German buyers for new builds in Australia: what is allowed and how to reach them

Sydney and New South Wales

The largest market with many new-build and off-the-plan projects, and the highest foreign purchaser surcharge.

Melbourne and Victoria

A large supply of new apartments; Victoria charges an 8% surcharge and an absentee owner land tax surcharge.

Brisbane and the Gold Coast

Queensland’s growing new-build market, popular for apartments near the beach.

Perth and Western Australia

A lower surcharge than on the east coast, a smaller market.

FIRB approval

Foreign persons, including temporary visa holders, need approval under the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act before buying residential property. The application fee is tiered by price, so contracts often include an approval condition.

Ban on established dwellings

Since 1 April 2025, foreign persons have generally been barred from buying established dwellings, with limited exceptions. It was originally due to end on 31 March 2027; the government announced an extension to 30 June 2029 in the 2026–27 Budget (per the ATO). Check the current status until it is legislated.

What remains allowed

New dwellings, off-the-plan apartments and vacant residential land, each with approval. Vacant land comes with development deadlines.

State surcharges

Foreign buyers pay a surcharge on top of regular stamp duty: 9% in New South Wales, 8% in Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania, 7% in Western Australia and South Australia. Several states also add annual land tax surcharges.

Vacancy fee and ongoing taxes

Foreign owners pay an annual fee if the dwelling is vacant or not rented for more than six months a year. How rental income is treated in Germany is governed by the double taxation treaty; a tax adviser should check.

Financing

Australian banks lend to foreign buyers only on limited terms and with substantial equity. For off-the-plan purchases, financing must be in place at completion, which belongs in the first conversation.

Guide values as of November 2026. Surcharges and fees change regularly. What counts are the state revenue offices, the Australian Government’s foreign investment guidance and individual advice.

1. 1

   Advertise permitted properties only

   We advertise new builds, off-the-plan apartments and land that German buyers may buy with approval. Established dwellings are not an option for this audience until mid-2029.

2. 2

   Audience: living in Germany, Austria, Switzerland

   German speakers in the DACH region, and optionally a separate campaign for Germans already living in Australia.

3. 3

   Meta Special Ad Category: Housing

   Property ads can fall under Meta’s housing special ad category depending on the target region, with restricted targeting options. We set the category for every campaign.

4. 4

   Message: approval and costs explained openly

   German buyers click on clear answers: Am I allowed to buy? What does approval cost? Which surcharges apply? Who handles the application?

5. 5

   German landing page with legal notice

   A German page, real contacts, a GDPR privacy notice. As a provider outside the EU you fall under the GDPR once you target people in the EU.

6. 6

   Callback despite the time difference

   Australia’s east coast is eight to ten hours ahead of Germany depending on the season. Calls in your late afternoon reach German prospects in their morning.

GDPR

Companies in the EU are subject to it anyway. Companies outside the EU, for example in Dubai, Turkey or the UK, are subject to it as soon as they target people in the EU (Art. 3(2) GDPR). Privacy notice and consent belong in the form, in German.

Consent to be called

Marketing calls to consumers in Germany are only allowed with prior express consent (§ 7(2) German Unfair Competition Act, UWG), and the consent must be documented and kept (§ 7a UWG).

Legal notice (Impressum)

A landing page aimed at people in Germany needs a full legal notice (§ 5 German Digital Services Act, DDG). For German buyers it is also the first sign of trust.

No yield promises

Fixed rental yields, capital growth or tax benefits without individual review are misleading and damage trust. Better: a worked example with open assumptions.

Campaign in your ad account

Meta campaigns on Facebook and Instagram run in your own ad account. Ads, audiences and all contacts belong to you.

German-language production

Ad copy, videos, form and landing page in German, written for German readers, not translated.

Exclusive enquiries

Every enquiry goes to you only. No reselling, no lead pool.

Handover to your CRM

Enquiries reach your sales team in real time, with form answers and fields for every stage up to the notary.

Where we stand

Our first campaign abroad, for a German-speaking buyer agent on the Costa Blanca, started in late 2026. Documented figures come from our investment property campaigns in Germany: about €7 to €30 in ad spend per lead, and at CD Immo Portfolio around 10–15% of leads reaching the notary on average.

• You sell established dwellings. German buyers without permanent residence cannot buy them until mid-2029.
• Nobody on your team can call back in German and explain the approval process.
• You want to advertise yields or tax benefits. We do not run that kind of advertising.
• Your project is not set up for foreign buyers or the developer has no experience with FIRB applications.