Recent research has shown that 40% of investors from Queensland have sold at least one investment property in the past 12 months. This is the highest rate across the country. 47% of the investors who have sold their property have advised that governments increasing or threatening to increase taxes, duties, or levies is the main reason making it less attractive to retain their investment properties. Other reasons including changing tenancy legislation and rental freezes; a need to reduce total borrowings due to rising interest rates and positive selling market conditions.

But what is more worrying is who they are selling to. 73% of investment properties sold have been to either existing home-owners or first home buyers. In comparison, only 24% were sold to another investor. Meaning many of those investment properties were removed from the rental market. Adding additional costs such as a vacancy tax will only force more investors to sell and reduce the number of properties available for rental. This will have severe consequences for the 34% of households who rent in Brisbane, who will see decreasing vacancy rates and increasing prices.

Obviously, this is hogwash. If a house is sold to a first home buyer, that's a home removed from the rental market, but it's also a renter removed from the rental market. Its effect is neutral. If it's sold to an existing home-owner, their previous home is going to either be converted to an investment property or sold to a first home buyer (or sold to another existing home-owner, whose previous home recursively applies the same logic).

Basically, investment property owners provide housing the way scalpers provide concert tickets.