What Foreign Buyers Can Buy
Since 1 April 2025, foreign persons have been banned from buying established homes in Australia, and the ban now runs to 30 June 2029. Foreign buyers can still apply to buy a new home or off-the-plan, with approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB).
Fees and Surcharges
Buying property in Australia as a foreign person means an FIRB application fee, plus foreign purchaser stamp duty surcharges and, in most states, a yearly land tax surcharge. These vary by state and by price.
Who Does the Work
An Australian property needs a local property manager to find tenants and arrange repairs, for a fee, and you deal with them from Singapore. With Sale & Manage, Tiny Away hosts the guests and maintains the house at its own expense for the lease period.
Currency and Tax
Rent from an Australian property is paid in Australian dollars, so what you receive in Singapore moves with the exchange rate, and you will usually need to file an Australian tax return on it. With Sale & Manage, your purchase, monthly rental and buyback are all in Singapore dollars. How the rental is taxed depends on your own circumstances; we recommend checking with a tax adviser.
At the End of the Lease
An Australian property can be sold on the open market, though selling takes time and costs fees. With Sale & Manage, at the end of each 2- or 5-year lease period you can renew your lease or take up the buyback option. See our guide to how the buyback works.
- Australian Taxation Office: ban on foreign purchases of established dwellings
- Australian Taxation Office: types of property a foreign person can buy