Yes — but the rules matter
Overseas buyers acquire Sydney property every week. What decides whether it goes well is rarely the market; it is preparation. A foreign buyer needs to understand three things before making an offer: whether they need Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) approval, what kind of property they are allowed to buy right now, and how finance and settlement work across borders. Get those right and the rest is a disciplined search.
FIRB approval, in plain terms
If you are a foreign person — a non-resident, or someone on a temporary visa — you generally need FIRB approval before you buy, and an application fee applies on a tiered scale that rises with the property's value. Australian citizens and permanent residents are not foreign persons and generally do not need approval.
From 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2027, foreign persons (including temporary residents) are generally banned from buying established — i.e. existing — dwellings, with only narrow exceptions. New and off-the-plan dwellings, and vacant land with a genuine build commitment, remain available with FIRB approval.
Fees, thresholds and the fine print change, and vacancy fees apply to homes left empty. Always confirm your position against the current guidance at firb.gov.au and take your own professional advice — this page is a general overview, not legal or financial advice.
The end-to-end process
1 — Brief
We set your goals, budget, timeline and constraints down as a working brief, so every property is measured against the same yardstick rather than mood or momentum.
2 — Search & inspect
We research on-market and off-market options, then inspect on your behalf with live video walkthroughs — you see the light, the street, the neighbours' fences, the things a listing photo hides — without booking a flight.
3 — Assess
We form an independent price opinion from comparable sales, flag risk, and give you a reasoned shortlist rather than a sales pitch.
4 — Coordinate
We coordinate FIRB, finance and foreign exchange, building/pest/strata due diligence, and conveyancing through to settlement. Where the purchase needs licensed acts — negotiating or bidding as your agent — those are carried out by an appropriately licensed professional you engage.
Finance & foreign exchange
Non-resident lending is available but narrower than for residents — deposits are typically larger and not every lender participates. Foreign-exchange timing on a seven-figure purchase can move the effective price by more than a hard-won negotiation. We coordinate both alongside the search so nothing stalls at the last step.
Why an independent advisory practice
The selling agent works for the seller. A portal shows you only what is listed, photographed to flatter. From another timezone, with no one independent in the room, it is easy to overpay or to miss the flaw that only shows up in person. 858 Sydney works only in the buyer's interest — we take no commission from any seller — so the advice you get is about whether you should buy, at what price, and why.
858 Sydney is a private, independent buyer's advisory and research practice. We are not a licensed real estate agency; where licensed in-market acts are required, they are carried out by appropriately licensed professionals you engage. See our disclosures.
Common questions
Buy Sydney from anywhere.
Tell us the brief. We'll tell you honestly whether we can help, and how.