CAPITAL appreciation, as compared to rental income, tends to be a slightly higher preference for Singaporean investors in Australian residential property, said Knight Frank Australia head of residential research, Michelle Ciesielski.

"They hold onto their properties much longer than other international investors, and we often see more generational buyers from Singapore," she added.

In Australia, non-resident international buyers are generally limited to purchasing new or off-the-plan property. That means foreigners typically do not buy from the resale market.