Why Most Buyers Overcomplicate It
Most buyers chase 100 features, but only 5 really matter.
When you’re buying from overseas, the challenge isn’t the market - it’s focus.
You can’t inspect every home, walk every street, or attend every open.
That’s why the foundation of The Shortlist Method ends with one simple exercise:
✅ Define your five must-haves, the features that make or break your decision.
Why Five?
Five keeps you honest.
It’s enough to define your priorities, but few to make decisions quickly.
Without this filter, every listing looks possible… and that’s where most buyers get stuck.
When your five are set, every property is an easy “yes” or “no.”
What a “Must-Have” Really Means
A must-have isn’t a dream feature; it’s a function.
It defines how the property works for your goals.
Here’s the difference:
| Must-Haves | Nice-to-Haves |
| Parking | Pool |
| Strong layout | Bay views |
| Growth potential | Designer kitchen |
| Natural light | North-facing courtyard |
| Walkable Transport | Extra living space |
Nice-to-haves make you want a property.
Must-haves make it work.
How to Define Yours
Here’s a simple framework we teach our expat clients:
1️⃣ Start with your purpose.
If your goal is a family home, focus on functionality and lifestyle.
If it’s an investment, focus on yield, demand, and resale.
2️⃣ Set your price point first.
Your must-haves mean nothing if they don’t fit your budget.
🎥 Watch training: How to Calculate Your Property’s True Cost to Hold
This short video shows how to calculate a comfort budget that fits your goals.
3️⃣ Write down ten features - then cut them in half.
It’s a great test. You’ll quickly see what really matters.
4️⃣ Compare your list with someone else’s.
Your partner or co-buyer might value something you’ve overlooked.
5️⃣ Commit to your five.
When new listings appear, your must-haves become your test, not your emotions.
Examples in Action
Here’s how defining five essentials shaped three very different expat searches:
| Buyer Type | Purpose | Top 5 Must-Haves | Outcome |
| Family Returner (Singapore) | Home | 3 bedrooms, yard, storage, school access, parking | Found a flexible home in Bentleigh East, ready for return in 12 months |
| Investor (UAE) | Investment | Yield above 4%, low maintenance, walkable transport, growth area, low vacancy | Targeted townhouse in Frankston with 4.2% yield |
| Downsizer (London) | Lifestyle Home | Lift access, single level, balcony, low fees, walk to cafes | Secured an apartment in Hawthorn with zero compromises |
How Your Five Shape Suburb Choice
Your must-haves become the filters you’ll use in Step 2 - The SMART Filter: How to Decide Where to Buy from Overseas. That’s where we match your brief to the suburbs that meet your criteria, using data and live market insight. When your five are clear, suburb selection becomes scientific.
Put It All Together
🎥 Watch next: How to Build and Compare Two or Three Property Concepts That Fit Your Goals
See how to apply your five essentials to multiple concepts before narrowing down to one.
📘 Read: How to Find Your True Budget Before the Bank Tells You What It Is
Learn how to define your comfort budget so your must-haves fit what you can actually hold.
📞 Book a Call with Steve
If you are ready to refine your must-haves and want guidance on how they shape your search, book a call here.
The Bottom Line
Five is your clarity number. It’s not about having everything - it’s about having the right things.
Because once you know what matters most, you can filter noise, move faster, and buy smarter, even from overseas.
Join The Shortlist
Inside our expat community, you’ll learn how to apply The Shortlist Method end-to-end:
🏡 Define what to buy
📍 Identify where to buy
🤝 Secure the right property from overseas
Join today and get your free copy of Home in Sight – A Melbourne Guide for Remote Buyers.