Relocating to a new country is not a small decision; Ambler Collins aims to provide you with the most up-to-date and reliable information on important aspects
of life in the country your interested in moving to. Please see the menu below for more information on life in
Australia.
Housing in Australia
Housing in Australia is varied in type, but typically of a good standard. The vast amount of open land means that houses in the suburbs are typically built on large sections. Inner-city apartments and townhouses are common in Sydney and Melbourne. The average size of a house in Australia, around 200 square meters is over double that of the UK. House prices and rental prices vary greatly across Australia and within cities, reasons including proximity to beaches, to the city centre, schools, shops and nightlife.
Buying a house
The strong economy and large flows of skilled migrants has seen house prices rise dramatically over the last decade with a 20% rise over 2007. The most expensive cities for property are Sydney and Perth, and both have large amounts of apartment living. Melbourne has some of the most expensive suburbs in Australia, with property going for well over AU$1million in areas such as Toorak, South Yarrah and Brighton, although other outer suburbs have average prices of around AU$250,000.
The Average prices for houses, not including apartment, in Australian cities as of December 2007 were (in AU$):
Sydney - $553,000
Perth - $509,000
Melbourne - $463,000
Brisbane - $425,000
Adelaide - $400,000
Hobart - $280,000
First time homeowners are eligible for the First Home Owner Grant of AU$7000. This applies to anyone who is purchasing a property in Australia for the first time, including migrants who hold permanent residence.
Renting.
Renting a property in Australia is relatively straightforward and there are numerous real estate companies that offer rental properties, most of which are available online. Bond maximums are set by the state and administered by state government department. The general maximum bond is set at 4 weeks rent for an unfurnished property, and 6 weeks for a furnished property.
Average rental prices vary across cities and have risen sharply along side house prices in recent years.
The best way to get an indicator of the rent prices is to have a look at current properties available. Below are three national rental websites.
www.domain.com.au,
www.rent-a-home.com.au,
www.realestate.com.au
For other Ambler Collins guides to life in a new country see here
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