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Persistent vulnerabilities in global real estate markets

Transparency International’s recent OREO Index highlights the persistent vulnerabilities in global real estate markets, where opaque ownership structures and insufficient AML regulations continue to facilitate illicit financial flows. The lack of accessible ownership data and inconsistent regulatory frameworks across jurisdictions underscore the challenges in combating money laundering effectively.

The pressing need for enhanced transparency and streamlined compliance solutions is being recognised by governments around the world.

Australia has passed new AML legislation coming into effect on July 1, 2026. New EU rules mean AML loopholes in Spain and France have to be closed soon.

Organisations, and individuals, need support now in navigating these complexities by having access to tools that promote accountability and integrity in real estate transactions.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7335408100788551680

Trust you can verify

Live, direct-to-registry business data where available in the jurisdiction. Pull ‘as-filed’ legal documents including registry extracts, certificates, and director/shareholder lists.

Built for cross-border reality

Global coverage including primary Australian trade corridors, including US, UK, India, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia.

Simple and cost-effective

Self-serve portal with no technical integration or long contract required. Pay-as-you-go, so costs track actual deal volume.

Evidence you can cite

Each check includes a downloadable report. If a registry outputs XML/JSON format, FirstLink will take care of that for you and convert it to a PDF with provenance, so reviewers can store and share it easily.

Preparing for Tranche 2 without slowing deals

Australia is moving to extend AML/CTF obligations to professional services, including real estate agencies. The operational themes are familiar: Customer Due Diligence/Know Your Business (CDD/KYB) for business counter-parties, Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) identification, risk screening, and record-keeping.

Here is how an agency can align now, while keeping workflows lean:

 

  • Adopt a standard KYB pack for business entities
    For any vendor, buyer, or landlord that is a company or trust with a corporate trustee, run a FirstLink check and save the report plus any as-filed documents in the deal/PM file. This becomes your baseline evidence.
  • Capture the Global UBO and control in plain language
    Record who ultimately owns or controls the entity, even when the business goes cross-border and how you established that (e.g., registry extract, filings). Keep the explanation short and traceable.
  • Screen early and log resolutions
    Run sanctions/PEP/adverse media checks on the entity and relevant controllers at listing/offer. If a potential match appears, note the rationale for resolving it. This avoids back-and-forth at settlement.
  • Keep an audit-ready trail
    Store the FirstLink report, documents, and your one-paragraph decision note with date. This forms the nucleus of an AML/CTF-ready file and shortens any internal or external review.

Roles, responsibilities, and handoffs inside an agency

Listing agent/Business Development Manager: Triggers vendor KYB at instruction stage; attaches report to listing authority.

Sales admin/deals desk: Triggers buyer KYB when a corporate offer or EOI arrives; files report with contract pack.

Property manager onboarding: Verifies landlord business entities before management agreements are signed; enables monitoring on higher-risk files.

Principal/compliance lead: Reviews exceptions, approves edge-case decisions, defines refresh cadence, and owns audit readiness.

General Business Supplier Procurement: Like any business you will need to undertake supply chain verification checks on any business providing products and services into your offices.

This division keeps KYB tasks close to the operational moment while giving compliance and regulatory clear oversight.

 

What success looks like with FirstLink

Faster time to list
Vendor authority checked and filed on day one.

Fewer settlement delays
Buyer entity and controllers verified at offer, not at the eleventh hour.

Lower rework
Standard reports with sources reduce follow-ups from conveyancers and banks.

Audit-ready files
Clear trail of what was checked, when, and why.

Cost control
Pay-as-you-go checks align spend with actual deal flow; no idle seats.

Getting started

You do not need to re-engineer your business. Add one dependable step where it matters and keep deals moving.

Create a Free FirstLink Account today