Purchasing Property in Melbourne as an Overseas Buyer in 2025

Whether you’re an investor looking to grow your portfolio or planning a future move to Australia, buying property in Melbourne while living abroad can be an exciting but complex process.

From choosing the right suburb to understanding local market trends and navigating legal requirements, there’s a lot to get right — and a lot that can go wrong without the right guidance.

Whatever your goal, having a trusted local expert on your side makes all the difference.

A professional buyer’s agent can help you shortlist the best properties, negotiate with selling agents, and handle inspections — all while you stay overseas.

In this 3 step guide, we’ll walk you through the essential steps for buying in Melbourne from overseas, and explain how using a buyer’s agent removes risk, saves time, and gives you confidence — no matter where you are in the world.

Step 1: Your Buying Basics: What to Do First

Knowing exactly how much you can borrow—and what taxes you’ll be liable for—will help you avoid unexpected surprises after you buy. Below are some key points to keep in mind:

Step 2: Help Sourcing & Inspecting Property

Finding the right location and property type can take significant time and effort—especially if you’re balancing other commitments. This is where a buyer’s agent can step in and handle the entire process on your behalf.

A buyer’s agent is often a former real estate agent who now works exclusively for buyers, helping you secure the best property for the right price. They deal with selling agents daily and know how to navigate every stage of the purchase—from shortlisting suitable properties to working out true market value, negotiating terms, and closing the deal.

They’ll typically provide detailed videos of inspections, accurate market appraisals, and organise crucial steps like building and pest checks.

This stage can be complex because every property is different—each with its own build quality, structural condition, and market value. Prices vary based on factors like land size, proximity to transport or shops, and the quality of fittings and finishes. A skilled buyer’s agent helps you weigh all these elements so you don’t overpay or overlook hidden issues.

Step 3: Buying the Property

Negotiating by Private Treaty

Once due diligence is complete on your chosen property, the next step is to make an offer to the selling agent and begin negotiations. Your buyer’s agent will handle this on your behalf, negotiating key conditions of the sale—such as making the offer subject to building and pest inspections—agreeing on a final price, and formalising everything with a written contract.

This part of the process can take days of back-and-forth, especially if there are competing buyers. A skilled buyer’s agent will know how to use contract conditions and timing to secure the best outcome and help you stand out in a competitive market.

Buying at Auction

If the seller is open to pre-auction offers and market conditions are favourable, you may submit an offer before auction day—if accepted, the purchase proceeds much like a private sale.

If the property is going to auction, your buyer’s agent will plan one of several bidding strategies, depending on the level of competition and your budget. Their goal is to secure the property under the best possible terms while protecting your budget and negotiating any conditions where possible.

No Matter Where You Live, We’re Here to Help

Whether you’re buying from China, Singapore, New Zealand, London, or anywhere else in the world, purchasing a property can be complex and stressful. That’s where our Senior Buyer Advocates step in—to make the entire process as smooth and worry-free as possible.

Wise Real Estate Advice is a Melbourne-based buyer’s agency with over 20 years of local market experience. Because we focus exclusively on Melbourne, our clients benefit from deep market insight and strong local connections—giving you the confidence that you’re securing a quality property at the right price.

At Wise Real Estate Advice, we make sure every detail is covered and every step is handled with care and expertise. We pride ourselves on providing genuine guidance and action to help you buy wisely and with peace of mind.

Ready to get started? Speak with one of our experienced buyer’s agents today—click here to fill out an enquiry form and we’ll be in touch.