Pro Real Estate Buyers Agent specialises in helping overseas buyers (expats and foreign investors). Buy your dream home or investment property in Sydney Australia with confidence using the local professionals.

We understand the local market and have access to all new and “hidden” listings that may be suitable for you. Australian expatriates returning to Australia from overseas postings, and those looking to buy investment properties, will find our services of particular importance and assistance.

We also help immigrants to locate their new dream homes, and give advice on Sydney’s best suburbs for a variety of budgets.

Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) Restrictions

If you are an Australian citizen, or a foreign national holding a permanent residence visa, there are no restrictions on purchasing real estate in Australia.

Visa Holders

You are entitled to purchase selected real estate in Australia if you hold a temporary residence visa or have a student visa. All applications to purchase Australian real estate must be submitted to the FIRB for their approval before purchase is permitted.

Temporary residents and students will be required to sell established property purchased when leaving Australia.

Non Visa Holders

Foreign interests are normally given approval to buy in the following 3 categories:

1. New dwelling(s) from a developer, where the developer has pre-approval to sell those dwellings to foreign persons and has provided you a copy of the pre-approval notice
2. Vacant residential land – construction of a dwelling must commence within 24 months of the purchase of land
3. Commercial real estate includes vacant and developed property which is not for residential purposes such as offices, factories, warehouses, hotels, restaurants and shops. It does not include rural land. Purchase of commercial property is normally approved unless it is contrary to the national interest. This is determined by the Government on a case by case basis. Acquisition of certain types of commercial property do not require notification, regardless of the citizenship or residency status of the purchaser

For further information and detailed Australian government’s foreign investment policies, we recommend that you check from the following place first before further research.

Foreign Investment Review Board

E-mail for all general foreign investment inquiries: firbenquiries@treasury.gov.au

E-mail for all foreign investment applications: firbapplications@treasury.gov.au

Internet Website: www.firb.gov.au

Who are the Foreign Investment Review Board?

The Board examines proposals by foreign interests to undertake direct investment in Australia and makes recommendations to the Government on whether those proposals are suitable for approval under the Government’s policy.

If you are new to the website, we recommend that you read their “Guidance Notes” section first https://firb.gov.au/guidance-notes You may find that your questions are answered there.