Top Property Developers in Australia for Foreign Buyers in 2026

Foreign buyers in Australia are, since 1 April 2025, generally limited to newly built dwellings, off the plan apartments and vacant land. That makes the developer behind a project more important here than in most markets. Under the temporary ban on foreign purchases of established dwellings, now extended to 30 June 2029, the new build sector is the only door open to most non residents, so the strength of the company delivering your apartment is central to the risk you take on. A developer with a long completion record, sound finances and a history of settling off the plan projects on time reduces the two biggest dangers a foreign buyer faces: long settlement delays and a builder that collapses before handover. The list below covers ten of the largest and most active residential developers in Australia in 2026.

Meriton

Meriton is Australia's largest apartment developer. Founded in 1963 by Harry Triguboff, it has built more than 65,000 apartments across Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast and continues to release large volumes of new and near new stock, along with a substantial build to rent portfolio operated as Meriton Suites. It is privately held, which gives it balance sheet flexibility that many listed peers do not have. For foreign buyers, its scale and continuous pipeline of new dwellings make it one of the most visible options in the eastern capitals.

Mirvac

Mirvac is a diversified property group listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: MGR) and operating since 1972. It develops masterplanned residential communities and apartment projects and runs a growing build to rent platform, with activity concentrated in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. As an integrated developer and manager, it both builds and holds property, which tends to align its incentives with long term quality.

Stockland

Stockland (ASX: SGP) is one of Australia's largest diversified developers and is best known for masterplanned residential communities and land estates across the eastern seaboard and Western Australia. Buyers looking at house and land or vacant residential land, both of which remain open to foreign purchasers with approval, will encounter Stockland estates frequently.

Lendlease

Lendlease (ASX: LLC) is a global property and infrastructure group headquartered in Sydney. It delivered the Barangaroo South urban regeneration precinct on Sydney Harbour and develops apartments and mixed use projects in the major capitals. Its international footprint and institutional backing make it one of the better capitalised developers in the market.

Frasers Property Australia

Frasers Property Australia is the local arm of Singapore listed Frasers Property. Across its legacy it has delivered more than 140,000 homes, and it develops masterplanned communities, apartments and build to rent. It co developed the award winning Central Park precinct in inner Sydney. Its parent company backing gives it access to capital through cycles.

Sekisui House Australia

Sekisui House Australia is the Australian business of Sekisui House, one of Japan's largest homebuilders. It co developed Central Park in Sydney, including the One Central Park towers, and has been active in large masterplanned sites such as Melrose Park. A long established international parent adds a layer of financial stability for off the plan buyers.

Billbergia Group

Billbergia is a privately held, family owned developer founded in 1988. It has delivered more than 6,000 apartments and major commercial assets across Sydney and Brisbane and is closely associated with the Rhodes and Wentworth Point waterfront precincts. Its active masterplans cover several thousand further dwellings.

Deicorp

Deicorp was founded in 1999 by Fouad Deiri and focuses on Sydney. It has delivered more than 10,000 apartments across dozens of suburbs and specialises in transport connected, mixed use residential projects. Its pipeline has moved increasingly toward central Sydney sites.

Aqualand

Aqualand is an Australian owned developer established in 2014, active in premium residential and build to rent. It delivered the AURA project in North Sydney, a roughly one billion dollar residential development, and has invested heavily in the North Sydney and harbourside markets.

Cbus Property

Cbus Property is wholly owned by the industry superannuation fund Cbus and develops and invests in both residential and commercial projects. Being backed by a large superannuation fund gives it strong balance sheet support, which matters when you are buying a dwelling that will not complete for two or three years.

What counts as a new dwelling matters

Because foreign buyers are restricted to new stock, the legal definition of a new dwelling is not a marketing detail, it decides whether you can buy at all. A new dwelling is one that has not previously been sold as a dwelling and has either not been occupied or was occupied only as display or for a limited period. Off the plan apartments bought directly from the developer usually qualify. A near new dwelling that a developer sold once and had returned may be sold to a foreign buyer under a developer exemption certificate, but the paperwork has to be correct. This is another reason to buy from an established developer that understands the foreign investment framework and can evidence the dwelling's status, rather than from a small operator selling a single completed unit.

How to check a developer before you sign

Ask for the developer's completed projects in the same city over the last five years, confirm the actual construction company behind the project rather than the sales brand, and check whether the developer holds and manages some of its own stock, which tends to signal a longer term commitment to quality. Look at whether the project is being marketed mainly offshore, which can be a sign of inflated pricing aimed at buyers who cannot compare locally.

A note on due diligence

Developer strength is not static. Some international developers, including Poly's Australian arm, have publicly scaled back their local development activity, so check a company's current pipeline and recent completions rather than relying on its reputation from a few years ago. Confirm who the actual builder is, not just the marketing brand, and ask for the developer's recent completed projects in the same city. Bektu tracks developers and their projects so foreign buyers can verify a company's record before committing to an off the plan contract.