Pros of living in Australia:

1. Great weather – This is always a popular factor when weighing places to live. When contemplating a move people seem to be giving the climate more importance than ever before.
2. Good schools – Another common factor cited when considering living in Australia, especially given the concerns of family oriented communities. Australia is known for highly regarding family values and the education system reflects this.
3. Friendly, funny people – Everyday life seems to grow more stressful as time goes on and people are valuing their day to day interactions with friends and peers more than ever. Living in Australia is known to perk up even the most depressed among us with the help of some of the most friendly and good natured people around.
4. Outdoor lifestyle – As previously noted the weather in Australia is consistently pleasant and, combined with the great amounts of open space, such activities as camping, biking and swimming are popular leisure activities for a vast majority of people living in Australia.
5. Beautiful scenery – Not only is the climate tropical and the outdoor activities plentiful, but the physical beauty of Australia also ranks among the most magnificent in the world. Over 11,000 beautiful beaches and nearly 37,000 km of picture perfect coastline complement Australia’s other physical marvels.

Cons of living in Australia:

1. Very suburban – This is definitely true. However, unlike most suburban lands throughout the world, there is plenty of city and night life available so the negative impact is minimal.
2. High rate of skin cancer – Along with the warm, tropical weather and strong sun come the very real threat of diseases such as skin cancer. Yet there are plenty of ways to combat this such as not being out in the sun too long and staying extremely protected with strong sun screen when you do. This is a common problem in warm weather climates throughout the world and, if necessary, Australia boasts some of the most highly trained dermatologists in the world.
3. Dangerous wildlife – Certainly a legitimate concern but, again, using a little common sense and taking proper precautions when venturing outside, any potential safety concerns should be minimized.
4. Heavily populated with cockroaches (this was a particularly common complaint among Queensland residents) – While these unwelcome guests have been known to make their presence felt throughout the Land Down Under, staying meticulous in regards to cleanliness and having the phone number of a local exterminator handy should help you avoid any major problems.

Even if one were to say that there is some biases shining through in the above list, there would still be a compelling argument for living in Australia. The proof is by watching the number add up. Immigrants continue to pour in to the beautiful country and the pros of living in Australia seem to be wiping the floor with the cons.

In Australia’s major cities, prices have been climbing steadily, especially in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. The country’s mineral exports bonanza is one contributor to this rapid growth. With the purchase of a $23 million property in November 2009 at auction, the Victoria state market accelerated, breaking through a weekly billion dollar sales barrier in March 2010. In an international survey at the beginning of 2010, Australia’s housing was the least affordable of six other nations, United States, Britain, Canada, New Zealand and Ireland. Foreigners are said to be bidding up prices in every area. One influence is the number of Asian children studying in the country, and their parent’s purchases of housing for them.

Some analysts blame a lack of housing supply and government grants to first time buyers are partially to blame. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had this to say: “We want to make sure that Australian working families are not being priced out of their own family homes. That is why we have acted in the way in which we have done. We want to make sure that foreign speculators are not going to force up prices for Australians seeking to buy their own home, buy their first home and we think this is the right course of action.” Violation of the rules is resulting in stiff penalties, including mandatory sell orders. Real estate agents are also being carefully monitored, with penalties to those found to be helping foreign investors to evade the rules.

After a national real estate boom in many states, the survey indicates that real estate agents may have a long way to go to increase the public’s perception and enthusiasm of their industry. Previous studies have also shown that the public does not blame their real estate agents for paying too much for properties they have purchased in the last few years.

Housing Predictor regularly surveys visitors to the web site on a variety of issues related to the real estate industry, which is one of the largest driving forces of the national economy. Despite the slowdown in the housing market in many states, 18 states local markets are appreciating, including Texas and New Mexico, where foreclosures are just beginning to record higher numbers. Forecasts for more than 250 local markets in all 50 states are provided on Housing Predictor, where you may also search real estate listings and foreclosures, which is becoming an increasingly active market for many home buyers and investors.

Housing Predictor has forecast that more than two million homes will be foreclosed through 2009 due to fall out from the sub-prime loan crisis as it spreads into the conventional mortgage markets. Foreclosures are at near record high levels in many areas, but are rare in the second home and vacation markets, where a large percentage of buyers pay cash for property. Housing Predictor is a leading online resource for consumers, home owners, the real estate industry, mortgage and financial companies, which regularly consult the web site for its unbiased independent housing market forecasts.

It’s no wonder you have a variety of properties to choose from in Adelaide. It may be a swanky apartment overlooking the beach or a quaint cottage by the hills. Adelaide also has many scenic townhouses and impressive work spaces. It’s all there; all you have to do is scout! You need a real estate agent to help you find that ideal space and take care of every detail. After all, 20 percent of the agents do 80 percent of the business! Very simply put, a good agent is someone who knows the market like the back of their hand. Someone who is insightful and someone you feel comfortable with. For a buyer, they literally act as protective screen from builders and their agents. For sellers, they sift through random offers and enquiries, only to let the substantial ones through. They also help you take care of the odds and ends that arise during property transactions, mainly volumes of paperwork and tedious negotiations.

Adelaide is one of those few cities in the world that incorporates old world charm with modern day amenities. It is one of the lushest and greenest cities in the world, with over 1500 hectors of green lands and recreational facilities. Adelaide overtook London and New York and has earned a spot in the top 25 most liveable cities in the world. The city has it all: state-of-the-art business and sport facilities in the north east to magnificent Victorian homes by the Torrens River in the north. If you are a wine connoisseur, you’ll find yourself settling in the south. But, if you want to be at the centre of all the action, then you’re headed east to all the malls, movie theatres, cafes and hotels. The western region is a safe place for a family with a number of beaches and parks. An agent will help you find the perfect property in your preferred location, according to your lifestyle and budget.

How and where can you find an agent? A good real estate agent has longevity in this business, mainly through referrals and word of mouth. So begin by ask your neighbours, co-workers, friends and family. An open house is another way to find your agent. This is a great platform to interact with agents on a personal level. You can gauge how approachable they are, their knowledge of the business and their marketing skills. Look out for ads in the papers; there you will find listings for both property and agents. You will find agents who just deal in suburban spaces, namely Bowden, North Adelaide, Wayville, etc and some with expertise in the Metropolitan area. The key to finding the perfect place is taking your time, being aware of market conditions, having realistic expectations and, let’s not forget, a great agent!

Will the property appreciate? is always a major consideration. Over time property always has but it always pays to closely study the market and conditions of the time and place. One of the main advantages of the Australian property market is high rental returns and this is set to improve as demand is already greater than availability, plus more and more young people are moving into the cities from rural Australia as the lure of high tech jobs tempt them to the cities. Off plan property is also available and often an option with a good profit margin, but again you must obtain a licence from the FIRB, this is generally a formality which can be resolved in a couple of months providing you have all your papers in order.

Another item worth mentioning and this applies everywhere, but particularly in certain areas of Australia is how green is the property?. How energy and water efficient is it? This is certain to become more important over the next few years as energy and water become more expensive and green taxes are levied by governments. The Australian government to be at the forefront of this type of initiative. Getting a visa to live in Australia is not easy and you need permission as a foreigner to invest in real estate, however once that is done the processes for buying property in Australia are relatively straight forward. The economy in the circumstances is good with low unemployment and certain sectors, especially mining doing well. The healthy outdoors lifestyle is another thing people often cite as the reason for moving to Australia.

An investment property is becoming a more popular choice for those seeking to create a revenue stream and also achieve capital growth through the investment property value increasing over time. In the buy to let sectors, student accommodation should also be considered with an ever increasing amount of young people flocking to the big universities in the cities. However, whether it is students, workers or families one thing you should ensure is that your letting agent is a good responsible one.