Securing Real Estate Assets.

Foreign property buyers in Victoria face: Foreign Purchaser Additional Duty (FPAD) of 8% on top of standard stamp duty on residential properties; Land Tax Absentee Owner Surcharge of 2% annually (if you are an absentee or foreign person); and Residential Land Withholding Tax (RLWT) of 12.5% withheld on the purchase price when buying from a foreign person. For commercial property, GST treatment on the sale must also be considered. We provide a complete tax impact analysis before every foreign property acquisition.

A standard Victorian property purchase — from contract exchange to settlement — typically takes 30-90 days depending on the contract conditions. Off-the-plan purchases can involve much longer settlement periods (often 12-24 months). For buyers requiring FIRB approval, add approximately 30 days for the FIRB process. We coordinate all parties (lenders, agents, vendors) to ensure on-time settlement.

Property due diligence involves investigating the property before becoming legally committed to purchase. We conduct: title searches (to verify the vendor's title and identify encumbrances), planning and zoning checks (to confirm permitted uses and any overlay restrictions), council rate and water authority searches, building permits history, vendor's section 32 statement review, and environmental compliance checks. Thorough due diligence protects you from inheriting unforeseen obligations or restrictions.

Yes, but with important considerations. Foreign persons who are beneficiaries or trustees of trusts may be treated as foreign persons for FIRB and stamp duty surcharge purposes — even if the trust is established under Australian law. Discretionary trusts with foreign persons as potential beneficiaries typically attract the same FIRB requirements and stamp duty surcharges. We structure property holding arrangements to legally optimize tax outcomes while maintaining full compliance with FIRB and surcharge rules.