Mr & Mrs Lim are successful professionals holding most of their savings in cash as they are risk averse. They know they have to invest as the return on cash savings is minimal and their savings reduce in value over time due to inflation. They consider investing in local property but are wary about high property value, stamp duty, vacancy rate and holding costs. Their friends suggest they consider overseas property and they start a 5-year research. Eventually they decide on Australian property.

Mr & Mrs Lee have great experience on their first Melbourne property. They have owned it for a few years and find the management hassle-free with professional property manager. Rental demand has been strong and they have not paid any tax on rental income, contrary to common belief. They are excited to know of the tax benefits of having a property portfolio in Australia and proceed to add another Melbourne property in their portfolio, possibly with more to come. They plan their tax affairs with the help of a registered Tax Agent such that if there’s any tax, it is minimised.

Mr & Mrs Tan started their property investment early and they have four leasehold residential properties in Singapore including the one that they are staying in. They intend to pass on the properties as a legacy to their only son but are concerned about the leasehold status of the properties. In Singapore, leasehold property value is most likely to depreciate as the property gets older. When the lease is up it simply expires without any compensation and their concerns are valid. They decide to invest in Australian properties due to their Freehold status and also to diversify their investment. They are more than happy to know that there is no inheritance tax in Australia.

Australia has many world ranking universities and is a popular destination for overseas students. Mr & Mrs Khoo intend to send their children to Australia for further studies due to its close proximity to Singapore. Instead of paying rent, they decide to buy a property for their housing needs. They choose apartment over house due to more central location, better security features, better and more secure payment terms. They intend to keep the property as investment after their children return from their studies.