So you want to move across the globe? To figure out the best way to buy a house in Adelaide or any other part of Australia, just read through this whole post. We will outline the process of searching, making an offer, legal concerns and closing on an international property in Australia.
First of all, the prices that you see when you search online will be in the Australian dollar. You need to understand the relative value of the Australian dollar versus any currency you are working with. That will help you make your real estate decision.
Each Country’s Real Estate System Is Different
Make no assumption that whatever real estate system you are used to will be the norm in Australia. Foreigners need to have either residency or a work visa in order to buy property in Australia. That means that if you want to buy a house in Adelaide, all your paperwork needs to be on the up and up.
Buyers need to apply to the country’s Foreign Investment Review Board and are at the bureaucracy’s mercy. The review can take up to 30 days. Foreigners must use the property as their main residence while in Australia, they cannot rent any part of the property and they need to sell the property lighting fast if they leave the country or the visa runs out.
In Australia, the majority of real estate properties are sold at auction. Buyers view them during an open house, then attend an auction to bid on the property. Many buyers to not employ a real estate agency, although advocates for buyers are on the rise in Adelaide and other Australian cities.
Sellers do have a real estate agent, so they are responsible for paying the full commission, which is capped at 3% of the purchase price. Both parties pay a standard legal fee.
What Makes Adelaide So Attractive
Adelaide is the capital of South Australia, with about 1.3 million residents. It is on the southern coast of the country, with many governmental and financial institutions in the city limits. Originally, many of the suburban residential homes were built as single-story structures on quarter-acre blocks. But most of those homes have been demolished and replaced with multi-family houses and semi-detached townhouses.
What it comes down to is this: If you want to buy a house there, you will want to work legally in the country, search without an agent, win an auction and most likely buy a townhouse. From a larger perspective, make sure it is the right investment, given your currency, personal financial health and the state of the Australian economy. Individuals investing in Australian real estate is very tough, given the amount of government oversight.