Housing

Australia offers a wide range of housing options, especially in some of its larger cities and their suburbs.

In recent years there has been an increase in apartment living within Australia's major cities, however concentrations of high-rise residential areas are a rarity, with the majority of Australian suburban houses being detached and having (by UK standards) large gardens, backyards and outdoor areas.

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Eligibility

Eligibility for migrants to buy property in Australia is generally dependant on visa type. Migrants with permanent residence visas can purchase property on the same terms as Australian citizens.

For temporary residents, the broad rule is that to buy a home in Australia they will need to get approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB).

The type of information required by the FIRB includes the name, address, nationality and details of the type of property the prospective purchaser is interested in. Furthermore a copy of the contract, along with the prospective purchaser's passport number and other details relevant to the type of category of the purchase are also required.

For more detailed information about buying a home in Australia Global Visas suggest you contact the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB).

House Prices & Buying a Home

Costs of housing vary greatly from state to state and city to city in Australia and many areas have experienced a boom in house prices in recent years. Even so, housing is generally considered to be cheaper than in the UK.

Homes for sale are usually advertised in newspapers, especially on Wednesdays and Saturdays. If you want to buy a house or home unit, look in the 'Real Estate' section. A free catalogue advertising housing for sale is available from most Real Estate agents.

As in most parts of the world, residential properties that are close to cities or have 'lifestyle' advantages such as sea views will always cost more than similar properties without these benefits.

Rental Accommodation

It is often sensible to rent a house for a period of time after you arrive in Australia.

By renting accommodation, new arrivals to Australia will have sufficient time to settle and find out more about the area they are living in before committing to purchasing a house in a particular area.

The 'To Let' columns in major newspapers (particularly on Wednesdays and Saturdays) are a good place to start looking for rental accommodation.

Other places that offer assistance with finding rental accommodation include Real Estate offices and letting centres. Often a commission charge will be associated with finding rental accommodation via these avenues.

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