Australia. His home in Sydney

Interest to Russian foreign real estate is not limited to European countries. Increasingly, the eyes of potential buyers turn to the Green continent. Australian cities have traditionally rank high in world rankings for the most comfortable living spaces. It can be argued that at present the typical Aussie - is a resident of the suburbs of the five major centers: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. More than 60% of the population (about 10 million people) is concentrated in these districts, and if we add the number of people rapidly growing Gold Coast region, in Queensland, south of Brisbane, the legitimate and will speak at all about 65%. According to the 2006 Census, the majority of Australians prefer to settle in detached houses - 77% of citizens have this property. Even in areas of most large cities the figure is never less than 72%. Characteristically, such a housing choice not only to families with children, and unmarried (Statistical six unmarried and unmarried out of ten). And it is a pretty impressive and very comfortable houses. Given the availability of such high request from residents of the Green continent, it is clear that in buying a home they have to borrow. Over the past ten years the share of borrowers in the real estate market has increased. Currently, only 35% of the purchasing housing make it without the help of a mortgage loan, in 1996 there were 43%. According to the Association of Australian developers over the past 23 years in the country recorded the lowest level of housing affordability. So, the average price of homes in the suburbs of Sydney - about 550 thousand dollars to buy it on credit, taking into account monthly payments must earn at least 145 thousand dollars, and according to the 2006 Census, much of the urban population does not reach the this level. With regard to prices, in buildings with an average level of comfort, price per square meter is about 2-3 thousand dollars Shelter, where used in the construction of more glass than brick, which provides additional power generators in case of a power of municipal networks, which are made heated floors, set up gym set, and plasma TVs, descend from the ceiling after pressing a single button, it is worth considerably more expensive. In addition to 75 thousand dollars can build a 25-meter pool in the yard, and another 10 thousand - to buy a luxurious wood that will decorate the local area. According to the statistics in all areas of the country, except for Perth, the capital of Western Australia, has been a steady rise in prices. Thus, in the first quarter of 2007 in Brisbane, they increased by 7.9% in Adelaide - by 5.7% in Darwin - by 4.1%. More modest growth in property values ​​reported in areas of Sydney and Canberra (1.4 and 1.2%). At the same time in the Perth prices fell by 2.7%. Currently, the most expensive city is Sydney - the average home value here is 515.8 thousand dollars is followed by Perth (462 thousand dollars). According to analysts the Australian property market price of housing in most areas continue to grow. Australia is today far more immigrants than ten years ago, and it also affects the state of the market. The main reasons for rising prices - the lack of construction capacity and shortage of sites on which to build homes. Excess of demand over supply is observed since 2003. Consequently, housing affordability continues to decline, and the solution to this problem - one of the most pressing concerns of the Australian Government. The Russians, who arrange the price of Australian homes, the most popular on the Green continent are Sydney and Melbourne. In 2004, the British magazine Economist put Melbourne in the first place in the ranking of the most comfortable cities in the world, although since then a few that went down in the list. In a review of Mercer Human Resource Consulting in 2007 Melbourne is already in 17th place, and Sydney - on the ninth, which he shares with Byrne. "Today, few Russians want to buy a house in Australia - says Natalia Vetlugina, head of analytical department of" New Town ". - Not too easy for Russians to the visa regime, challenging climate (when we have winter - summer there, and vice versa), 20-hour flight in the light stops - all this makes Australia interesting only for those who seriously thinks about immigration. " Indeed, housing in the Green continent want to buy mainly those who are planning to provide a child's education, provide them safe haven, who wants to invest in real estate construction, as well as co-owners of resorts and hotels, business people, who dream to invest their capital in a stable economy. Keep in mind that for foreigners who buy real estate, there are certain limitations. But the mere existence of such property does not affect the process of obtaining a visa, although in comparison with the U.S. and most European countries, Australia, in its most liberal immigration laws. Common to all foreign customers requirement is to obtain permission from the Australian authorities controlling Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB), through which all real estate transactions carried out by non-citizens in Australia. Applications are reviewed within 30 days. It should contain all the information about the object of purchase. If the FIRB will make a positive verdict, the deal is - if not, the contract (if it was made) will be considered null and void and the seller of the property the state may impose a serious penalty. An alien allowed to buy land, provided that within a year it will be built property worth at least 50% of the price of the plot. Allowed to acquire housing in the building (off the plan). Typically, in such a case, the developer himself receives approval from FIBR to sell a certain number of apartments or houses to foreign nationals. However, if an unfinished object has already been sold to someone for at least one day (even if there is no one lived), he is described as not new and can not be realized alien. In this case the tax on the purchase of about 3% of the value of the property if the owner plans to rent it out, and 2% - if the owner himself will live in it. Purchase on the primary market when all necessary conditions will be considered an investment in the economy of Australia, and on completion, the owner can dispose of the property at its discretion (to sell, lease, reside in the purchased house). Much more restrictive provided for customers of the secondary. Acquire ownership of housing in this market right foreigners with temporary Australian visa valid for at least 12 months. However, bought a property can be used only as a place of permanent residence owners - you can not rent, lease, and it must be sold by the end of the visa. Otherwise, foreigners awaiting forced deportation, and, moreover, they can refuse a visa in the future. Not forbidden to acquire real estate in the secondary market and foreign students of Australian universities, and the purchase price must not exceed 245 thousand dollars Source: Property and Prices, by Olga Hvastunova