Buying property in Perth: risks, scams and pitfalls (2026)

Authored by the expert who managed and guided the team behind the Australia Property Pack

Yes, the analysis of Perth's property market is included in our pack

Who is the author of this content?

BAMBOOROUTES

A team specialized in real estate investing in APAC countries (Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, etc.).

We are a team of financial experts, legal professionals, developers, and local real estate specialists dedicated to helping people like you avoid mistakes when investing in real estate in a foreign place, particularly in Perth. If you’d like to learn more about us, you can check our presentation page.

How risky is buying property in Perth as a foreigner in 2026?

Can foreigners legally own properties in Perth in 2026?

As of early 2026, foreigners can legally own property in Perth, but most are banned from buying established homes until March 2027 under a temporary federal restriction.

The main restriction is that foreign persons cannot purchase established dwellings (existing houses) and are pushed toward new dwellings or vacant land with build requirements instead.

Because direct ownership of established homes is restricted, foreigners in Perth commonly buy off-the-plan apartments, new builds, or vacant land where they commit to constructing a dwelling within a set timeframe.

This means if you are eyeing a nice existing home in suburbs like Cottesloe, Nedlands, or Victoria Park, you will likely be blocked unless you qualify for a narrow exception.

What buyer rights do foreigners actually have in Perth in 2026?

As of early 2026, foreigners who complete a lawful purchase in Perth have broadly the same ownership rights as Australian citizens once registered as the proprietor on the Landgate title.

If a seller breaches a contract in Perth, foreign buyers can enforce their rights through the Western Australian court system, seek damages, or pursue specific performance to force completion of the sale.

The most common right foreigners mistakenly assume they have in Perth is the ability to buy any property they want, when in fact the established dwelling ban blocks most purchases until March 2027.

Another common mistake is assuming verbal promises or side agreements will be enforceable, when only properly documented contract terms hold up in court.

How strong is contract enforcement in Perth right now?

Contract enforcement in Perth is strong by global standards, putting Australia in the same tier as the UK, Canada, and Germany for real estate transaction reliability.

The main weakness foreigners should know about in Perth is that enforcement becomes slow and expensive if you have wired money to a scammer or relied on handshake side deals that are not properly documented.

In practical terms, if your paperwork is clean and your dispute is a standard contractual issue, you are in a safe jurisdiction, but recovering funds lost to fraud is still difficult even in strong legal systems.

By the way, we detail all the documents you need and what they mean in our property pack covering Perth.

Which scams target foreign buyers in Perth right now?

Are scams against foreigners common in Perth right now?

Property scams in Perth are common enough that WA Consumer Protection has introduced specific controls like client identity verification and strengthened witnessing requirements for real estate transactions.

The transaction type most frequently targeted by scammers in Perth is the settlement payment stage, where criminals intercept emails and redirect large bank transfers to fraudulent accounts.

The foreign buyer profile most commonly targeted in Perth is someone buying remotely from overseas who is unfamiliar with Australian settlement processes and unlikely to verify payment details by phone.

The single biggest warning sign that a deal may be a scam in Perth is receiving unexpected new bank account details by email, especially close to settlement when time pressure is highest.

What are the top three scams foreigners face in Perth right now?

The top three scams foreigners face when buying property in Perth are payment diversion fraud (fake bank details), fake or unlicensed agents stealing deposits, and title fraud where someone impersonates the real property owner.

The most common scam in Perth unfolds like this: you receive an email that looks like it is from your settlement agent with "updated" trust account details, you transfer your deposit or settlement funds, and the money goes to criminals instead of the legitimate account.

To protect yourself from these three scams in Perth, always verify payment details by calling a known safe number (not one from the suspicious email), check agent licensing through the WA Government registry, and insist your settlement agent confirms the seller's identity matches the Landgate title.

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How do I verify the seller and ownership in Perth without getting fooled?

How do I confirm the seller is the real owner in Perth?

The standard verification process to confirm the seller is the real owner in Perth is to order an official Certificate of Title through Landgate and have your settlement agent match the seller's identity documents to the registered proprietor.

The official document foreigners should check to verify ownership in Perth is the Certificate of Title, which you can order through Landgate's Land Enquiry Services either directly or through your licensed settlement agent.

The most common trick fake sellers use in Perth to appear legitimate is providing PDF copies of title documents (which can be forged) rather than official Landgate extracts, and this trick is becoming more common as remote transactions increase.

This is why you should never accept title documents emailed by the other party and should always order fresh copies through official Landgate channels.

Where do I check liens or mortgages on a property in Perth?

The official registry where you check liens or mortgages on a property in Perth is Landgate, through their Land Enquiry Services portal where you can order title searches and related documents.

When checking for liens in Perth, you should request the full Certificate of Title which shows registered mortgages, caveats (claims by third parties), and other encumbrances that could affect your purchase.

The type of encumbrance most commonly missed by foreign buyers in Perth is caveats, which signal that someone else claims an interest in the property and can block or complicate settlement if not resolved.

Your settlement agent should interpret these documents for you and explain what each caveat or encumbrance means for your transaction.

It's one of the aspects we cover in our our pack about the real estate market in Perth.

How do I spot forged documents in Perth right now?

The most common type of forged document used in property scams in Perth is the payment instruction (bank details), and this type of forgery sometimes happens, especially in transactions conducted mostly by email.

The specific red flag that indicates a document may be forged in Perth is receiving any document or payment instruction from an unexpected email address, or being asked to use "updated" bank details close to settlement.

The official verification method you should use to authenticate documents in Perth is to order all title documents directly from Landgate yourself (or through your settlement agent), and verify any payment instructions by calling the settlement agent on a phone number you obtained independently.

Do not try to visually detect forgeries yourself because modern forgeries can look perfect, and the safest approach is to use official channels that bypass the forgery risk entirely.

What "grey-area" practices should I watch for in Perth?

What hidden costs surprise foreigners when buying a property in Perth?

The three most common hidden costs that foreigners overlook in Perth are foreign buyers duty (7% of the purchase price, around 63,000 AUD or 40,000 USD or 37,000 EUR on an 900,000 AUD property), regular transfer duty (stamp duty), and strata levies for apartments that can include unexpected special levies for major repairs.

The hidden cost most often deliberately concealed by sellers or agents in Perth is upcoming strata special levies for building defects or major works, and this sometimes happens in apartment buildings in areas like East Perth, South Perth, and Scarborough.

The 7% foreign buyers duty is the number one "I did not budget for that" shock for foreigners buying in Perth, because it comes on top of regular stamp duty and can add tens of thousands of dollars to your costs.

If you want to go into more details, we also have a blog article detailing all the property taxes and fees in Perth.

Are "cash under the table" requests common in Perth right now?

Cash under the table requests in Perth residential property are not the norm, but foreigners sometimes encounter soft-pressure versions like suggestions to write a lower contract price and pay the difference separately.

The typical reason sellers give for requesting undeclared cash payments in Perth is to reduce their capital gains tax liability or to lower the stamp duty the buyer pays, framing it as a "win-win" arrangement.

The legal risks foreigners face if they agree to an undeclared cash payment in Perth include tax fraud liability, contract enforceability problems if disputes arise, and potential blackmail from the other party who could threaten to report the arrangement.

Treat any suggestion to split payments or reduce the official contract price as a bright red flag and walk away.

Are side agreements used to bypass rules in Perth right now?

Side agreements in Perth property transactions sometimes happen, mainly in two forms: shifting value into furniture or chattels to influence duty calculations, and verbal promises about repairs or works that are not documented in the contract.

The most common type of side agreement used to circumvent regulations in Perth is the "handshake promise" where the seller verbally agrees to fix something after settlement or guarantees rental income, but puts nothing in writing.

The legal consequences foreigners face if a side agreement is discovered by authorities in Perth include duty reassessment with penalties, potential contract voiding, and loss of any legal recourse for the undocumented promises because courts will not enforce them.

For strata properties in popular foreigner areas like East Perth, South Perth, Subiaco, and Fremantle, always verify any promises about building works in the official strata records rather than trusting verbal assurances.

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Can I trust real estate agents in Perth in 2026?

Are real estate agents regulated in Perth in 2026?

As of early 2026, real estate agents in Perth are regulated under the Real Estate and Business Agents Act 1978, which requires licensing, triennial certificate renewal, and compliance with professional conduct standards.

A legitimate real estate agent in Perth should hold a valid license issued by the WA Government, which you can verify through the official WA Government licensing registry.

Foreigners can verify whether an agent is properly licensed in Perth by checking the WA Government's online licensing register or by contacting Consumer Protection WA directly with the agent's name or business details.

But remember that "regulated" does not mean "safe to skip checks" because the most damaging scams often involve someone impersonating a licensed agent or hijacking their email, not the agent themselves acting dishonestly.

Please note that we have a list of contacts for you in our property pack about Perth.

What agent fee percentage is normal in Perth in 2026?

As of early 2026, the normal selling agent fee percentage in Perth ranges from about 1.5% to 3% of the sale price plus GST, depending on the suburb, price point, and marketing campaign.

The typical range of agent fees that covers most residential transactions in Perth is 1.5% to 3% for standard sales, with lower percentages sometimes negotiated on high-value properties in prestige suburbs like Nedlands, Peppermint Grove, and Cottesloe.

In Perth, the seller typically pays the selling agent's commission, so as a buyer you do not directly pay this fee unless you hire a separate buyer's agent, which usually costs a flat fee or around 1% to 2% of the purchase price.

Always get written quotes from any agent before engaging them, because verbal fee agreements can lead to disputes later.

What due diligence actually prevents disasters in Perth?

What structural inspection is standard in Perth right now?

The standard structural inspection process for property purchases in Perth includes a building inspection covering structure, moisture, and cracking, plus a separate timber pest and termite inspection because WA has real termite exposure.

A qualified inspector in Perth should check foundations, walls, roof structure, drainage, evidence of movement or cracking, moisture intrusion, and signs of termite damage or activity.

The type of professional qualified to perform structural inspections in Perth is a licensed building inspector, and for termite inspections you need a licensed pest inspector, though some inspectors hold both qualifications.

The most common structural issues that inspections reveal in Perth properties are termite damage (sometimes hidden under fresh paint), cracking from reactive soils or poor drainage, and non-approved renovations that do not meet building codes.

How do I confirm exact boundaries in Perth?

The standard process for confirming exact property boundaries in Perth is to order the deposited plan or survey diagram through Landgate, which shows the legal lot boundaries as registered.

The official document that shows the legal boundaries of a property in Perth is the deposited plan or strata plan, which you can order through Landgate's Land Enquiry Services along with your title documents.

The most common boundary dispute that affects foreign buyers in Perth is assuming fences mark the true boundary when they often do not, leading to surprises when you want to build an extension or install a pool.

The professional you should hire to physically verify boundaries on the ground in Perth is a licensed surveyor, who can mark the actual boundary pegs and confirm whether existing structures encroach on neighboring land.

What defects are commonly hidden in Perth right now?

The top three defects that sellers frequently conceal from buyers in Perth are termite damage or high termite risk (common), non-approved renovations especially in bathrooms and kitchens (common), and cracking or movement from reactive soils that has been cosmetically disguised (sometimes happens).

The inspection technique that helps uncover hidden defects in Perth is thermal imaging combined with moisture meters for water damage, plus a thorough check of council records to confirm whether past renovations had proper permits.

Termite damage is particularly risky in Perth because a fresh paint job can hide extensive timber deterioration, and non-approved renovations create problems at resale or when making insurance claims.

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What insider lessons do foreigners share after buying in Perth?

What do foreigners say they did wrong in Perth right now?

The most common mistake foreigners say they made when buying property in Perth is rushing the purchase due to competitive market pressure and skipping verification steps they would normally do.

The top three regrets foreigners most frequently mention after buying in Perth are trying to buy an established dwelling despite the foreign buyer restrictions, treating the settlement agent as optional or using one suggested by the other party, and skipping strata records inspection for apartments.

The single piece of advice experienced foreign buyers most often give to newcomers in Perth is to use your own independently chosen licensed settlement agent from day one, not someone recommended by the seller or selling agent.

The mistake foreigners say cost them the most money or caused the most stress in Perth is failing to budget for the 7% foreign buyers duty, which can add 50,000 to 100,000 AUD to a purchase that they thought was already at their limit.

What do locals do differently when buying in Perth right now?

The key difference in how locals approach buying property compared to foreigners in Perth is that locals default to Landgate and their settlement agent as the source of truth, never trusting emailed documents or screenshots as evidence of anything.

The verification step locals routinely take that foreigners often skip in Perth is thoroughly inspecting strata records before buying an apartment, treating it like they are buying the whole building rather than just one unit.

The local knowledge advantage that helps Perth locals get better deals is understanding which suburbs have hidden compliance issues (like older areas with asbestos or reactive soils), knowing which settlement agents have strong reputations, and being able to negotiate contract conditions even in competitive situations because they understand the hidden-defect risks.

Locals also know that verbal promises mean nothing in Perth property transactions and insist on everything being properly documented in the contract.

What sources have we used to write this blog article?

Whether it's in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our property pack about Perth, we always rely on the strongest methodology we can … and we don't throw out numbers at random.

We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we've listed the authoritative sources we used, and explained how we used them and the methods behind our estimates.

Source	Why it's authoritative	How we used it
Australian Taxation Office (ATO)	Official Australian government tax authority explaining foreign buyer rules.	We used it to write the foreign ownership restrictions section for early 2026. We highlighted the Perth-specific impact on established dwelling purchases.
Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB)	Primary policy guidance for foreign investment approvals in Australia.	We used it to describe what approvals look like for residential property. We clarified the policy intent of channeling foreign buying into new supply.
WA Government RevenueWA	Official WA government statement of foreign buyers duty.	We used it to quantify the 7% additional duty for foreign buyers. We flagged this as the most common budget surprise for foreigners.
Landgate WA	WA's official land titles authority and source of truth for ownership.	We used it to explain title verification and ownership searches. We structured the seller verification steps foreigners should follow.
WA Consumer Protection	WA regulator's official scam guidance for real estate transactions.	We used it to identify scams that actually occur in WA property transactions. We pointed to the protective mechanisms like identity verification.
WA Government Agent Licensing	Official WA licensing guide for real estate agents.	We used it to explain how to verify an agent is properly licensed. We set expectations on what regulation means in WA.
WA Strata Titles Act 1985	Primary WA statute for strata properties like apartments.	We used it to explain strata record inspection rights and levy obligations. We justified why strata due diligence is essential in Perth.
REIWA	Peak industry body in WA for real estate market data.	We used it to provide context on Perth median prices and market conditions. We kept the market vibe practical and Perth-specific.
WA Treasury and Finance	Official WA government housing market dashboard.	We used it to anchor the January 2026 market snapshot. We referenced the median house price data for Perth.
ACCC Scamwatch	Australia's national consumer regulator reporting scam volumes.	We used it to quantify that scams are a high-volume problem nationally. We supported practical anti-scam behaviors for payment verification.
World Justice Project	Respected international index measuring rule of law across countries.	We used it to compare Australia's contract enforcement strength globally. We anchored the "how strong is the system" discussion.

We created this infographic to give you a simple idea of how much it costs to buy property in different parts of Australia. As you can see, it breaks down price ranges and property types for popular cities in the country. We hope this makes it easier to explore your options and understand the market.