We have now got a clearer picture of what we plan to do on arrival - rent short term furnished then rent for longer term (when stuff arrives) or buy (if house prices have settled.
How long does the process take to buy a house once you have agreed a price and assuming the property is vacant?
Is it anything like the U.K. process?
PP - you may be able to help on this one as I understand you have just moved :sign09:

Cheers in advance

Aus

Sorry Aus..i'm not being much help to you of late, but we havent bought this place its another rental. We cannot buy until i get my PR visa.

I am told however, that the process is much quicker than UK. I would imagine if the house you are buying is vacant and you have cash or finance pre arranged it wouldnt take more than a couple of weeks. Someone is sure to know better than i.

Thanks PP

I assumed it would be quicker (it can't possibly be any slower than here in U.K.) !!

Anyone else bought yet?

And - are the houses prices going for a dive like some have predicted? :sign60:

Aus

I think it was on one of those programmes and it said it could take upto 4 weeks............like I said it was on a programme so I don't know how true it is?????

Audrey is one to ask as she moved into her house not so long ago.

Sasha :)

What like they have been predicting over here! :loopy: I would love it if it happened but who knows.

Sasha :)

There was an item on the news last night referring to the Reserve Bank of Australia confirming that house prices have dropped over the last 3 months.

Hi Austensue, I have bought a few houses since we came here, if the house you are buying is vacant then you can settle in as a few days if you have the cash to buy it and are prepared to run around town delivering the necessary paperwork to all parties concerned. Realistically, the fastest you'd want to settle would be 3 - 4 working weeks, this gives the conveyancers time to prepare all the paperwork, the banks time to do a valuation (assuming you will have a mortgage) and anything else that needs checking out to be done. Of course, if the house you want isn't vacant (and it is unlikely to be as most people would want to tee up their moving out day to be the same as moving in day at their new place) your vendors may be the ones who set the handover date. cheers adelaidegirl

Do you have to have PR before you're eligible to buy a property? Even if it's cash?

Karen