Real estate & construction

Funding developments in the Real Estate & Construction industry

It’s been a prolonged period of downturn for the Australian Real Estate & Construction (RE&C) industry. While some regions and sectors have fared better than others, many have struggled to weather the storm. For those organisations, the ability to manage existing facilities or source alternative funding has proven key to survival.

Real Estate & Construction: A guide to our industry expertise

Grant Thornton offers tailored solutions to meet your objectives by combining global sector knowledge and local expertise, as well as integrating the best advice from across our service lines and geographically. We can help you to enable and drive the success of both existing and new real estate investments, no matter where you are operating or where you are looking to expand.

Focus on:  Construction and real estate

The construction and real estate sector has suffered as much as any part of the global economy during the downturn. Construction in many markets, including Dubai, Ireland, the US and the UK, has suffered rapid and sustained cuts in prices not experienced by other sectors.

The Australian real estate and construction industry has gone through peaks and troughs over the last few years. The market is continually changing as businesses look to restructure and rationalise whilst re-evaluating long term developments, investments and contracts. We recognise the need to effectively manage costs at a time where the market is under pressure and to help maximise after tax returns. In these times you need an adviser who genuinely listens and takes the time to ask the difficult questions, and the questions you might not have thought about.

Our team has extensive experience with real estate, construction and infrastructure clients. Our understanding of the unique issues facing entities in these sectors means that you will:

• receive practical insights and guidance to improve your business  
• avoid last minute surprises and receive early issue identification from a team that proactively anticipates your needs
• enjoy timely, authoritative feedback and quick responses to your concerns

Grant Thornton Australia’s services to the real estate & construction industry include, but are not limited to:

Income Tax
Corporate and Private Group tax
Tax risk management and audit support
Research & development advice
Structuring

Indirect Taxes
GST planning and advice
Stamp Duty /Land Tax planning

Staffing Matters
Enhancing salary packaging
FBT obligations and advice

Corporate acquisition and disposal
Managing transactions to completion
Raising transaction finance
Due diligence services

International operations
Inbound Planning
Withholding tax exposure
Expatriate tax matters where relocating staff inbound / outbound
 
Assurance Services
International audit approach
Internal Audit and Systems Control Reviews
Forensic and Fraud

For more information about Grant Thornton’s services to the Real Estate & Construction industry, please contact:

Craig Simon
Acting National Head of Real Estate & Construction
T +61 8 9480 2000
E craig.simon@au.gt.com

Further reading from Grant Thornton Australia

New South Wales update (December 2012)
Queensland update (December 2012)
Victoria update (December 2012)
Western Australia update (December 2012)
Significant non-resident investor impacts:  Managed Investment Trust (MIT) changes
Significant non-resident investor impacts:  Capital Gains Tax (CGT) discount removed for non-residents
Green building incentives pulled
Limited recourse lending to be reviewed
Loss carry back provisions
2012 Trust resolutions
Living Away From Home (LAFH) changes
Changes to reporting contractor payments
GST and residential premises
Queensland update (June 2012)
New South Wales update (June 2012)
Western Australia update (June 2012)
Victoria update (June 2012)
GST update - draft rulings and GST determinations (March 2102)
Reporting contractor payments:  Proposed reporting requirements from 1 July 2012 (March 2012)
New South Wales update (March 2012) 
Queensland update (March 2012) - Building Boost extension, Queensland coast plan, strategic cropping land, moratorium on infrastructure charges for new Brisbane hotels
South Australia update (March 2012) -The Building and Constructions Industry Security of Payment Act 2009 (SA)
Victoria update (March 2012) - Land transfer duty payment period, Victoria aims to reduce planning delays, 2011 building permit activity, expansion of Melbourne CBD
Western Australia update (March 2012) - Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority launched, new building approval process - The Building Act 2011, hotel accommodation shortages in WA
Confirmation on the GST treatment of supplies of residential and commercial residential premises (September 2011)  
Make sure the price is right...but don't put the cartel before the horse (September 2011)  
Impact of a carbon price from 1 July 2012 (September 2011)  
Queensland industry update (September 2011)  
Western Australian Government working to reduce red tape in the construction sector (September 2011)  
Victorian update (September 2011)  
New South Wales state news (September 2011)  
News from South Australia (September 2011) 
Industry intelligence unit - Property - December 2010

Further reading from Grant Thornton International

Five ways to improve the reliability of order book figures (Grant Thornton UK)

Financial times commercial property conference 2010 (Grant Thornton UK)