New Commercial Property in Australia

Off-the-plan commercial covers strata office suites, retail tenancies, industrial and storage units, and the commercial component of mixed-use residential buildings. The buyer profile is different from residential — owner-occupier businesses buying their own premises, and investors buying for yield — and so is the analysis. Net lettable area, the outgoings the owner carries, car parking allocation, and the permitted use under the relevant planning scheme all bear directly on what the space is worth to you.

GST treatment is the practical difference that catches people out most often. Commercial transactions are generally subject to GST, though the going-concern provisions may apply where a property is sold with a lease in place. Finance also works differently: lenders typically require a larger deposit for commercial than residential, and assess the asset on its income rather than on comparable sales. Both are worth resolving with your accountant and broker before signing rather than after.