Airlie Beach property – top tips

Tip one

The town’s population has been growing rapidly alongside its international profile as a destination and now has some 25,000 residents. Its success in this regard has seen it rapidly emerge as one of the most sought-after investment locations in the country.

Tip two

Once a basic seaside town, Airlie Beach has grown into an outward looking cosmopolitan international attraction with ample restaurants, retailers and entertainment options.

Tip three

Although the Australian government’s foreign investment policy has been catered to encourage investment in the country, it is also keenly focused on ensuring that it will be of clear benefit to the Australian people. As such, buying real estate across the country means negotiating some comparatively restrictive legalities.

Tip four

Generally speaking, all non-national property purchases will have to go through the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) for approval, which generally takes around thirty days. There are no ‘general’ approvals available and all prospective real estate purchases will have to be specifically approved.

Tip five

The Whitsunday’s has achieved considerable coverage in the press in recent times due to the amount of money due to be invested in the area – in excess of US3 billion by some estimates.

Tip six

The Australian Treasurer can name a particular development as an Integrated Tourism Resort. In such cases, both residences and vacant land can be purchased within its confines by anybody regardless of nationality, residency status and without FIRB assessment.

Tip seven

As is the case in countries such as Thailand, foreign buyers cannot hold more than half the apartments or townhouses in any one development.

Tip eight

Foreign ownership of apartments or townhouses in a proposed Australian development is less restrictive than single home or land ownership. They can generally be sold to foreign investors as long as the developer applies ahead of time this to be permitted.

Tip nine

A number of attractive condominium and apartment projects have been coming online in Airlie Beach recently. Among them is the Waterstone development – a boutique 10-unit project which developers say has been planned in such a manner as to give a sea view from every main room in every condo.

Tip ten

Airlie Beach land plots have been coming online with increasing frequency over recent years, and have tend to be snapped up shortly thereafter. One land plot project which has just released a second phase of home sites after the first phase sold out, is Airlie Summit on the hills overlooking Airlie Beach.

Guide to buying condos in Airlie Beach
Guide to buying houses and land in Airlie Beach
Guide to real estate in Airlie Beach