Expat & Overseas Buyers

Expat & Overseas Buyers

Like any property market, it is imperative to secure a property that best suits your situation at the lowest price and under the best conditions – no matter where in the world you currently call home. That’s where National Property Buyers Brisbane can help.

Buying property can be difficult at the best of times, let alone being based in another country and time zone. If you are a returning Aussie expat or just an Overseas Investor acquiring an asset, National Property Buyers Brisbane can assist you to locate & purchase your dream home or investment property in and around Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and other areas upon request.

Whether in New York, London, Singapore or Hong Kong, National Property Buyers Brisbane will act as your personal property concierge to ensure your property purchase is stress-free, convenient and efficient.

Contact us today to make the search and buying process easy with an experienced buyer’s agent.

Award-winning buyer’s agents helping overseas buyers since 2012

Since 2012, our experienced and independent buyer agents have been helping Australians abroad secure quality property back home. With deep insight into local markets and a strong network across the industry, we give you the advantage of buying ahead of the property cycle.

Expert guidance and support every step of the way

We work with you to develop a clear, research-driven strategy focused on:

• Suburbs with strong growth potential
• Lifestyle and community amenities
• School catchments and transport links
• The key features most important to you

We also leverage our vast network of sales agents to uncover the best pre-market and on-market opportunities.

We conduct full due diligence and property reporting

Every property that passes our initial review is physically inspected by our team. We provide you with a detailed report, including:

• Property condition and insights
• A comparative market analysis
• Where the property sits in the current market

We make the invisible—visible.

Trust us for strategic negotiation and access to network connections

Once you’ve selected the right property, we’ll outline the best negotiation strategy to secure it at the lowest possible price, under terms that work in your favour, and we’ll coordinate any support services you need to ensure a smooth path to settlement. This includes:

• Mortgage brokers
• Solicitors
• Accountants
• Building inspectors

While you aren’t in the country, we’ll work on behalf of you and your best interests

One of the most difficult things about purchasing property when you’re not in the country is trying to coordinate inspections, handovers and your services. That’s where we come in, we’ll go in to bat for you and work tirelessly to identify properties that suit you and your preferences. Here’s what you can expect when working with us:

• Attendance at all scheduled building & pest inspections
• Immediate feedback and guidance after inspections
• Coordination of pre-settlement inspections to ensure the property is in the expected condition
• Key handover arrangements
• You’ll have 24/7 access to updates and communication via our client portal, PropertyHub, giving you transparency and peace of mind throughout the process.
• We can also help coordinate additional support services to assist with your purchase and relocation needs.

Purchasing property in Australia as a non-citizen

If you are a foreign investor – that is, not an Australian citizen investing in property in Australia – you must meet specific criteria set out by the Australian Taxation Office. In some cases, exemptions may apply, such as if you intend to purchase only one property. It can be a new or near-new dwelling or a single block of vacant land for development.

From 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2027, foreign persons—including temporary residents and foreign-owned companies—will be unable to apply for established dwellings in Australia, unless an exception applies. This change will involve stricter screening processes. Learn more here.

National Property Buyers advocates can assist you to ensure you purchase within the legislation, or you can find out more from The Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) at firb.gov.au.

Purchasing property in Australia as a citizen overseas

As an Australian expat, purchasing property while overseas is much the same as buying locally. However, there are a few common challenges that can complicate the process. At National Property Buyers, these are the issues we see most often:

• Limited lender options: Not all lenders offer mortgages to Australian citizens living abroad. We recommend working with a broker who specialises in assisting international buyers.
• Exchange rate impacts: Currency fluctuations can affect both your borrowing power and the speed of loan approval. Some lenders may only consider 80% of your net income due to exchange rate volatility.
• Non-citizen spouse considerations: If your spouse isn’t an Australian citizen, many lenders won’t include their income in your application. They may also be subject to a foreign buyer surcharge on stamp duty.

National Property Buyers can assist you in working out these limitations and find a solution that puts you in the best spot to be able to purchase property.

Purchasing property in Australia as a temporary resident

Foreigners on a temporary visa — including spouse visas and 457 visas — may purchase a single established or new dwelling to live in during their stay in Australia, provided they obtain approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB).

A temporary resident is defined as someone who either:

• Holds a temporary visa permitting them to stay in Australia for more than 12 consecutive months.
• Is currently living in Australia and has applied to be a permanent resident or holds a bridging visa.

Once the property is purchased, the following conditions must be met:

• The property must not be rented out, either in part or in full. It must remain vacant at settlement and be used solely as the buyer’s principal place of residence.
• The property must be sold within three months of it no longer being the buyer’s primary residence. However, if the buyer obtains permanent residency, this requirement no longer applies.

Want something more? We also offer tailored solutions

We’re always happy to create custom solutions and would be happy to tailor a service to suit your unique situation and needs if you want something a bit different.

If you’d like a custom service, just get in touch with our team and let us know what you’re after.

Why choose our expat and overseas buying services?

Superior team, superior results

We’ve helped local, national and international buyers successfully navigate the Australian property market for years. With our proven track record, you can feel confident you won’t miss out.

Investment property experts with local market knowledge

With 20+ years of experience, we know the Australian real estate market inside out. Work with us and unlock access to expert guidance and off-market properties.

We find the right property for the right price

Your dream property doesn’t have to fall outside your budget. We take the time to understand your budget, preferences and location to find something that ticks all your boxes.

Expert guidance and negotiation support

Foreign purchases can seem daunting, with various legislations, approvals and information that you may not be across. We are here to help you navigate it and work towards your ideal property alongside you.

Efficient turnaround on property buying

The property market moves quickly, and we understand that. We go through the process as efficiently as possible to avoid delays or setbacks.

Local, national and international support

We’ve been navigating the purchasing process for all local, national and international clients for decades. We know the Brisbane property market like the back of our hands, and we’ll share that expertise with you, no matter where you’re placed in the world.