Simplifying Australian Expat Features

The life of Australian expat is not a simple one. There are many complications that make it impossible to buy property. There are many other complications regarding tax, finances, etc. that need to be looked into  Australian Citizens living overseas looking to buy property back in Australia often find it difficult to get the right answers to certain questions. 

One major issue is that is it possible to get aussie expat loans as an Australian Citizen living abroad (Australian expat)? Australians living overseas can get mortgage finance but it is not as easy as if they were living in Australia. Not all banks will approve a loan for an expat and the banks that do generally apply stricter credit criteria.

Another concern is how much deposit do I need for a home loan as an Australian Citizen living abroad? This is the biggest issue expats have when applying for a home loan. Most lenders and mortgage brokers advise that 80% is the maximum LVR for expats living overseas and therefore a 20% deposit is required. It is true however that expats do only require a minimum of 10% deposit and for some strong applicants that meet stricter criteria, only a 5% deposit would be required. The key to getting a home loan as an expat with less than 20% deposit is applying to the right bank.

Permanent residents of Australia are treated for home loan purposes as Australian Citizens except when they are living overseas. A permanent resident living abroad is treated like a foreign citizen and the maximum LVR available is 80%. Therefore, permanent residents of Australia living overseas require the full 20% deposit.

There are huge differences on lender policy when it comes to borrowing capacity calculations. The difference in policy can mean as much as $150,000 difference in borrowing capacity between different lenders. Some banks will take your net income (i.e., your income you receive in the bank account after tax and deductions), convert this to Australian dollars and then use this tax free amount to work out your borrowing capacity.

To make property investment Australia compare this to other lenders that will take your gross income convert this to Australian dollars and then apply Australian tax to the income. Using a lender that takes the net income is best for those earning low tax or tax free income. If you are earning 100k gross or net some lenders will actually apply Australian tax to the 100k so for borrowing capacity purposes your income would only be $75,000. Using a lender that uses the net income for servicing adds $25,000 to your income significantly increasing your borrowing capacity.

The rules for FHOG and stamp duty vary slightly between the States. Speaking generally though, to qualify for these concessions you must move into the property within 1 year and occupy the property as your principle place of residence for a 6 month period. If you are planning on moving home within the year and living there for 6 months, then you could apply for the FHOG and stamp duty concession on your return. So, keep these points in mind and get a property in Australia.