How Aussie Expats Bought an Inner West Home from Overseas
The Clients
My clients were Aussie expats living in the UK, looking to secure an Inner West gem ahead of their return to Sydney. Buying a house is challenging at the best of times — doing it from the other side of the world adds another layer entirely.
Their parents had been attending inspections on their behalf, but it was time to get serious. We scheduled several Zoom calls and worked through the brief, budget, logistics, and options, ultimately forming a clear strategy.
What Was Important to the Client
Location: A house in Stanmore or Annandale on a quiet street with minimal flight noise
Parking: Off-street parking or the ability to add it
Level access: Essential for life with small kids — ruling out terraces and semis with long stair entries
Work-from-home space: Or the ability to create one
The Search
It was a short search in terms of days, but one that required decisive action when the right opportunity appeared. There’s nothing wrong with buying the first house you seriously consider — as long as you have the market knowledge and research to know you’d be foolish to let it slip.
In fact, the home we purchased was the only property we seriously considered during the search.
The Property
A gorgeous freestanding gem on Cardigan Street, Stanmore — tree-lined, no through traffic, and minimal flight noise. With a north-west rear aspect, it struck the perfect balance of charm and potential.
The home was a neatly presented three-bedroom property with rear lane access, allowing future approval for parking. Our strategy focused on securing it at a price that left room for renovation. The house next door provided an excellent precedent: despite sitting on a slightly smaller block, it had successfully added an upstairs master bedroom and ensuite. That extension allowed for expanded living downstairs and a separate study — exactly what my clients wanted.
The property was being sold off market and was tenanted due to a relationship breakdown. I was one of only three groups to inspect it.
After the first inspection, I knew my clients would love it. Before anyone got carried away, we completed thorough due diligence and arranged for the parents to inspect and compare it with other properties they’d seen.
We organised a second inspection and worked through building and pest reports, planning approvals, and contract negotiations. We also brought in a builder to assess feasibility and provide a ballpark renovation estimate — a critical step. If the extension wasn’t possible or affordable, the property wouldn’t stack up.
We confirmed the work would require a DA rather than a CDC, largely due to heritage overlays in the area. Estimated building costs came in around $250,000–$300,000.
The tenancy had four months remaining — one of the reasons the property was being sold off market. This timing suited my clients perfectly. It gave them space to prepare DA plans while their relocation was still six months away.
The Outcome
With an 11-hour time difference, clarity was everything. We needed to be aligned and thinking several steps ahead during negotiations.
A key part of getting an offer accepted is making it difficult for the vendor to say no.
We structured our offer strategically:
We accepted the tenancy
We agreed to their preferred 42-day settlement
We made the offer unconditional, removing uncertainty
Because we solved the seller’s problems, we didn’t need to pay full market value. We leveraged our position and the vendor’s circumstances to secure the property under market price.
Comparable sales on the street confirmed the result — my clients bought extremely well, and crucially, retained the budget to complete their renovation.
