SYDNEY – Australia’s government will ban foreign investors from buying established houses for the next two years as part of an election pitch to tackle surging home prices.
From April 1, foreign investors will be banned from buying established property until March 31, 2027, Housing Minister Clare O’Neil said in a statement on Feb 16. The restriction will then be reviewed to determine whether it should be extended.
Australia’s housing is some of the most unaffordable in the world and soaring property prices will be a key election issue amid a broader cost-of-living crisis, especially among young voters who fear they will never be able to buy a home.
In Sydney, housing values have jumped almost 70 per cent over the past 10 years, with the median dwelling price now around A$1.2 million (S$1.02 million), according to property consultancy CoreLogic. Rents have also been climbing.
Still, the ban is likely to have only a marginal effect on prices. Overseas investors bought A$4.9 billion of residential real estate – including vacant land, new and established dwellings – in the 12 months ended June 30, 2023, according to the Australian Taxation Office. Established dwellings accounted for about one-third of the total.
The tax office will be given extra funding to help enforce the ban, Ms O’Neil said on Feb 16.
The government’s move to ban foreign purchases of established houses matches a pledge made by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton in 2024.
An election must be held by May 17, and polls show it will be a close fight, with cost-of-living concerns and housing among the top three issues. BLOOMBERG
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