Property: back home or where you live?
Two sides of the same question. Buying, borrowing and investing in Australia from overseas, and what it really costs to buy in your city instead. General information, not advice.
Back home in Australia
Property back homeHome loans for Australians abroad: yes, you can still borrow back home
Living overseas doesn't shut you out of an Australian mortgage. Here's what lenders look at, which rules apply to citizens abroad and how to get ready.
Property back homeForeign income and Australian lenders: why your salary shrinks on paper
Your overseas salary rarely counts in full with an Australian lender. Here's how currencies, discounts, exchange rates and payslips shape what you can borrow.
Property back homeDeposit and LVR as an expat borrower: how much cash you really need
Expat borrowers usually need a bigger deposit than locals. Here's how LVR works, why lenders cap it lower for you, what LMI is and the costs on top.
Property back homeBuying an investment property from overseas: the step-by-step playbook
From pre-approval to handing over the keys to a property manager: how Australians abroad buy an investment property back home, and the 2027 tax changes to know.
Property back homeUsing the equity in your Australian home: buying again without a cash deposit
The house you left behind may be your next deposit. How usable equity is worked out, how to structure the loans and the tax traps to dodge while overseas.
Property back homeRenting out your home while you're overseas: the loan, the tenant and the tax
Your home becomes a rental the day you hand over the keys. Here is what that means for your loan, the tenant and the ATO, and the CGT trap most expats miss.
Property back homeBuying the home you'll move back into: planning your return from overseas
Buying before you fly home sounds tidy. The timing of settlement, the move-in rules on first home concessions and the gap in between all need a plan.
Property back homeBuying sight unseen: how to inspect, check and settle an Australian property from abroad
You can buy a house in Brisbane from a desk in Berlin. The trick is replacing your own eyes with people, reports and paperwork you can trust.
Property back homeYour home loan health check while overseas: is your mortgage still pulling its weight?
A loan you set up years ago and haven't looked at since is probably costing you. Here is a simple once-a-year check you can run from anywhere.
Property back homeWhy expats use a mortgage broker: what they do, how they're paid and what to ask
More than 80% of Australian home loans go through a broker. For expats juggling time zones and foreign income, here is what a broker actually does and how to pick one.
Where you live: buy there or back home?
Pick your city: stamp duty, foreign buyer rules, loans and selling costs, side by side with buying in Australia.
LondonBuying in London vs back home: what Australians really pay
Own a place in Australia? London's stamp duty treats you as a second-home buyer. Here's how a London flat compares with buying back home, cost by cost.
AthensBuying in Athens vs back home: cheap to buy in, for now
Greece's 3.09% transfer tax looks tiny next to NSW duty, but a planned 15% rate for non-EU buyers could change that. Here's how Athens compares with home.
Los AngelesBuying in Los Angeles vs back home: the cheap entry and the long tail
Los Angeles charges almost nothing to buy in, then sends a property tax bill every year. Here's how that stacks up against stamp duty back home.
New YorkBuying in New York vs back home: co-op boards, mansion tax and the mortgage tax nobody mentions
In New York, the type of apartment decides your tax bill as much as the price. Here's how a co-op or condo compares with buying back home.
Hong KongBuying in Hong Kong vs back home: where the duty is lighter now
Hong Kong dropped its extra duties for non-permanent residents in 2024. We compare what Australians pay to buy, hold and sell a flat there versus a home back in NSW.
AucklandBuying in Auckland vs back home: no stamp duty, no permission slip
New Zealand lets Australian citizens buy homes without approval and charges no stamp duty. Here's what Auckland costs instead, and how it compares with home.
TorontoBuying in Toronto vs back home: two transfer taxes, a ban and a 35% catch
Until you're a Canadian permanent resident, buying in Toronto can cost 35% of the price in extra tax. Here's how it compares with buying back home.
RomeBuying in Rome vs back home: where the tax hides in the cadastre
In Rome, purchase tax is often worked out on an official cadastral value, not the price. Here's how a Roman flat compares with buying back home in NSW.
VallettaBuying in Valletta vs back home: permits, duty and the AIP catch
Malta's 5% stamp duty is simple. The AIP permit, its minimum prices and its no-renting rule are not. Here's how a Valletta flat compares with buying in NSW.
Ho Chi Minh CityBuying in Ho Chi Minh City vs back home: a 50-year key or a freehold one
Vietnam's purchase costs are low, but foreigners get a 50-year term inside a building quota. Here's how Ho Chi Minh City compares with buying back home in NSW.
DubaiBuying in Dubai vs back home: no income tax, but plenty of fees
Dubai has no stamp duty surcharge and no income tax on your rent, but the 4% DLD fee, agent commission and service charges add up. Here's how it compares with NSW.
SingaporeBuying in Singapore vs back home: what Australians really pay
Singapore's 60% foreign buyer duty changes the maths completely. Here's how a condo in Singapore stacks up against buying back home in NSW, cost by cost.
BangkokBuying in Bangkok vs back home: condos, quotas and the cash you need
In Thailand you can own a condo but not the land under a house, and you'll likely pay cash. Here's how buying in Bangkok compares with buying back home, cost by cost.
BeirutBuying in Beirut vs back home: cash, family papers and a lot of patience
In Beirut you'll likely pay cash, register through the cadastre and buy as a Lebanese if you hold the passport. Here's how it compares with buying back home in NSW.
SeoulBuying in Seoul vs back home: permits, taxes and loans compared
Since 2025, foreigners need a permit to buy a home in Seoul and must live in it. Here's how Seoul compares with buying back home in NSW, cost by cost.
ShanghaiBuying in Shanghai vs back home: one flat, many conditions
Shanghai's deed tax is tiny next to NSW stamp duty, but foreigners can usually buy only one home, to live in. Here's the full side-by-side for Australians.
BerlinBuying in Berlin vs back home: what Australians really pay
No foreign buyer tax in Germany, but Berlin's 6% transfer tax plus notary and agent fees add up fast. Here's how a Berlin flat compares with buying in NSW.
TokyoBuying in Tokyo vs back home: what Australians really pay
Japan lets foreigners buy freehold with no surcharge, but the buyer pays the agent. Here's how a Tokyo apartment stacks up against buying back home in NSW.
AmsterdamBuying in Amsterdam vs back home: what Australians pay to own
Live in it and Dutch transfer tax is 2%. Buy to let and it's 8%, if Amsterdam lets you rent it out at all. Here's how it compares with buying back home.
DublinBuying in Dublin vs back home: the costs Australians compare
Ireland charges 1% stamp duty on most homes and no foreign surcharge. The catch is getting the mortgage. Dublin vs buying back home, cost by cost.
ParisBuying in Paris vs back home: notaires, taxes and loans compared
In Paris, 'frais de notaire' add about 7% to 8% to an older flat, foreigner or not. Here's how buying in Paris compares with buying back home, cost by cost.
BaliBuying in Bali vs back home: what your villa money really buys
Foreigners can't hold freehold in Bali, but there are legal routes. We compare the rights, taxes and fees of a Bali villa with buying a home back in Australia.