v256.0 · real-estate · AU · verified 2026-04
Australia real-estate market
Real-estate market in Australia for foreign buyers — ownership rules, residency-by-investment, average prices, mortgage availability, transaction costs, rental yields, top brokerages, recent regulatory changes.
Market size
AUD 10T+ residential market (2024)
Currency
AUD
Foreign-buyer access
Foreign-buyer purchases require FIRB approval (since 1975, enforced) · Restrictions: foreign non-residents ca...
Rental yields
Sydney: 2.5-3.5% gross · Melbourne: 3-4% · Brisbane: 4-5.5% · Perth: 5-7% · Hobart: 4-5% · Regional: 5-8%...
Ownership rules + RBI pathway
| Foreign-buyer rules | Foreign-buyer purchases require FIRB approval (since 1975, enforced) · Restrictions: foreign non-residents can only buy NEW dwellings or vacant land (not established/resale) · Heavy surcharges in major states (NSW 8% / Vic 8% / Qld 7% additional duty) |
| Residency-by-investment | Significant Investor Visa (SIV — Subclass 188C) closed July 2024 (was AUD 5M complying investment) · New National Innovation Visa (Subclass 858) replacing · Property purchase NO direct RBI · Skilled migration via Express Entry / SkillSelect |
| Regulator | FIRB (Foreign Investment Review Board) · APRA (mortgages) · State-level land titles |
Average prices
| Capital city | Sydney harbour (Vaucluse, Point Piper): AUD 35,000-80,000/sqm · Sydney inner-city: AUD 15,000-25,000/sqm · Melbourne South Yarra/Toorak: AUD 12,000-25,000/sqm · Brisbane inner: AUD 9,000-15,000/sqm |
| Secondary markets | Gold Coast: AUD 9,000-18,000/sqm · Perth: AUD 6,500-12,000/sqm · Adelaide: AUD 5,500-9,500/sqm · Hobart: AUD 6,500-10,000/sqm · Canberra: AUD 7,500-12,000/sqm · Sunshine Coast: AUD 7,000-14,000/sqm |
| Rental yields | Sydney: 2.5-3.5% gross · Melbourne: 3-4% · Brisbane: 4-5.5% · Perth: 5-7% · Hobart: 4-5% · Regional: 5-8% |
Mortgage + transaction costs
| Mortgage availability | Foreign-buyer mortgages: ANZ, NAB, HSBC Australia, Westpac International 60-70% LTV typical · Australian PRs: up to 90% LTV · Rates 6-8% (2024) · 25-30 year terms |
| Transaction costs | Stamp Duty state-specific 4-7% (foreign-buyer surcharge 7-8% additional in NSW/Vic/Qld) · Conveyancing AUD 1,000-3,000 · FIRB fee AUD 14,100-1.13M (sliding) · Lender mortgage insurance if <20% deposit · Total foreign-buyer ~12-20% |
| Top brokerages | realestate.com.au, Domain (portals) · Ray White, McGrath, LJ Hooker, Belle Property, Knight Frank, JLL, Savills, Sotheby's, Christie's |
Recent changes (2023-2026)
2024: SIV closed July 2024 (was Subclass 188C AUD 5M) · National Innovation Visa replacing · Foreign-buyer surcharges remain high · Bond Aussie rate cuts late 2024 · Insurance crisis in QLD cyclone zones + bushfire-prone areas · Build-to-rent (BTR) sector growing with federal tax incentives
Strengths
Drawbacks
- Foreign non-residents only NEW dwellings + vacant land
- FIRB approval mandatory + sliding fee AUD 14K-1.13M
- Foreign-buyer state surcharges 7-8% additional duty
- Total foreign-buyer transaction costs 12-20%
- SIV closure July 2024 ended RBI route
- Climate-risk availability gaps in cyclone + bushfire zones
Source: official Australia regulator page · Last verified 2026-04
See also: Australia country profile · real-estate atlas