Can someone give me a lesson on Australian real estate?

I posted this in the Australia forum, but I figure I'd try here too. I don't have any Australian friends to help me out :(

I am a U.S. citizen looking to buy a home in Sydney while my wife works there for a few years. On a side note, we'd like to find as big of a fixer upper as possible.

My general question is, what is the typical process for buying a home there? Specifically, I don't know anything about auctions or buyer's agents, since that seems to be less common in the U.S.

I know that, as a foreigner, I need to get permission to buy a home. It also looks like it is more challenging for foreigners to buy a pre-owned home. Hopefully our chances will be better since we are looking to renovate a dilapidated house.

We will be over there in a few weeks, and I have been searching for a "Australian Real Estate 101" website with no luck. It seems a bit different than the U.S., so I am trying to learn the differences.

real estate is more likely to be called property in Australian

http://www.shelteroffshore.com/index.php/property/more/buying_property_in_australia/

http://www.channel4.com/4homes/buyingabroad/countryguides/australia.html

http://www.realestate.com.au/

Thank you!

build an airport... PLEASE?!?!?

:hi:

Bake