This is what we learned about buying a home in Australia after we moved to Melbourne from New Zealand.
Last Updated: 10th April, 2012
If you have any comments about the information provided here, you can reach us at hello@movetoaustralia.net. All the best for your big move!
If you plan to buy a house in Australia, here's some info to help you get started.
The most popular websites for listing property for sale are:
Real estate agents also publish weekly magazines with current property listings in the surrounding area, available from local offices.
Be prepared for the fact that property is a lot more expensive in Australia than in New Zealand. Sydney, Melbourne and Perth are especially competitive due to the sheer number of people moving to these cities every week and the current housing shortage. Thatʼs not to say you canʼt find good value anywhere, but do be prepared for a longer search. Outer suburbs and regional areas are typically more affordable, but they are also further away from public transport and places of work.
Median House Prices in Australia (REIA, September 2010):
If you're looking at buying a property in Melbourne, you might want to read about the option of using the services of a buyer advocate to help you negotiate the best price and avoid the often considerable expense of buying the wrong property.
Auctions are a very common sale method in Australian cities. Here they are typically held outside the house on the footpath in order to attract as many people as possible. For potential buyers, this can mean a high pressure situation!
As a New Zealand citizen buying property in Australia, you may be eligible for the First Home Buyerʼs grant if the property you wish to purchase or build meets the conditions of the scheme. See the official site at www.firsthome.gov.au for more information.
Purchasing or building a new home gives you more benefits under the scheme than buying an established property.
When you buy property in Australia, youʼll need to pay a local tax called stamp duty on top of the purchase price. Stamp duty is a percentage of the purchase price or market value of the property - but exactly what this percentage is varies from state to state.
First home buyers are usually eligible for a stamp duty reduction as part of the First Home Ownerʼs Scheme - www.firsthome.gov.au.
To work out how much stamp duty youʼll need to pay, you can use this stamp duty calculator.
If you sell your home in New Zealand before moving to Australia, you wonʼt need to pay capital gains tax as you are still a resident of New Zealand for tax purposes.
However, if you move to Australia and rent out your house in New Zealand for a time before eventually selling it, you will need to pay capital gains tax. All investment property (overseas and in Australia) is subject to capital gains tax when sold.
Capital gains tax can be complicated, so we strongly recommend speaking with an accountant for advice on your specific situation.
For more information about CGT in Australia, you can also consult these guides:
Getting a mortgage in Australia is a similar process to New Zealand. You will need to show proof of income in the form of employer payment slips and tax returns, and have a deposit of at least 10 percent (the actual deposit required by a bank varies and is dependent on your financial position and the policy of the lending bank).
Be aware that financial institutions in Australia can and often will check your credit rating in New Zealand. If you are not sure where you stand, you can get a free copy of your credit file from Veda Advantage.
Itʼs a good idea to get pre-approval for a home loan before you start looking for a property so you are all ready to go when the time comes.
The rules and regulations for buying property in Australia do vary from state to state, so itʼs wise to learn how things work in the area youʼll be moving to before going too far along in the buying process. Weʼve put together a list of useful guides for each state below.
Still have questions about buying a home in Australia? Check out our discussion forum where you can ask questions that can be answered by us and other readers.
Read more about moving to Australia in the full How To Move To Australia Guide, or check out our discussion forum to find more help with planning your move.
Have we helped you? Maybe you can help us!
We'd love to interview you if you have recently moved to Australia and are happy to share your experience with others. If this sounds like you, please email us at hello@movetoaustralia.net and we can arrange it!
Our goal is to make this guide the most useful resource available to Kiwis making the move to Australia. If you believe any of this information is unclear, incorrect, or out of date, please email us at hello@movetoaustralia.net. Also, be sure to check the discussion forum for the latest information. We appreciate all feedback :)
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