Home Loan Rate – Australia

The Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) examines applications from overseas citizens (This includes those who live in Australia on a 457 Working Visa, and subclass 309 or 820 Temporary Resident Visas) who are looking to invest in property in Australia.
If you are looking to purchase a home to live in or an investment property you may be required to obtain FIRB approval.

Who needs to obtain FIRB approval?
In 2010 the Federal Government of Australia announced new legislation which limits exemptions for foreign citizens and temporary residents looking to purchase property in Australia.
Below is a list of those who are exempt from obtaining FIRB approval:

• Australian citizens living overseas
• New Zealand citizens
• Permanent resident visa holders
• Anyone who is married or in a de-facto relationship with an Australian citizen (not a Permanent Resident)

Please visit the FIRB website for a complete list of exempt parties.

What type of properties can I purchase?

• Owner Occupied Property: If you are buying a home then you may be able to buy an established property (one that wasn’t recently built). You will have to sell your property if you move back to your home country or elsewhere in Australia – If you have obtained your permanent residency in the meantime then you will not be required to sell the property.
• Investment Properties: In most cases the Australian government will approve applications to buy an investment property on the condition that it is a new property (new development or if you buy land and build a property). You can often keep an investment property if you leave Australia.

Applying for permanent residency / citizenship

It is not known by us if owning real estate in Australia in any way affects your application for citizenship. Please refer these questions to your migration agent.

When is FIRB approval required?

You should apply for FIRB “pre-approval” once you have decided to buy a property in Australia; you can then look for a property at your leisure. Your solicitor or conveyancer will usually help you with your application for FIRB approval as part of their normal services.

We recommend that you obtain FIRB pre-approval at the same time as you apply with us for your mortgage pre-approval. To find out more refer to the applying for a loan section of our website.

Do you need help with a loan?

We are mortgage brokers who specialise in financing the purchase of Australian real estate by foreigners, Australians living abroad and people temporarily residing in Australia. This includes those who live in Australia on a 457 Working Visa, and subclass 309 or 820 Temporary Resident Visas.

Please refer to our Non-Resident Finance website for information about the loans that you may qualify for.

There are a lot of instances when purchasing property in Australia has its benefits.  This is true whether you are a foreigner or an Australian citizen.  Investing in property and real estate and Australia is often low risk as value of property is constantly on the rise.

However certain steps must be taken before a loan can be made.  First and foremost Foreign Investment Regulatory Board (FIRB) approval is often necessary unless you fall under the exceptions.  There are several exceptions.

First and foremost an Australian citizen living approval does not need FIRB approval.  Where your spouse is Australian, and you are purchasing a house to live in as joint tenants you likewise need not ask for FIRB approval.  Residents of New Zealand are likewise exempt, and if you hold a permanent resident visa you need not seek any approval.

Temporary residents on the other hand are exempt when purchasing single blocks of vacant land, or new dwellings.  Purchasing a second hand dwelling to live in is also exempt, or even purchasing new dwelling as long as they are pre approved to be sold to foreign citizens.

If you fall within these exemptions, that is one less process to worry about.

Whether or not you need FIRB approval is one thing, while another item for those trying to get a loan is how much of a loan they can get.  Australian citizens living abroad can generally get up to 95% LVR with LMI.  This is the same maximum for those with foreign spouses either working abroad or working in Australia.  Temporary residents working in Australia on the other hand can get up to 85% LVR, while foreign nationals who live and work abroad can get up to 80% of the total property value.

Investing and buying real estate is a genuine opportunity to make a wise investment.  As long as all the requirements such as FIRB approval and the necessary documents are submitted, it shouldn’t be hard at all for a foreigner to get a loan to purchase the property they would like in Australia.

You have lived and worked “down under” for a number of years already, yet you are still renting a place, and paying the monthly rent is becoming too much of a hassle for you.  You would like a place to call home, but the problem is you are not an Australian citizen.  You ask, is it possible for a foreign citizen to be granted a home loan?

The answer to the above question is a resounding yes!  You may be a non-resident, but do not despair, it still does not deprive you of your right to live in place that you can call your own.  This should also clarify the long standing misbelief that just because you are a foreigner, you are not qualified to get a mortgage.

Of course it may sound easier than the actual loan application, but that shouldn’t be much of a bother.  The point of the situation is the fact that foreigners can be granted home loans.

The basic requirement is generally FIRB approval.  Once this is granted then purchasing property with the use of your home loan should not be a problem.

Once these requirements are submitted, then you basically have as much of a chance as any Australian citizen in getting a home loan.  In fact, citizenship actually is not a major factor.  The important part is that you can show you are capable of paying the loan, and if you have a strong financial position.  Always remember that banks and lenders are just seeking to find the best borrowers, and this means borrowers who can and will pay on time.  Just because you are a foreigner does not mean you are a bad borrower.  In fact, you may be a better borrower than most as long as you can prove it by providing the bank or lender with the necessary documents.

In these instances it is also good to point out that if you are not a citizen, but are married to an Australian, then this increases the chances of your loan being granted in the first place, less documentary requirements, and generally you can get up to 95% of the value of the property as a loan.

For more information on loans of this nature, it would be best to consult the experts.  They can provide you with tips and advice on how to ensure that your home loan application is granted for a temporary visa holder living in Australia.