How The Grand Residences, Eastlakes apartments, stack up for investors

The Grand Residences in Eastlakes in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, is the very last development by Crown Group.

The developer’s track record for delivering quality, the Eastern Suburbs gateway location of the project, and the price vs return proposition, are drawing the eye of investors, who have largely been out of the market in the last few years across the country. 

It takes a product and an offering like The Grand Residences to bring an investor into the market in this interest rate environment. 

Selling agents McGrath Projects and CPA have been fielding interest from both savvy property investors and mum and dad investors since releasing the final apartments in the building – apartments that were held back from sale when the trio of buildings above The Grand Shopping Centre were launched to market in 2018.

We’ve crunched the numbers to see how The Grand Residences stacks up for investors.

Rental Return*

The Grand Residences is already home to a diverse mix of owner-occupiers and investors, the latter of whom have been afforded a rare opportunity to secure yields not often seen in the apartment market in Sydney, whether they bought off-the-plan in 2018, or are buying now.

Investors eyeing a one-bed apartment should see a tenant pay between $650 to $700 per week, which, on a purchase price of between $735,000 and $790,000, would bring a minimum gross yield of 4.6 per cent for an investor.

A recent sale within the building – a two-bed, 1.5 bath apartment with a single carspace for $865,000 – was subsequently placed onto the rental market to take advantage of the current rental demand. Within 14 days a tenant was secured at $950 per week, representing a 5.7 per cent gross yield based on the sale price.

This is just one example of the great opportunities available to investors at The Grand Residences.

*The rental return is an estimate based on market research and weekly rents already achieved in the building.

Depreciation Estimates*

On top of the strong rental returns, low vacancy rates across Sydney and the anticipated price growth based on the historic performance of Eastern Suburbs property, there are significant depreciation benefits for investors.

Indicative One Bed + Study Tax Depreciation Claimable*

BMT Tax Depreciation reports show the minimum tax depreciation could be around $378,000, an estimate which typically spans for an ownership period of 40 years. The first depreciation estimate is around $16,500 in the first year of ownership, and steadily declines year on year to be around $9,000 by year 10. The maximum depreciation for a one-bed plus study over the same period could be $462,000, with depreciation of the asset starting at over $20,000 in the first year. 

Indicative Two Bed Tax Depreciation Claimable*

Depreciation for two-bedroom apartments could be $476,000 over 40 years of ownership, the first year of ownership being a $19,000 deduction at a minimum. The maximum could be $582,000, a first year depreciation of $23,000.

* Please obtain independent advice from a qualified tax accountant based on your personal circumstances

How does depreciation work? 

Depreciation of an investment apartment refers to the decrease in value of the property over time due to wear and tear and aging of the asset. This concept is important in accounting and taxation because it allows property owners to account for the gradual deterioration of their asset and claim tax deductions as a result.

In practical terms, depreciation recognises that buildings and structures used for income-producing purposes, such as rental apartments, lose value as they age and are used. The depreciation process allows owners to recover the cost of the property over its useful life through annual deductions on their tax returns. This deduction is typically calculated based on the initial purchase price of the property, excluding the cost of land, and spread out over a predetermined period.

From a financial standpoint, depreciation provides a way to offset taxable income generated by the rental property, thereby reducing the owner's overall tax liability. It's a non-cash expense, meaning the property owner doesn't actually spend money annually but rather reduces their taxable income by a calculated amount based on the property's depreciation schedule.

This accounting practice helps investors maintain cash flow while accounting for the long-term decline in the property's value.

Why The Grand Residences Eastlakes

The biggest two factors when property investors assess the viability of a new asset are yield and depreciation. The third factor is potential price growth, which is more difficult to forecast. That’s more often done on past performance, and based on both potential development uplift in the area, and a scarcity of stock.
Eastlakes is a hidden gem that has preserved its charm over the past decade, with limited redevelopment. The Grand Residences Eastlakes stands out as a notable addition to the area, being one of the few new apartment buildings recently completed. The suburb offers a unique opportunity for future growth with ample potential for new developments.

There is also further redevelopment expected next door which will likely see the southern section of the old Eastlakes Shopping Centre transformed into a new mixed-use precinct. If that vision materialises, that will lift the value of The Grand Residences.

With the significant increase in construction costs since COVID-19, driven by material and labour costs, as well as the cost of land, the new apartments will have to be priced significantly higher than what The Grand Residences is currently being offered for.

The Grand Residences was completed in 2022 and won the prestigious Urban Taskforce Australia Development Excellence Award. 

McGrath Projects Director, Adam Sparkes, says the building offers incredible value for every cohort of buyers looking at the Eastern Suburbs.

“The building is achieving strong rental yields for the area, and since completion two years ago, properties have been tightly held. The opportunity to buy at this price point and in this location isn’t likely to come around again.”