Buyers agent · Canberra
Buyers Agent Canberra for Property Investors
Rising Returns buys investment property in Canberra for investors Australia-wide. We research, inspect, negotiate and manage the purchase through to settlement, on and off market, and we act only for you.
How we buy for Canberra investors
- A strategy built around your budget and goals
- Searching Canberra and every other market that fits
- On and off-market access
- Negotiation, due diligence and settlement handled
- neighbourhoods screened
- 15,000+
- data points per property
- 250+
- years in the industry
- 11+
Buying in Canberra
How we buy investment property in Canberra
Canberra is a stable, high-income market, but a harder one for investors. Land tax applies to every rented home, rent growth has been the slowest of the capitals, and new apartments are in plentiful supply. We look for established houses and well-located townhouses where the cash flow still works after land tax and rates, and we compare Canberra with Queanbeyan and other markets so you can see the trade-off clearly.
We start with what you want the property to do, then test Canberra against every other market that fits your budget, so you know it's the right place before we search it. When it is, we search on and off market, have every shortlisted property inspected in person, negotiate with the selling agent and manage the contract through to settlement.
The Canberra property market right now
Canberra values slipped 1.6% over the year to September 2026, and rents grew just 3.2% over the year to August, the slowest of the capitals.
- Median house value · Cotality, Sep 2026
- $1,006,269
- House values, past 12 months · Cotality, Sep 2026
- −1.5%
- Gross rental yield, houses · Cotality, Sep 2026
- 4.0%
- Rental vacancy rate · SQM, Sep 2026
- 1.9%
Where investors buy in Canberra
Canberra isn't one market. These are the parts of the city investors most often weigh up, and the trade-offs between them. Which one suits you depends on your budget, goals and timeframe.
Established north and south
Older suburbs in the inner north and south have houses on generous blocks close to the city and town centres, with higher land values and land tax to match.
Belconnen and Tuggeranong
Established districts with more affordable houses, their own town centres and steady tenant demand from public servants, and university staff in Belconnen.
Gungahlin and Molonglo
Newer districts with a large supply of apartments and townhouses, which has held back unit values and rents. Houses have held up better.
Queanbeyan
Just over the border in NSW, with lower prices and many Canberra workers. NSW stamp duty, land tax and tenancy rules apply there instead of the ACT's.
Buying investment property from Canberra
Canberra households often have steady incomes from public service, defence and university jobs, which supports borrowing capacity. The catch is that buying at home is not always the most efficient use of that capacity. ACT investment properties attract land tax, and an investor buying in their own town centre can end up concentrated in the same market, apartment stock and local economy as their job.
Many Canberra investors therefore weigh the ACT against markets in New South Wales, Queensland or elsewhere, where the rules, holding costs and property types differ. We run that comparison for you. Your brief decides where we look, whether that is Gungahlin, Belconnen, Woden or a regional city several states away. Because ACT land tax applies to investment properties and not to the home you live in, the after-tax result of a Canberra purchase can look quite different from one across the border in Queanbeyan or further afield.
As a national buyers agency, we work with Canberra clients remotely from start to finish. Meetings are online, every shortlisted property comes with a video walk-through and photos, and inspections are arranged in person on your behalf. You make the decisions; we handle the research, inspections, negotiation and paperwork.
Land tax and leasehold
ACT land is held on Crown leases and rented properties attract land tax, so holding costs are compared against other states before you commit.
Concentration risk
If your income depends on the public sector, owning property in the same economy adds to that exposure. Spreading markets can reduce it.
Apartment supply
Several town centres have a large pipeline of new apartments. We check stock levels in a building and suburb before considering any unit.
Rental standards
The ACT sets minimum energy efficiency standards for rental homes, so insulation and compliance are part of our checks on any ACT purchase.
Buying property in the ACT: rules investors should know
Seller reports
Sellers must include an energy efficiency rating and, for houses and townhouses, a building and pest report in the contract, so you see the property's condition before you sign. Most apartments don't need the building and pest reports.
Cooling-off
Five business days for private sales, with a 0.25% penalty if you pull out. There's no cooling-off at auction.
Land tax on every rental
Land tax applies to every rented home in the ACT, whatever its value, on top of rates.
Leasehold and rentals
Residential land is held on 99-year Crown leases. Rentals must meet a minimum standard for ceiling insulation, and a rent rise above 110% of rent inflation needs the tenant's written agreement or tribunal approval.
General information only, current as at October 2026. Your conveyancer or solicitor will confirm how the rules apply to your contract.
Stamp duty in the ACT
Transfer duty on an investment property in the ACT at 2026-27 general rates:
- $600,000 purchase$15,720
- $800,000 purchase$25,150
- $1,000,000 purchase$36,950
Buyers agent fees in Canberra
Buyers agents in Canberra typically charge a fixed fee of about $15,000 to $30,000, or 2% to 4% of the purchase price. Fees differ for investment and owner-occupier purchases. We give you our fee in writing, with exactly what it includes, on a free discovery call.
How buyers agent fees workWhy invest with a data-driven buyers agent?
Property is a long game. We start with what you want it to do for you, then build the purchase around that.
Grow wealthProperties chosen for long-term capital growth, not hype.
Financial freedomA portfolio built step by step towards your passive income goal.
Early retirementA plan with a timeline, then purchases that fit it.
DiversifySpread your risk across states and markets.
Escape the 9 to 5Build income that doesn’t rely on your salary alone.
Family flexibilityProperty that fits your family’s plans, not the other way round.
How it works
From first call to keys in hand
- 01
Strategy · Free
Discovery call
- 02
Strategy
Strategy session
- 03
Strategy
Strategic brief
- 04
Acquisition
Research and selection
- 05
Acquisition
Negotiation and due diligence
- 06
Acquisition
Settlement and handover
Rising Results
Selected client purchases
How a selection of past purchases have tracked since settlement. Results vary by property and market.
Equity gained in 12 months
$158,000
- Purchase price
- $610k
- Capital growth
- 26%
- Rental yield
- 5.9%
Equity gained in 12 months
$104,000
- Purchase price
- $550k
- Capital growth
- 19%
- Rental yield
- 6.1%
Equity gained in 12 months
$117,000
- Purchase price
- $585k
- Capital growth
- 20%
- Rental yield
- 5.8%
Equity gained in 24 months
$189,000
- Capital growth
- 24%
- Rental yield
- 5.8%
Equity gained in 13 months
$149,000
- Capital growth
- 23%
- Rental yield
- 6.1%
Equity gained in 13 months
$134,000
- Capital growth
- 22%
- Rental yield
- 6.0%
Individual client results since settlement. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
4.9 from 100+ Google reviews
What clients say about working with us
Really knows his stuff
“My property's value has gone up by over 20% while generating really good rental return even with rising interest rates. Mossy really knows his stuff, he helped me immensely. I definitely recommend having a chat with him!”
Gary Anderson
Supported every step
“My partner and I felt supported and secure every step of the way in our buying journey with Rising Returns totally exceeding our expectation. Not to mention the invaluable amount of knowledge gained about property and investing in the process. Would highly recommend!”
Chloe Lawson
How much does a buyers agent cost in Canberra?
Do you only buy investment property in Canberra?
How much is stamp duty on an investment property in Canberra?
Is there a cooling-off period when buying property in the ACT?
How much money do I need to start?
You need a minimum of $100,000 in cash or equity, and our minimum purchase price is $400,000.
Should I buy now or should I wait?
It depends on your finances, borrowing capacity and goals more than on timing the market. Waiting has a cost if well-chosen property keeps rising, and buying has risks if it stretches your finances. On the discovery call we look at your position and tell you honestly whether buying now makes sense for you.
What is the average price of the properties you buy?
We source properties from $400,000, our minimum purchase price. The final price depends on your personalised strategy and goals.
How long does the process take from the discovery call?
If you qualify to work with us, the next step will be a 45-minute Strategy Session with one of our advisors. From here, it takes 4 to 12 weeks from signing up to settlement, depending on your criteria, goals, and strategic brief.
Do you recommend accountants, brokers, property managers, lawyers, and tax agents?
Yes, we have recommendations for all of those partners. As part of our service, we find the right team for you, and your property depending on the location of the investment. We handle the admin so that this is seamless for you.
What happens if I don't like the property that you present?
Typically, this does not happen since we spend so much time at the start of the journey developing a plan and understanding your needs and how they will fit into your property portfolio. When we create a Strategic Brief, we are extremely clear about the results and do not deliver any properties that do not fit that brief. We typically look at 60 properties before we present the ONE to you. So you can be sure, we are sure.
We also buy for investors in
Talk to a buyers agent about Canberra
Free, no obligation. We will tell you honestly whether a buyers agent makes sense for you right now.