boomer and trying to be as debt free as possible.
It can be a good move to shift any surplus capital that was originally deposited into your rental property and any after tax paid profits plus new equity acquired into your own home. Also, have your bank cancel any cross-collateral ties it may have between your home and investment portfolio.
This would put you in a strong position to increase further borrowings later on your home so you can then purchase more properties with different lenders during a falling or flat market which generally follows the boom period.

Most Read

Unity First Home Buyer special 3.99
SBS FirstHome Combo 3.99
ICBC 4.25
Co-operative Bank - First Home Special 4.35
Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ 4.45
TSB Special 4.49
ANZ Special 4.49
ASB Bank 4.49
SBS Bank Special 4.49
Unity Special 4.49
Westpac Special 4.49
TSB Special 4.00
Kiwibank Special 4.49
Kainga Ora 4.49
Nelson Building Society 4.59
ICBC 4.59
Unity Special 4.65
SBS Bank Special 4.69
ANZ Special 4.69
BNZ - Std 4.69
Westpac Special 4.75
ASB Bank 4.75
ICBC 4.99
Kainga Ora 5.15
SBS Bank Special 5.29
Westpac Special 5.29
BNZ - Std 5.29
Kiwibank Special 5.39
TSB Special 5.39
ASB Bank 5.45
AIA - Go Home Loans 5.45
Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ 5.49
BNZ - Classic 5.59
SBS FirstHome Combo 3.29
AIA - Back My Build 3.34
SBS Construction lending for FHB 3.74
CFML 321 Loans 3.95
Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ 4.99
Co-operative Bank - Standard 4.99
Heartland Bank - Online 5.30
ICBC 5.39
Kiwibank - Offset 5.65
Kiwibank 5.65
Kainga Ora 5.69