Options to avoid it:

Buy up north below the stamp duty threshold

Or

Buy overseas

Or

Set up a property management company to buy your properties, as I understand these are exempt. Not sure what the conditions to get into that exemption are exactly though.

I think something had to be done as the types of properties that are particularly likely to be bougt for investment purposes are the types that others would want as first time buys.

Overall though, it's not a big cost if you're investing in a property for the long term.

Posted By: SimonOTBC, Dec 2, 08:46:07