Australia growing as emigration destination

Ausin has a client who buys about 10 properties through the company every year and now owns about 40, Zaja said. The client has been able to negotiate a better rate and a higher loan amount, he

Properties abroad a two-edged sword

China's rich look abroad as home prices fall

The company, which also offers immigration services to Chinese wanting to move to Australia, is setting up a fund targeting those from the mainland applying for a Significant Investor Visa, he said. The visa allows foreigners investing at least A$5 million in Australia to qualify for residency.

Chinese nationals accounted for 91 percent of applications and 86 percent of grantees as of the end of June, according to the office of the assistant minister for immigration and border protection.

For Chinese seeking to emigrate, Australia is second only to Canada, which in February implemented restrictions on foreign investment and immigration, Johnston wrote.

"Some 45 percent of the 70 million people in the top income bracket in China express an intention to emigrate," Johnston said.

Ausin has seen a 300 percent increase in demand for its immigration services over the past six months, the company said in a release last week.

Concerns by locals that overseas investment in Australian real estate, particularly from China, is driving up prices and reducing affordability has prompted a parliamentary inquiry into foreign buying of domestic property. The report from the inquiry will be released in October.

Overseas purchasers bought 10.2 percent of new properties in the second quarter, falling from a record 13.9 percent in the first quarter, according to National Australia Bank Ltd.

These buyers accounted for 7.2 percent of purchases of existing properties, compared with 9.5 percent earlier.

Home prices across Australia's state and territory capitals rose 10.2 percent over the year through July from a year earlier, according to the RP Data-Rismark Home Value Index. Sydney and Melbourne led the gains, with values climbing 14.8 percent and 11 percent, respectively.