Foreign Investment Rules

Government

NSW moves a "great first step" to improve affordability: REINSW

John Cunningham, president of the REINSW, says the state government's moves to help first-home buyers are welcome "first steps" to address housing affordability pressures in NSW.

Jun 1, 2017

NSW expected to increase charges for foreign investors, help first-home buyers

With recent data showing that one in every 10 buyers in NSW is from overseas, the state government is expected to double the foreign investor surcharge, raising funds to help first-home buyers.

May 17, 2017

How will the 50% foreign ownership limit affect developers?

Reflecting on the 2017 budget, Point Polaris Director, Andrew Hogan, weighs in on the implications for Australia’s property industry and considers the effects of foreign ownership of new developments being capped at 50 per cent.

May 10, 2017

Government

Housing measures in the 2017 Budget

"If a family or an individual has a roof over their head that they can rely on, then all of life's other challenges become more manageable." Scott Morrison, 2017 Budget speech.

Mar 1, 2017

Australia still a property hot spot for Chinese buyers

Chinese investors are finding new ways to finance real estate purchases in Australia, with 40 per cent saying they would use vendor finance to buy property over the recent Golden Week holiday period, according to Jon Ellis of Investorist.

Jan 12, 2017

Banks, visas likely to deter foreign buyers more than regulatory changes

Foreign investors face a raft of new government charges and restrictions on Australian real estate purchases in 2017.

Jul 15, 2016

61,000 foreign buyers armed with $1M+ eye Australian housing

It is impossible to tell whether or not there has been additional foreign investment into established property illegally, but what we do know is that $61 billion worth of foreign housing sales was approved by FIRB in the 2015 financial year - and, not only is that number unprecedented, it’s more...

Jun 24, 2016

Education is Australia’s largest service export

When Australia wins a foreign student, it gains tens of thousands in education fees, additional tens of thousands in retail and services spending, hundreds of thousands in a potential real estate investment and –most important of all– the possibility that highly educated individual will decide...

Jun 16, 2016