BIG CHANGES are coming to EscapeArtist! CLICK HERE to learn more.
...and a big thank you to our sponsors for their support while we get ready for our big day.



Real Estate In Australia - Think continent rather than country
Overseas JobsEstates WorldwideArticles For Investing OffshoreeBooks For ExpatsCountries To Move ToLiving OverseasOverseas RetirementEscape From America MagazineEmbassies Of The WorldOffshore Asset ProtectionEscapeArtist Site Map
Article Index ~ Australia Index ~
Real Estate In Australia
Think continent rather than country
By Gary Kurzer
Real Estate
As a local citizen, purchase of property is relatively easy, with choices of real estate agency contact, supplemented as always with "net" presence, and fairly straightforward legal processes.

Upfront costs include "Stamp Duty" in most instances, (which is a government tax) plus legal fees for contract processing. 

If you are a foreign citizen, there is the "FIRB" (Foreign Investment Review Board visit: www.firb.gov.au/) as an added step to check with, but generally there is little impediment to the purchase of an individual apartment/unit or house.

">
It s usually a good idea to employ a local legal firm, or conveyancing firm, to transact your purchase, because as various laws and statutory bodies change from state to state within Australia, local knowledge may prove worthwhile.
Search 4Escape - The International Lifestyles Search Engine
 - 4Escape is a search engine that searches our network of websites each of which shares a common theme: International relocation, living ? investing overseas, overseas jobs, embassies, maps, international real estate, asset protection, articles about how to live ? invest overseas, Caribbean properties and lifestyles, overseas retirement, offshore investments, our yacht broker portal, our house swap portal, articles on overseas employment, international vacation rentals, international vacation packages,  travel resources, every embassy in the world, maps of the world, our three very popular eZines . . . and, as they are fond to say, a great deal more.
Unless there is some complication, most conveyancing is quite straightforward and trouble free.

Purchase contracts are also quite standardised, but any contentious items should be handled by a professional.

Property Values
Property has almost become a pastime with Australians and in recent years a proliferation of "mums and dads" have become investment property owners, be it for straight profit motive, superannuation, or just bandwagon reasons. To a point, this has driven prices up, along with pressure from migration and maintaining the "dream" of owning your own home.

It is probably true that younger age groups find themselves starting on the ownership "ladder" earlier in life than their parents might have.

For all these, and other reasons, values have moved up considerably in the last 5 years or so, with very few real "bargains" left anywhere the net has broadened sales considerably.

Offshore Resources Gallery
Life In Australia
Life In Australia
Considering a trip to Australia? Exploring the possibility of moving there? - Find out what it's like to relocate to the land down under
Wi-Fi Phone for Skype
Yes, a Wi-Fi phone for Skype - That means that no matter where you are in the world, if there's a hot spot, your talking. Say something!
">
Any "depressed" price locations that seem to crop up soon get discovered, and there has been a general leveling out across Australia of property values, albeit that more remote locations are not nearly as expensive as capital cities. Many, many years ago, coastal real estate was relatively cheap, but the dream of a "shack" on the coast miles from anywhere won't translate into reality anymore.

Indeed, almost anything "on the beach" or with a beach view will be commensurately more expensive than almost anywhere else. Be it a tumble-down shed, a magnificent mansion, or just a vacant block of dirt, the closer to the shores, the more you will need to pay. Most beachfront will start at about $A3million for a freestanding property. In highly sought after locations like Sydney harbour, $A22 million might be tagged on a desirable property. As in most places in the world, the "baby boomers" are getting closer to retirement age, and represent the biggest "hump" in population numbers.

As a result, many are thinking ahead to where they want to live, and certainly in Australia, a huge proportion want to be by the beach, particularly those who may not have done so as yet: both for their own purposes, and for the enjoyment of their children and grandchildren.

Some think about buying a "holiday home" or "weekender" that they will use for the next few years as occasional accommodation, then sell a city based property to retire to the "location of their dreams."

There is virtually no chance of beachside property declining in value long term or popularity in the foreseeable future.

Some years ago, an American I met selling a beachside apartment at Bondi said he felt Australian waterfront property was like a "chocolate box" choice.. for him, very cheap for such outstanding location, not possible in his home territory. 

Whilst prices have moved on since then, some observers say that Australian property, whilst more expensive on its "home turf" than ever before, is still quite cheap relative to commensurate property in international markets.

Offshore Resources Gallery
Live On A Barge In Europe
Awesomely engineered aquatic routes across the countryside have been re-born; the insatiable appetite of the ‘tourist’ has led to heavy investment in canals and waterways all over Western Europe.
Buy & Sell Yachts & Barges
EscapeArtist Online Yacht Broker - List your yacht free - includes boats, barges, yachts, ships - European Barges & Live Aboards - Buy a yacht - Sell a yacht - Buy a barge and live on Europe's waterways - Buy a water ferry in the Caribbean
Escape From America Magazine - The Magazine To Read To If You Want To Move Overseas
- Began Summer 1998 - Now with almost a half million subscribers, out eZine is the resource that expats, and wantabe expats turn to for information.  Our archives now have thousands of articles and each month we publish another issue to a growing audience of international readers.  Over 100 people a day subscribe to our eZine.  We've been interviewed and referenced by the Wall Street Journal, CNN, The Washington Post, London Talk Show Radio, C-Span, BBC Click Online, Yahoo Magazine, the New York Times, and countless other media sources.  Featuring International Lifestyles ~ Overseas Jobs ~ Expat Resources  ~ Offshore Investments ~ Overseas Retirement - Second Passports ~ Disappearing Acts ~ Offshore eCommerce ~ Unique Travel ~ Iconoclastic Views ~ Personal Accounts ~ Views From Afar ~ Two things have ushered us into a world without borders... the end of the cold war and the advent of the world wide web of global communications ? commerce.  Ten years and over one hundred issues!  We're just getting started - Gilly Rich - Editor
Continued migration and overseas investment means that there is still capital influx and pressure on quality stock.

Although I may not agree personally with conservative politics, it probably means that the country in general will maintain economic stability and growth.

I have just completed construction of four "beach style" apartments in Terrigal, a resort spot about an hour north of Sydney. I believe, as do others, that this Central Coast locality is still way undervalued largely because it offers so much so close to a major city. 

You can live here and commute to Sydney although doing it daily might become worrisome but it is ideal to live "out of the rat race" whilst still being so close to the Big Smoke (airports, opera, business hub, etc.) There is a rail link, bus link, freeway link, and a proposed ferry route.
.
The nearby CBD area of Gosford offers many of the infrastructure requirements such as a major hospital. One problem with some great "escape" locations is that infrastructure is minimal or absent.

Terrigal is proximal to excellent schools both public and private medical and care facilities, a major shopping hub, plus a myriad of sporting options such as golf, sailing, scuba, surfing, horse riding, etc and is close to great destinations such as Hunter Valley wineries, rivers and mountains.

The four apartments are individually designed, two have gardens "on-title" i.e. you own them and offer great amenity to retirees or families with children or pets. Equally, they lend themselves to a couple or small family who want something exceptional.

The opportunity is very limited in Terrigal, as there are only one or two sites left that offer the same combination of aspect, view, and locality.  These are not beachfront but beach view.

Is that better or worse?
Well, living on the beach is romantic, but corrosive. everything rusts: your house, your car.. Maintenance is very high on the beach as is the cost of purchase.

My apartments cost between $A1.5m -> $A2.2m whereas a beachfront apartment is going to cost you $3m and more for a freestanding house. Yet in real terms, the amenity is better from my apartments. Located on a high point, they command exceptional views, gather a north-easterly aspect and offer much lower recurrent costs.

Further, if you buy as an investment, a freestanding house in that price bracket may cost you up to $20,000 or so in "land tax" per year (yet another government slug) whereas mine are exempt.  Mine are built in a "resort style" and are not like generic inner-city apartments. 

You have the genuine feel of a beach house, and this is carried through via light, breezes, timber flooring, views, landscaping, and indulgent inclusions.

Working in Australia
Historically, many Australians have had a rather relaxed attitude towards work. Whilst there is an upside to this, it has meant that many opportunities exist for others prepared to work a bit harder, or a bit smarter.

If you have the drive, you can be very successful. Many, many migrants arriving with little but their enthusiasm have made formidable fortunes in Australia. I have a vision of someone living in one of my apartments, gazing over the beach from their home office, using nothing more than a computer for e-commerce, or perhaps stock trading...

If you don't want to run your own business, there is strong demand for professionals (e.g. doctors) and plenty of semi-skilled positions. Training is plentiful in a plethora of disciplines, and the Central Coast has many excellent schools, colleges and technical training facilities, as well as local businesses that have staff employment vacancies.

Migrating is relatively straightforward, especially for professionally trained people who speak English. A migration consultant may be of assistance, and shipping belongings is not difficult.

If you want to visit, check your Australian Embassy for visa requirements, or use the web for more homework!

Summary
Australia is consistently voted as the best place in the world to live.  I do not think of it as "perfect" but in an increasingly uncertain world, there is much to recommend in its relaxed lifestyle.

Again, personally, I commend "beach side" as the paramount place to live, and given what you can buy for your dollar in Terrigal in comparison to, say, Sydney (my home town) this is still "chocolate box" territory.

From these apartments you can walk to the beach in 3 minutes or add an extra minute to walk to the shops, bank, medical facilities, restaurants + cafes, etc.

Sydney traffic is getting to be as congested as any major international city, but on the Central Coast, more than a 30 second wait at a rarely encountered traffic light is a long time!

Retirement facilities on the Central Coast are well provided for, as it is a popular retirement destination, as well as a location that supports young families.

The author Gary Kurzer is happy to answer questions about any issues in this article. 
You can contact him at tigga@zip.com.au or by calling Australia 0411 044 448 
More detailed information is available on his website noosa-in-terrigal

Gary has apartments listed on EscapeArtist.com go to: Real Estate in Australia

Article Index ~ Australia Index

Contact  ~  Advertise With Us  ~  Send This Webpage To A Friend  ~  Report Dead Links On This PageEscape From America Magazine Index
 Asset Protection ~ International Real Estate Marketplace  ~ Find A New Country  ~  Yacht Broker - Boats Barges ? Yachts Buy ? Sell  ~  Terms Of Service
© Copyright 1996 -  EscapeArtist.com Inc.   All Rights Reserved