There are several situations where a current residential property valuation is required or recommended for your SMSF
The ATO expects property values in your SMSF’s financial statements to reflect current market conditions as at 30 June each year. An independent valuation report provides the documented evidence your auditor needs. See our SMSF valuation frequency guide for more detail on how often you need to value.
When an SMSF member starts a pension, the value of all assets supporting that pension must be determined. The valuation should be current, typically within 12 months prior to the pension’s commencement date. This value is counted towards the member’s Transfer Balance Cap. Read our pension commencement valuation guide.
Accurate property values are essential for calculating individual member balances, which determine total super balances, eligibility for non-concessional contributions, and other concessions.
If your SMSF holds in-house assets, the market value of all fund assets must be determined at year-end to verify that in-house assets do not exceed 5% of total fund value
When purchasing or selling residential property within your SMSF, a valuation confirms the transaction occurs at market value, which is a legal requirement under arm’s length dealing rules.
With the Division 296 tax on superannuation earnings now legislated (effective 1 July 2026), SMSF trustees with property holdings should ensure annual valuations are accurate and consistent to avoid artificial spikes in calculated earnings.
An SMSF residential property valuation is a professional assessment of the current market value of a house, unit, townhouse, or vacant residential land held within a Self-Managed Super Fund. The valuation is required under the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act and the ATO’s guidelines, which mandate that all SMSF assets must be reported at market value in the fund’s annual financial statements.
For most residential properties, a desktop valuation based on Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) provides the level of evidence that SMSF auditors need to verify the property’s value. Our desktop approach analyses recent comparable sales data from licensed industry databases to determine a supportable market value without requiring a physical property inspection.
This type of valuation is accepted by the ATO as sufficient evidence for annual reporting purposes, provided it includes objective and supportable data such as comparable sales. It is significantly more affordable than a formal registered valuer’s report, which can cost $2,000 to $5,000 or more for a full on-site inspection.
Our residential SMSF valuation reports are typically 8–10 pages and include everything your auditor needs to verify the property’s market value:
We use Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) as our primary valuation methodology for residential properties. CMA is the most widely accepted approach for residential property valuation and is recognised by the ATO as providing objective and supportable data.
The CMA process involves identifying recent sales of properties with similar characteristics in the same or comparable locations. We assess properties based on proximity to the subject property (typically within a reasonable radius for the market), recency of sale (prioritising sales within the last 6 months), comparability of features including land size, dwelling size, bedrooms, bathrooms, age, and condition, as well as adjustments for any material differences between the comparable properties and the subject property.
Our valuers have access to licensed property data covering every state and territory in Australia, including comprehensive sales history, property attributes, and market analytics. This data-driven approach ensures that every valuation is grounded in real, verifiable market evidence rather than subjective opinion.
Our residential valuation service covers all major property types across Australia:
We provide valuations for properties in all Australian capital cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Darwin, Canberra) as well as regional and rural areas across every state and territory. Our licensed data access covers metropolitan, suburban, and regional markets nationwide.
While most of our residential valuations are for annual SMSF reporting, we also prepare residential property valuations for:
Yes. Desktop valuations based on Comparative Market Analysis with documented comparable sales are accepted by SMSF auditors across Australia as sufficient evidence to support property values in the fund’s financial statements. The ATO has confirmed that valuations from property valuation service providers, including online services, are acceptable provided they specify the supportable data relied upon. Our reports include all the comparable sales evidence and methodology documentation that auditors require.
Council rate notices alone are generally not considered sufficient evidence for SMSF property valuations, particularly for commercial and rural properties. While some auditors may accept a council rate notice as one piece of supporting evidence for residential properties, it should be supplemented with additional evidence such as comparable sales data. Our desktop valuation reports provide a much stronger level of evidence and are accepted by auditors as a standalone document.
Our licensed data access covers regional and remote areas across all Australian states and territories. For properties in areas with limited comparable sales, our valuers use the best available data, which may include a wider search radius for comparable properties or consideration of sales over a longer time period. If a particular property is in an area with insufficient data for a reliable desktop assessment, we will advise you before proceeding and discuss alternative approaches.
The ATO expects property values to be updated annually in the fund's financial statements. However, a new formal valuation report is not necessarily required every year. A professional valuation should be obtained at least every three years, with supporting evidence used for the intervening years. That said, annual valuations are increasingly expected and are the safest approach given recent ATO compliance activity targeting funds that report unchanged values for multiple years. At $245 per report, an annual valuation is a cost-effective way to maintain compliance. See our valuation frequency guide for more detail.
Yes. We can prepare retrospective valuation reports for prior financial years, with the market value assessed as at a historical date such as 30 June of a previous year. This is useful if your fund's financial statements are being prepared for a prior period, or if you need to correct or update a previously reported value. Simply specify the required valuation date when placing your order.
If your property has undergone significant renovations since its last valuation, you should obtain a new valuation that reflects the improved condition. When placing your order, please include details of the renovations in the notes field so our valuers can take them into account. Major renovations are considered a significant event that warrants an updated valuation regardless of when the last one was completed.
Yes. If your SMSF holds residential property indirectly through a unit trust, the underlying property still needs to be valued at market value to determine the value of the units held by the SMSF. Our valuation reports can be used to support the market value of the underlying property for this purpose.
Ordering takes less than 5 minutes. You need the property address, property type (house, unit, townhouse, etc.), the valuation date (usually 30 June of the relevant financial year), and your email address for report delivery. Simply visit our order page, enter the details, pay by credit card, and your report will be prepared and emailed to you typically within one business day.
$245 per report. Order online, receive via email same day or next business day. ATO-compliant desktop valuation using CMA methodology.
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