Direct AnswerUS citizens returning from Sydney or Toronto face the same housing and compliance patterns as those returning from London: re-establish California residency, and don't count on Proposition 19 (its base transfer is for existing California homeowners moving within the state, not returnees from abroad). Australian superannuation and Canadian RRSPs/TFSAs each carry distinct US tax considerations, and selling overseas property can raise US capital-gains questions. Brian handles the home purchase and is a REALTOR®, not a CPA or attorney - line up cross-border tax advice early.
Whether you're coming back from Sydney or Toronto, the homecoming logistics rhyme - but the retirement-account details differ by country, and that's where to focus your professional advice.
Residency reset (no visa needed)
As a US citizen you can live and work here immediately; you'll re-establish California residency and continue filing US taxes on worldwide income (which you've done abroad too).
Prop 19 - same caution
As with returnees from London, Proposition 19's base-year transfer generally won't apply if you're arriving from abroad without a current California home - your purchase is normally assessed at market value under Proposition 13.
Retirement accounts by country
From Australia:superannuation has complex, unsettled US treatment - don't assume it's tax-free. See the super cross-border guide.
From Canada:RRSP/RRIF growth can often be deferred under treaty Article XVIII; TFSAs are generally not recognized as tax-free by the IRS. See the US-Canada guide.
Selling overseas property may trigger US capital-gains and currency-gain considerations. A cross-border CPA should review before you sell or transfer.
Currency: repatriating AUD or CAD to fund a US purchase makes exchange timing matter. Brian can refer vetted FX providers (RESPA-disclosed); he doesn't advise on currency.
Where returnees land: Conejo Valley, Westlake Village, Calabasas, and Ventura County.
Important - please read: Brian Cooper is a licensed California REALTOR® (DRE# 01434286), not an immigration attorney, CPA, tax adviser, or financial adviser. Visa, tax, pension, and currency information here is general and educational - confirm your situation with a qualified cross-border attorney and CPA. Any lender or service-provider referral is disclosed under RESPA. Equal Housing Opportunity - service-area awareness only, never steering by national origin, religion, or any protected class.
