We understand that the most challenge to you buying property from overseas is that you can’t see and hear everything for yourself as local buyers may do.

Even you may visit for a short time to look at the property market in Sydney with a few inspections but you could easily end up frustrated and disappointed and realise what a time consuming work finding the right property is.

Australian Expats

We will assist you buying a home or investment property in Sydney before returning to Australia. We will find a property that suits the best of your life style, work, location, proximity to amenities but also has potential for growth.

New Immigrants

There are no restrictions on purchasing residential real estate in Australia if:

• You hold a PR visa.
• You are a New Zealand citizen.
• You are buying with Australian spouse in both names as joint tenants.

We will assist you buying a new home that suits the best of your family needs.

Foreign Investors

We will assist you buying a property in Sydney for your new residence or for an investment. You require approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) before you buy a property regardless of the way you buy the property, whether you are a natural person not ordinarily resident in Australia or through an Australian company or trust arrangement. A separation application for each property you wish to buy is required. We will submit the application to the FIRB for approval.

Note: Please refer to the FIRB website on http://www.firb.gov.au for more information.

There are some restrictions on the type of property you can buy depending on your visa status as explained below:

Foreign non-residents

• New dwelling(s):

Acquired ‘off the plan’ from the developer or dwellings that have not been occupied for more than 12 months after completion of construction. Also extensively refurbished buildings where changes have been made from former use as office or warehouse building.

There are no restrictions on the number of new dwellings you are permitted to purchase. If the developer has been given a copy of pre-approval letter then you don’t need to submit for approval.

Note: you are not permitted to acquire any interest in a second-hand residential property, irrespective of whether you purchase it solely or jointly with eligible persons (Australian Citizens, Permanent or temporary residents)

• Vacant residential land:

Grant will be given on a condition that construction of new dwellings must commence within 24 months of the purchase of land.

• Redevelopment of second-hand resident property

Such re-development are normally approved subject to the conditions that the existing dwelling is to demolished and commence construction of new dwellings within 24 months on the  vacant land.

Temporary residents (Visa Holders)

• Established (second-hand) residential dwelling

You are eligible to buy an established dwelling as your principal place of residence as long as your visa was valid for more than 12 months when it was issued.

Note: The approvals are subject to a condition that you must sell the dwelling when it ceases to be your principal place of residence.

The Buying Process for Overseas Clients

Although the buying process remains similar to those for locals, the following arrangements for overseas clients are particularly important to go ahead in line with time lines and with efficiency:

• Confirmation of your financial approval in writing from your lender
• Completion of paperwork (signing agency agreement, property criteria along with transfer of the engagement fee)
• Copies of your passports for purchaser’s identification and to be forwarded to the vendor’s solicitor
• Inspection arrangement with buyers’ family or associates (if desired)
• Maintaining  prompt contact with you at all times
• Submission to the FIRB application for a specific property and all copies of these documents to be forwarded to your solicitor (for foreign investors)
• Written authority for signing of the contract (if sale is private treaty) or bid at auction
• Deposit monies ready and  arrangement for cheque collection at a Sydney bank branch with cheque made out to the selling agent’s trust account

This comprehensive and full search service includes the following complete process:

1. We find your right properties

• Establishing a detailed property brief with you

Once you have confirmed your finance has been approved, we will proceed to thoroughly understand your requirements and expectations.

You are initially required to complete the property wish-lists (or, 'Buyers Brief') and forward it to us by email.

We will then confirm your property purchase wish-lists before proceeding to the next step of extensive research work. 

• Carrying out extensive research to match your property purchasing criteria

We use your buyer's wish-lists to undertake extensive research to match or exceed your property criteria.  We understand that searching for the suitable properties are time-consuming and stressful.  We deflect all your stress associated with dealing with the selling agents.  

• Preparation of your shortlist

Our thorough research work will narrow down to a shortlist of suitable properties to match your property criteria but eliminating unsuitable properties. We believe this will save you time and disappointment. Then we will ask any availability for physical inspections with your family or associates.   

• Physical inspections of the properties on your shortlist

Upon receiving your feedback and availability for physical inspections with your family or associates, we will carry out inspections on behalf of you.

On completion of physical inspections we provide a comprehensive inspection report, which will highlight the pros and cons of each of the properties on the shortlist. We will email you digital photos, aerial photos, suburb demographics, and all relevant information so you can review and provide your feedback.

We will recommend a target property that best satisfies your requirements. 

2. We evaluate your target property

• Evaluation

Once you have chosen your dream home or investment property, we will then carry out an assessment of market value of the target property by analysing comparable sales in recent months and current listings on the market. 

Note: The following arrangements are to be made on this stage:

①.  For foreign investors, we will assist you to submit application to the FIRB for their approval.

②.  You can assign to someone in Sydney who can sign the contract of sale on your behalf if you wish. However if property is auctioned, it is necessary for us to organise a “written authority” with your solicitor to give us the “limited power of attorney”, which allows us to bid at the auction and/or to sign the contract of sale on your behalf. It will also be useful to negotiate the price without your name disclosed or not to tell the agent or vendor that you are the overseas buyer so that we can negotiate the right price and secure the property.

③.  Deposit monies should be ready at this stage and arrangement for cheque collection at a Sydney bank branch is soon to be notified upon exchange of contract with the cheque made out to the selling agent’s trust account. 

• Due diligence

We also examine local council zoning and planning information to ensure there are no detrimental factors to affect value on the property.

• Coordination of solicitor, building & pest inspector

If required, we can arrange the coordination of related services before we proceed to negotiate on the price such as solicitor/conveyancer, building & pest inspector, strata inspection or other external professionals.  Or, we can assist with this coordination once the offer has been accepted.

Please note that all external professional fees are at client’s expense.

3. We negotiate your target property

• Negotiation or bid at auction

Our evaluation and negotiation skills allow us without emotional impulse to negotiate on the property with the vendor or vendor's selling agent on behalf of you to achieve the lowest possible purchase price and terms on your behalf.  If the property is to be auctioned, we can bid at the auction on your behalf. If necessary, we negotiate on the price prior to auction or after the auction on your behalf based on the “written authority”.

Note: 10% Deposit will be paid by bank cheque at this stage. (Refer to Point 2 as above.)

4.  We assist you until settlement

After exchange of contracts, we will follow up to make sure everything is OK until settlement day. If you inform us with your intention to rent the property out and require a property manager before the settlement date, we can assist you to arrange a property manager for you. 

Fees:

Our fees are fixed fees and we do not charge a percentage of the purchase price.

An initial retainer fee is payable upon engagement of the service.

The remainder fee is only payable us after if we successfully secure your property and within 7 days after exchange of contract.