Skyrocket your super with SMSF House

A Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) is a type of superannuation fund that you manage yourself, giving you full control over how your retirement savings are invested. An SMSF is a trust, which means that the assets within the fund are held in trust for the benefit of its members. As the trustee, you are legally responsible for ensuring the fund meets all its obligations and complies with superannuation laws.

Unlike retail or industry super funds, where decisions are made for you, an SMSF lets you:

• Choose your own investments (like property, shares, or managed funds)
• Tailor your strategy to your personal goals
• Manage tax outcomes more proactively
• Potentially leverage your super to invest in property through a limited recourse loan

At SMSF House, we specialise in helping Australians take control of their super—with the support, structure, and compliance expertise to make it simple and stress-free.

There’s no legal minimum balance required to set up an SMSF, but the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) suggests that SMSFs are typically more cost-effective with a balance of $200,000 or more.
This is because many SMSF expenses—like accounting, auditing, and admin—are fixed costs. The higher your super balance, the more cost-efficient those fees become compared to percentage-based fees in industry or retail funds.

That said, your decision shouldn’t be based on balance alone. At SMSF House, we look at the bigger picture— and whether an SMSF structure makes sense for your situation.

SMSFs are popular because they give people something the big super funds can’t: control, flexibility, and the ability to tailor their super to their own goals.

Here’s why so many Australians are choosing to go the SMSF route:

1. Investment control – You choose where your money goes: property, shares, managed funds, crypto (if you’re game), and more.
2. Flexibility – Tailor your investment strategy, contributions, and retirement planning to suit your personal situation.
3. Tax planning opportunities – Greater control means more ability to manage tax outcomes within the super system.
4. Property investment potential – Use your super to purchase property through your fund (often using leverage), something you can’t do with an industry fund.
5. Transparency – You can see exactly where your money is and how it’s performing—no black box investing.
6. Estate planning control – SMSFs offer more options when it comes to managing how your super is passed on.

At SMSF House, we specialise in helping everyday Australians tap into these benefits—minus the overwhelm. If you want your super to work smarter, not harder, an SMSF might just be your next power move.

SMSFs offer a very different experience compared to industry and retail funds—because you’re in the driver’s seat.

Here’s a quick comparison:

One major advantage of an SMSF is the ability to leverage existing super via an LRBA (Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangement) to invest in property. This means you can use your super as a deposit and borrow the rest, giving you exposure to the entire value of the property—not just the deposit amount. So instead of making returns on, say, $200,000 sitting in an industry fund, you could be building wealth on a $600,000+ property.

At SMSF House, we guide you through the setup and ongoing admin, making the process smooth and compliant—so you can take control of your super and make it work harder for you.

Your SMSF can purchase property either with available cash or by borrowing through a special structure called an LRBA (Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangement).

If your fund is borrowing to purchase the property, you’ll need a few additional legal components to ensure the structure is compliant:

The basic structure includes:

Once the loan is fully repaid, the legal title of the property can be transferred to the SMSF.

At SMSF House, we handle the full setup—from structuring your SMSF to forming the bare trust and LRBA—so you can focus on building wealth through property, knowing the compliance is covered.

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Generally, no.

Residential property you already own can’t be transferred into your SMSF—especially if you or a related party has lived in or used it. The rules around acquiring assets from related parties are strict, and residential property usually doesn’t meet the criteria.

There are limited exceptions for certain business real properties, but these only apply under specific conditions.

At SMSF House, we can help you understand what’s possible within the SMSF rules and guide you through any tax or compliance considerations.

Yes—SMSFs must pay stamp duty when purchasing property, just like any other buyer.

Stamp duty:

• Is a state/territory government tax, so the amount and rules vary depending on where the property is located
• Applies whether the SMSF buys a residential or commercial property
• Will also apply when transferring legal ownership from a bare trust to the SMSF after an LRBA loan is repaid (in some states—others offer concessions)

There are no special exemptions just because the buyer is an SMSF, but in certain cases, duty concessions may apply (e.g. related-party commercial property transfers, or refinancing structures).

At SMSF House, we’ll guide you through the process and work alongside legal and conveyancing professionals to ensure stamp duty is correctly assessed and paid — so your SMSF stays compliant at every step.

The ongoing costs of running an SMSF will depend on the complexity of your fund and your investment strategy, but here’s what you can typically expect:
Regular SMSF expenses include:

• Annual accounting and tax return preparation – to keep your fund compliant with ATO requirements
• Annual independent audit – legally required for all SMSFs
• ASIC fees – if your SMSF has a corporate trustee
• Ongoing admin and lodgement support – including record keeping, correspondence, and trustee support
• Investment-related costs – such as brokerage, property management, legal fees, or interest on loans (if you’re using an LRBA)

And here’s the real value: For two members, these once-off fees are often less than what you’d pay in annual fees inside a typical industry fund—and with an SMSF, you get full control over your investments from day one. With the right support, an SMSF isn’t just cost-effective—it’s a smarter, more empowering way to grow your wealth.

At SMSF House, we offer transparent, fixed-fee packages tailored to your fund—so you’re never guessing what you’re paying for.

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SMSFs are taxed at a concessional rate of 15% on income earned within the fund, which is generally lower than most individuals’ personal tax rates. Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Investment income (like rent, interest, and dividends) is taxed at 15%
• Capital gains on assets held for more than 12 months get a one-third discount, bringing the tax rate down to 10%
• Franking credits from Australian shares can reduce the overall tax bill
• Contributions (within the concessional cap) are also taxed at 15% when received

Once a member enters retirement phase, income earned on assets supporting a retirement pension is generally tax-free within the SMSF.

At SMSF House, we manage all the tax compliance and reporting so your fund stays on the ATO’s good side. Want to understand the tax implications specific to your situation? That’s our jam — and we’re here to help.

You can access your SMSF savings once you meet a condition of release, with the most common being retirement after reaching your preservation age.

Here’s how your preservation age breaks down based on your birthdate:

But it’s not just about hitting that age. To retire and access your SMSF, you also need to be officially retired — meaning you’ve stopped working or have no intention of returning to work.

Other conditions of release include reaching age 65 (whether you’re still working or not), permanent incapacity, or terminal illness.

At SMSF House, we ensure your retirement withdrawals are compliant, tax-effective, and ATO-approved. So the Bank of Mum and Dad can call it a day and enjoy a cruise, the golf club membership, or that much-needed spicy marg.