Invest
Soaring foreign property investment set to slump
While foreign purchases of Australian residential property have increased ten-fold over the last five years, this is set to drop amid greater regulation in a slowing market.
Soaring foreign property investment set to slump
While foreign purchases of Australian residential property have increased ten-fold over the last five years, this is set to drop amid greater regulation in a slowing market.
According to the QBE Housing Outlook report released today, the surge in foreign investment will be significantly constrained in the next three years.
“Slowing price growth and low residential yields will encourage investment elsewhere [and] banks have tightened lending policy toward overseas buyers, such as not accepting foreign income in serviceability assessments, and reducing loan–to–value ratios depending on residency status,” the report said.
The study also pointed to the state surcharges that have been imposed in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland on stamp duty of 3 per cent, 4 per cent and 7 per cent respectively to foreign purchasers as major deterrents.
On top of this, foreign residential owners must pay a 0.75 per cent land tax surcharge in NSW, while in Victoria the absentee owner land tax is set to rise to 1.5 per cent from 0.5 per cent.
These are likely to quell the increase in foreign investment that has occurred over the last five years, growing tenfold from $6.09 billion in 2009-10 to $60.75 billion last year.
The introduction of these measures comes at the same time that tighter capital controls are being implemented in China, a central source of foreign investment in the Australian property market, limiting capital outflow.
According to QBE, some dwellings are will be harder hit than others.
“The headwinds for foreign investors are expected to have the greatest impact on the new dwelling market, particularly the apartment sector, where substantial pre–sales are required for a project to obtain development finance for construction. For those that have already purchased off–the–plan, it will become more difficult for foreign investors to settle, particularly if a lower loan–to–value ratio and potential lower valuation requires a significantly higher equity contribution by the purchaser.”
Fewer settlements could in turn place greater downward pressure on apartment prices, if they are placed back on the market at lower prices, the report warned.
RELATED ARTICLES
Property
Australia’s rental choke point: why record-low vacancies are now a boardroom issue
A tightening rental market is no longer just a housing story—it’s a macro risk, a labour challenge and a strategic opening for capital. With vacancies near historic lows and rents still rising, ...Read more
Property
Rents are rewriting the inflation playbook: what record‑low vacancies mean for Australian business
Australia’s rental market is so tight that housing costs are now a primary transmission channel for inflation and interest rates. This isn’t just a property story; it’s a business risk story—affecting ...Read more
Property
Off-market real estate is going mainstream — and changing the rules of dealmaking
With public listings tight and sales still climbing, Australia’s investors are shifting to off-market channels that reward speed, networks and data advantage. The playbook is closer to private equity ...Read more
Property
Australia’s rental squeeze is now a business problem: inflation, capacity and the new growth calculus
Record-low rental vacancies are no longer just a social headline – they’re reshaping cost structures, wage dynamics and capital allocation across corporate Australia. With economists warning of a ...Read more
Property
Rents Are Repricing Australia Inc: What record‑low vacancies mean for inflation, talent and strategy
Australia’s rental market has slipped into a vacancy desert, and it’s not just tenants feeling the heat. Persistently tight supply is pushing up rents, embedding services inflation and complicating ...Read more
Property
Young buyers poised for a comeback as 5% First Home Guarantee takes effect
In a move set to reshape the Australian property landscape, the government’s revamped First Home Guarantee is poised to open the doors of homeownership to a new generation of young AustraliansRead more
Property
AFG Securities waives settlement fees for first-home buyers, signalling strategic shift
In a strategic move aimed at easing the financial burden on first-home buyers, AFG Securities has announced the elimination of settlement fees on select loans, potentially saving customers up to $699Read more
Property
From trust woes to wealth: Australian agencies' secret to boosting prices
In Australia’s residential market, trust is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s a pricing variable. Persistent distrust of real estate agents is depressing vendor outcomes and inviting regulatory heat, but ...Read more
Property
Australia’s rental choke point: why record-low vacancies are now a boardroom issue
A tightening rental market is no longer just a housing story—it’s a macro risk, a labour challenge and a strategic opening for capital. With vacancies near historic lows and rents still rising, ...Read more
Property
Rents are rewriting the inflation playbook: what record‑low vacancies mean for Australian business
Australia’s rental market is so tight that housing costs are now a primary transmission channel for inflation and interest rates. This isn’t just a property story; it’s a business risk story—affecting ...Read more
Property
Off-market real estate is going mainstream — and changing the rules of dealmaking
With public listings tight and sales still climbing, Australia’s investors are shifting to off-market channels that reward speed, networks and data advantage. The playbook is closer to private equity ...Read more
Property
Australia’s rental squeeze is now a business problem: inflation, capacity and the new growth calculus
Record-low rental vacancies are no longer just a social headline – they’re reshaping cost structures, wage dynamics and capital allocation across corporate Australia. With economists warning of a ...Read more
Property
Rents Are Repricing Australia Inc: What record‑low vacancies mean for inflation, talent and strategy
Australia’s rental market has slipped into a vacancy desert, and it’s not just tenants feeling the heat. Persistently tight supply is pushing up rents, embedding services inflation and complicating ...Read more
Property
Young buyers poised for a comeback as 5% First Home Guarantee takes effect
In a move set to reshape the Australian property landscape, the government’s revamped First Home Guarantee is poised to open the doors of homeownership to a new generation of young AustraliansRead more
Property
AFG Securities waives settlement fees for first-home buyers, signalling strategic shift
In a strategic move aimed at easing the financial burden on first-home buyers, AFG Securities has announced the elimination of settlement fees on select loans, potentially saving customers up to $699Read more
Property
From trust woes to wealth: Australian agencies' secret to boosting prices
In Australia’s residential market, trust is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s a pricing variable. Persistent distrust of real estate agents is depressing vendor outcomes and inviting regulatory heat, but ...Read more
