Melbourne, June 2026 — Build Metric, a construction estimating firm operating across Australia and New Zealand, says the new negative gearing and capital gains tax changes could shift property investment activity toward new residential construction over the next 12 months. From 1 July 2027, negative gearing — which allows property investors to offset rental losses against other income — will be restricted on established residential properties bought after 12 May 2026. New builds are exempt from this restriction and retain both negative gearing and the existing capital gains tax discount.
Build Metric provides estimating services to builders, contractors and construction businesses, and expects demand for fast, accurate new-build quoting to grow as investor activity shifts.
Luke Rose, founder of Build Metric, says the new-build exemption is the detail builders should be paying attention to. “Established property is losing the tax benefits new builds get to keep. That makes new construction a more attractive option for investors. Builders who can move quickly and price accurately are the ones who will pick up that demand.”
Build Metric positions itself between the lowest-cost estimating providers and premium firms, delivering accurate estimates at a fair price. Industry benchmarks typically allow a variance of up to 5% on a standard construction estimate. Build Metric achieves a 98% accuracy across more than 1,500 completed estimates, including during high-demand periods when variation risk tends to increase.
Rose says the firm has seen a consistent pattern of clients who chose a discount provider on price, only to absorb the cost later through inaccurate quantities or missed scope. “An estimate is only useful if the numbers are right. A cheap estimate that misses scope or quantities costs more later, not less.”
Build Metric continues to grow, recently entering the New Zealand market and reaching 45 full-time staff across Australia and New Zealand, alongside a new partnership with a local electrical estimating software provider to expand its service offering.
