Australia
East Asia & the Pacific41 independent articlesBeaches, wine country and the Snowy Mountains — but foreigners buy new-build only.
Australia offers superb coastal, wine-country and alpine lifestyle property, with world-class stability. The catch for foreign buyers: FIRB approval is required, and non-residents are generally restricted to new dwellings (a temporary ban on foreign purchases of established homes runs 2025–2027). Byron Bay, the Gold Coast and the Mornington Peninsula lead.
Can foreigners buy?
Restricted: foreign non-residents need FIRB approval and can generally buy only new dwellings (established-home purchases banned 2025–27). Foreign-buyer duty surcharges apply (up to 8%).
Taxes & buying costs
Stamp duty (state) + foreign-buyer surcharge up to 8%; FIRB application fee; annual land tax + foreign-owner surcharge; CGT on sale; rental income taxed.
What makes it unique
First-world beaches, wine regions and ski fields — gated by FIRB and a new-builds-only rule.
1
Most prestigious places to own
Byron Bay (NSW)
Australia's boho-luxury beach capital; celebrity hinterland estates.
A$3m–$25m+
Beach / hinterland estate
Sydney (Palm Beach, Eastern Suburbs)
Trophy harbourside and northern-beaches homes.
A$4m–$40m+
Waterfront house
Mornington Peninsula (VIC)
Melbourne's coastal-and-vineyard weekender belt.
A$2m–$12m
Coastal / vineyard estate
2
Best income potential from vacation renting
Gold Coast (QLD)
High-rise beach-tourism STR; new-build supply suits foreign buyers.
A$700k–$3m
4–6% gross
New beach apartment
Sunshine Coast (Noosa)
Premium beach-town holiday rentals.
A$900k–$4m
4–6% gross
New villa / apartment
Snowy Mountains (Thredbo/Jindabyne)
Australia's ski-season rental market.
A$700k–$3m
4–6% gross
Alpine apartment / lodge
3
Picturesque farms & rural tourism properties
Margaret River (WA)
Surf-and-wine region; premier vineyard estates.
A$1.5m–$10m
Wine / cellar-door tourism
Vineyard estate
Barossa & Yarra Valley
Iconic wine country with cellar-door and farm-stay income.
A$1.5m–$12m
Wine / agritourism
Vineyard / farm estate
Hunter Valley (NSW)
Weekend wine country near Sydney; strong farm-stay demand.
A$1m–$8m
Wine / weekend-let
Vineyard / country estate
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Indicative 2025–26 planning bands for screening only, not quotes and not advice. Holiday-let licensing, tax and foreign-buyer rules change frequently — confirm locally with a lawyer and tax adviser before buying.