Buying property in Australia from overseas, or shortly after arriving, involves a few extra layers that a typical local buyer does not need to think about. Where you should start depends heavily on your residency and visa status, which affects what you are eligible to buy and what additional costs may apply.
Broadly, requirements differ for Australian citizens living overseas, permanent residents, temporary residents, and buyers with no residency status in Australia at all. Some categories may need approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) before purchasing certain types of property, and foreign purchaser duty surcharges can apply in some states depending on your status.
Beyond the regulatory side, it is worth understanding the practical basics of the Australian property market: the difference between freehold and strata or community titled ownership, how conveyancing works here compared to your home country, and the ongoing costs of ownership beyond the purchase price, such as council rates, insurance and, where applicable, body corporate fees.
We are not publishing specific current FIRB thresholds, surcharge rates or eligibility rules on this page, because those figures change and vary by circumstance, and getting them wrong would be worse than not stating them. Confirm current requirements with a migration adviser, conveyancer, or the relevant government body before acting on them.
Our Foreign & Overseas Buyers section is being built out to cover this in more depth, and Areas & Suburbs is a reasonable next stop for general orientation to South East Queensland.
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