Without a doubt, one of the great things about moving to Australia is the opportunity of buying your dream home. Yes, we’ve had many a debate here about which houses are cheaper between the UK and Australia, but there is no doubt which houses are bigger.
In fact, as you will have read in my post My House Is Bigger Than Your House. It’s Official! – Australian houses on now the biggest in the world…….
That isn’t one of them!
But if you are emigrating to Australia, one of your major problems is where are you going to live when you get here? Choosing your dream home takes time so do you go into rented accommodation when you arrive, which may mean committing to a six or 12 month contract? Or do you do something ridiculous like buy your dream home on the Internet without seeing it, like we did?
You can read about that in Moving to Australia – Part Thirteen.
If this is a dilemma you are facing, I could have just the help you need. More on that in a minute, but first we need to address this question.
Who Exactly Can Buy a House in Australia?
According to the latest information, Australian citizens (obviously) and foreigners with permanent residency status can buy Australian residential property.
If I am reading it correctly, everybody else needs FIRB approval. FIRB are the Australian government’s Foreign Investment Review Board. Their rules change all the time, they last did so on 24 April 2010. Since then all temporary residents are required to get FIRB approval before they can buy.
There is one possible exception. You can buy a new property “off plan” – which means it hasn’t been built yet, if the developer has already obtained approval to sell dwellings to foreign buyers. But of course, if you do that you still end up going into rented for, probably, at least 12 months.
For all the latest information, visit firb.gov.au
Want to Buy Your Dream Home Now?
Here’s that help I mentioned earlier. I got an e-mail the other day from IWC Media (makers of ‘Location Location Location’ and ‘Relocation Relocation’) asking if I could help them find suitable candidates for their upcoming TV programme ‘Phil Down Under’. They are looking for Brits keen to find their perfect home in Australia.
You need to be available and able to buy in November/December 2010 and you can either be here already, living in rented, or you could be still in the UK waiting to relocate. Either way, you will need that FIRB approval if you do not already have permanent residency status.
If you’re interested, you’ll probably want to move fast. You can register over at…..
http://www.meontv.co.uk/PhilDownUnder
If you are tempted, but not sure, perhaps you’ll want to read the full press release which they sent me…….
RELOCATION: PHIL DOWN UNDER II
An IWC Media Production for Channel
8 x 60 minutes
Property guru Phil Spencer from C4’s ‘Location Location Location’ is taking his property finding and negotiating skills along with a large dose of English charm, down under. He’s heading to the other side of the world to help emigrating Brits find their perfect home in Australia.
In each episode, Phil will be helping one British couple navigate their way through the Australian property system. Phil will help find, survey and negotiate the deal on their dream pad. From harbour-side homes in Sydney and Beach pads in Byron Bay to Ranches in the Outback and Retreats in the Rainforest, no property search is too daunting for Phil.
For the return of this exciting series we are on the hunt for people who are looking to emigrate to Australia before the end of 2010 or people who have already made the move and now need help with their property search. They must be available and able to buy in November/December 2010. They must have secured approval from the FIRB (Foreign Investment Review Board) without which they can’t buy property in Australia. If they’ve got the papers and they would like the help of a dedicated team who will assist them find the house of their dreams all they have to do is follow this link http://www.meontv.co.uk/PhilDownUnder and fill in the application form.
Related posts:
- Buying a Car in Australia. What’ll it Cost?
- Buying a second-hand car in Australia Compared to England
- Our Dream Australian Road Trip
- Cost of Living in Australia: Your Home Telephone Bill
- Buying the Christmas Beers in Australia
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Just wish my ENS decision would hurry up and come through, I would apply in a shot!
The wait can be painful, I know. But if you get there in the end it’s all worth it. Good luck Chris.