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Why Today is a Perfect Time to Invest in Canberra, Australia: for ASEAN Investors.

Australia has become a hub for Asian property investors, entrepreneurs and overseas students. More than 7.5 million people or 29.7% of the total population currently living in Australia were born overseas - with 7.8% of this population coming from Asia. These immigrants and property investors are turning to Australia for a number of reasons including their globally recognized educational institutions, eco-friendly yet metropolitan lifestyle, and increasing investment opportunities for foreigners.

Education:

Did you know that Australia has the highest number of international students in the world?

In 2019, international students made up 14% of all enrollments in Bachelor degree programs, 48% of all enrolments in Master’s degree programs, and 32% as doctoral candidates (source). Australia is the 3rd most favored study destination for internationals after the US and the UK. But with growing visa regulations within the US in response to COVID-19 and political to economic instabilities with China, Australia is quickly becoming one of the top two places to study abroad internationally. 

In Laos, every year the Australian Government offers a number of scholarships to Lao students through the Australia Awards Laos program, opening up loads of amazing opportunities for local students seeking higher education. Although most students tend to populate towards Melbourne and Sydney, we are going to share with you why Canberra, the capital of Australia, will be the new hotspot study destination for internationals to live in.

Canberra, is known as one of the “most educated cities in Australia”, it's clearly an attractive destination to study abroad because it has some of the top university programs in the world with post-graduate opportunities for international students. 

A few key universities situated in Australia's capital city Canberra are:

Australia National University #1: ANU is the world-leading research university in Canberra, ranked #1 in Australia. ANU has a strong mission to provide the best education and work opportunities for its international students. ANU strongly encourages relations with Southeast Asia and China through their liaison offices that link research and academic partnerships across the regions.  

University of Canberra : UC is in the top 1% of universities in the world and the top 10 in Australia. It is known for its vibrant and dynamic young student population, ranked in the world’s Top 20 “Young Universities”.

Another appealing aspect is that international students are allowed to work for 2-4 years after they finish their studies, this is known as a post-study work stream under a temporary graduate visa. Students can even invite their immediate family members to stay with them during this time.

With such notable opportunities for international students, it’s no wonder that Canberra is quickly becoming one of the top destinations to study in Australia. Naturally, once you think about studying abroad here, you might want to know what your life can look like for the next several years.

Lifestyle:

Canberra is beautifully placed along the Pacific ocean coast in-between bustling cities Melbourne and Sydney. For many people, it’s the ideal location for a balanced, healthy, clean, and eco-friendly lifestyle. It’s ranked as one of the top places for a high quality of life index and very low pollution index. Transportation is convenient with buses, railways, and cycling routes throughout the city.

As the capital city, it holds popular attractions such as the Parliament House, Australian War Memorial, and the National Gallery of Australia. If you’re looking for a balance between city and nature, Canberra is perfect as it’s only minutes away from the natural sceneries of mountains, lakes, forests, and valleys. Activities such as hiking and cycling are quite popular among the students and the local population.

Canberra, as Australia’s educational capital, is also known for its strong economy with high incomes and low unemployment rates. With a cost of living index at 78.25 and average rent 61.87% lower than New York’s average rent. It's forecasted that by 2041 there will be a population growth of 589,000 people resulting in the need for over 100,000 new homes: With new apartment complex projects developing heavily near the University of Canberra. Lastly, many local and global businesses are attracted to collaborative opportunities with industry and government leaders in education, science, and research sectors. Making Canberra a fantastic location to live in for studying and working opportunities.

Rental Returns Through Property Investments for Foreign Owners:

One of the main reasons why many students don’t study abroad is because of the high living expenses. Although Australia can be quite pricey for the average person living in Laos, there are some great opportunities that are often overlooked, such as investing in a property while living there. Foreigners have flexible investment opportunities that allow expats to buy property. So what are some benefits to investing in property?

Investing in property as an international student is a great way to reduce living expenses and earn money back from the investment. For example, according to Allhomes.com.au, the weekly average rental for a house in Canberra is $550 AUD dollars and a unit at about $470 AUD .

If you’re studying for an undergrad for four years plus post-study for an additional two to four years, it will make more sense to invest in a property, gain an annual ROI, and have the opportunity to sell it afterward rather than pouring money into another landlords pocketbook with little to no financial return.

Australia is a fantastic destination for international students and expats to live in and is increasingly more popular every year. The flexible metropolitan yet eco-friendly lifestyle, extensive world-class education, and beneficial immigration laws for foreign investors make Canberra a perfect spot for internationals to live, study, work, and invest in.

Looking to invest in new investment properties in Canberra, Australia? Check out GEOCON properties with over 2,500 contemporary and centrally-located apartments being released within the next two years throughout Canberra. Investments starting as low as USD$200,000. Enquire today for a free consultation online or in our office in Vientiane, Laos. Find out more here.