Australia property guide

Your way into Australian property.

Independent information for overseas buyers, foreign residents and Australian expats—covering approvals, purchase planning and local market discovery.

Start with the buying guide Understand FIRB rules

Short Link for this website: RSN.AU/BAP

Foreign buyersApproval and eligibility Australian expatsBuy while living abroad Buyers agentsIndependent search support City guidesExplore local markets

Contemporary residence at 63 Lilley Street, Hendra, Queensland

Featured Property

House for sale · Hendra, Brisbane

FIRB Eligible

FIRB eligibility confirmed by the listing agent.

63 Lilley Street, Hendra

An Inspired Expression of Design and Sustainable Luxury

6 Bedrooms4 Bathrooms2 Cars407 m²

“Lily on Lilley” is a newly completed residence combining refined contemporary design with a seven-star energy rating, extensive solar and battery capacity, a saltwater pool and flexible family living. Positioned about 8 km from Brisbane’s CBD, it offers convenient access to Racecourse Village, Brisbane Airport, renowned schools and local transport.

View Property RSN.AU/HENDRA

Property details and image sourced from Ray White Clayfield. Buyers should confirm current availability and particulars with the listing agent. Foreign buyers must obtain any approval required for their individual circumstances before purchase.

Turn buying intent into a completed purchase

Avoid the “failed transaction” gap

Many well-funded overseas buyers begin with genuine intent but lose the property—or abandon the search—because Australia’s approval, finance and local purchasing processes were not coordinated early enough. The solution is a clear purchase pathway before inspecting or making an offer.

Approval uncertainty

Confirm your citizenship and residency status, the property types you may buy and whether approval is required. Apply before entering an unconditional contract or bidding at auction.

Cross-border banking delays

Open any required Australian account early, check transfer limits and settlement cut-off times, document the source of funds and allow for identity and anti-money-laundering checks.

Finance that is not truly ready

Obtain lending advice based on foreign income, currency, visa status and deposit size. Treat a general borrowing estimate differently from formal approval for a specific property.

Unfamiliar local buying rules

Private treaty, expressions of interest and auctions operate differently. Cooling-off rights, deposit timing and contract practices also vary between states and territories.

A disconnected advisory team

Choose a conveyancer or solicitor, tax adviser, finance professional and buyers agent early. Give one local professional authority to coordinate deadlines and flag missing actions.

Before making an offer: have written confirmation of your eligibility pathway, approval status, available funds, finance position, total acquisition costs, legal adviser and settlement plan. This preparation helps convert international interest into a transaction that can complete.

Plan before you purchase

Buying property in Australia

Australia offers established capital-city markets, growing regional centres and a wide choice of houses, apartments and new developments. Your eligibility, tax position and buying process will depend on citizenship, residency status and the property type.

Confirm your buyer status

Establish whether you are an Australian citizen, permanent resident, temporary resident or foreign person. This determines whether approval is needed and which properties may be considered.

Set a complete budget

Allow for the purchase price, state or territory transfer duty, possible foreign-buyer surcharges, legal review, inspections, finance costs, insurance and ongoing ownership expenses.

Build your local team

Consider an Australian conveyancer or solicitor, tax adviser, finance professional and independent buyers agent. Advice should be specific to the state and your circumstances.

Research the location

Compare transport, employment, schools, amenities, rental demand, planning changes and natural-hazard exposure—not only headline price growth.

Review before signing

Contract processes differ between states. Obtain legal advice, understand cooling-off and auction rules, and make any approval or finance conditions clear before committing.

Complete and manage

Arrange settlement, registration, utilities and insurance. Overseas owners should also plan property management, tax reporting and any foreign-owner registration or vacancy obligations.

Foreign investment framework

FIRB rules for overseas buyers

Residential foreign-investment applications are administered by the Australian Taxation Office under Australia’s foreign investment framework. Approval is generally required before a foreign person acquires Australian residential land, regardless of value.

Current residential property settings

Government policy generally directs foreign investment towards new dwellings and new housing supply.
Vacant residential land approval commonly includes a requirement to complete construction within four years.
From 1 April 2025 to 30 June 2029, foreign investors are generally prohibited from buying established dwellings, with limited exceptions.
Foreign owners may need to register acquisitions and disposals and may face an annual vacancy fee where a dwelling is not occupied or genuinely available for rent for more than 183 days in a year.

Apply before purchase. Do not enter an unconditional contract or bid at auction until you understand your approval position. Application fees and penalties can be substantial.

Official residential real-estate guidance ↗

Australians living overseas

Expats buying Australian property

Australian citizens living overseas generally do not require foreign-investment approval to buy Australian residential property. The practical challenge is usually coordinating finance, tax, inspections and settlement from another country.

Useful questions to resolve early

Will an Australian lender recognise your foreign income and currency?
What deposit, identification and document certification will be required?
How will Australian and overseas tax rules interact?
Who will inspect, negotiate and manage the property locally?
Do state-based transfer duty, land tax or absentee-owner rules apply?

Australia-wide property search

Find the Right Buyers Agent

Search and compare buyers agents who can assist with local research, property inspections, negotiation and the purchasing process. Confirm licensing, independence, fees and experience before appointing any adviser.

www.buyersagents.com.auShort Link: WS.AU/BA

Explore Buyers Agents

Local market guides

Explore Australian property markets

Start with a city guide, then compare suburbs, property types, local professionals and lifestyle factors.

Perth →Sydney →Brisbane →Gold Coast →Melbourne →Adelaide →Hobart →Darwin →Canberra →

Buying Australian property?

Contact BuyingAustralianProperty.com with a website enquiry, partnership proposal or professional listing enquiry.

contact@buyingaustralianproperty.com