During the fast-moving consideration phase, buyers may feel pressured to sign an unconditional contract. While it can seem like an effective strategy to make the most of a ‘good opportunity’, most buyers don’t realise the risks involved. Whether buying at auction or through a private sale, it’s important to understand what an unconditional contract is, and if it’s worth it. What is an unconditional contract? Every property transaction will involve a legal document that outlines the terms of the sale for both the seller and the buyer, known as the contract of sale. In most cases, the contract o ..read more

Gone are the days of paper documents and face-to-face exchanges; in our increasingly digitised world, even conveyancing has taken the leap to an electronic solution. When it comes to selling or buying a home in Australia, you’ll find that the vast majority of conveyancers and property lawyers confer on one platform for the settlement process — PEXA. To help you gain a clear understanding of what PEXA is and how it works, we’ve provided this guide covering everything you need to know about PEXA and how it relates to your property sale or purchase. What is PEXA? PEXA, short for Property Exchange ..read more

If you’re in the midst of buying or selling property, you’re no stranger to what a conveyancer is and what the conveyancing process might look like. However, one thing that can be distinctly different in every purchasing process is the timeline. So, how long does conveyancing generally take? Once you have found a buyer or seller who is willing to proceed with a property transaction, there are still several required steps that need to be fulfilled before the transaction can be finalised with the official transfer of the property title. These steps are covered under the process of conveyancing a ..read more

Property settlement is the final hurdle that buyers and homeowners have to cross before a transaction is considered to be complete. Considering that all of the preparation from the previous stages has led to the settlement, the settlement stage of a property transaction can be a stressful period for all parties involved. Preparation is the key to ensuring a smooth property settlement process. If you’ve just purchased a property in NSW and have engaged the services of a conveyancer, they will typically give you a brief rundown on what will happen as part of the property settlement process in NS ..read more

The entire process of selling a home in Australia is more complicated than it seems — to safeguard both buyers and sellers, there are a range of legal requirements that must be met, each specific to the state where your property is located. In the interest of understanding the selling process, homeowners who want to sell their homes are often confused about whether they need to hire a conveyancer. As experienced conveyancers ourselves, we’re here to provide you with the definitive answer on the matter, as well as offer more clarity about the process of selling your home so that you can make sm ..read more

For property buyers and sellers, the deliberation between getting a lawyer or a conveyancer often occurs as a result of the confusion between the nature of the services offered. To make things clear – yes, there are differences between a lawyer and a conveyancer, despite some overlap in the services offered in line with property law. Having an understanding of these differences can go a long way in working out who is best suited to helping your situation, and how much you can expect to pay for the service. What does a lawyer do? Lawyers, or solicitors, are legal practitioners who have general ..read more

The upfront costs of buying a home There’s no denying that buying a home comes at a considerable upfront cost. At the time of writing this article, the average cost for a home in Australia exceeds $753,654, with major cities like Sydney and Melbourne coming out on top in having the highest property prices across the country. But property prices are not the whole picture when it comes to buying a home in 2024. Homebuyers need to be aware of the handful of additional expenses involved that aren’t reflected in the ‘upfront cost’ that property sale prices display. The hidden additional costs of pu ..read more

Whether you’re buying your first or fourth property in Victoria, stamp duty is an inevitable cost that will incur as part of the purchasing process. There are some concessions and incentives that make some property owners eligible for stamp duty concessions. However, it’s important to be aware of stamp duty costs in Victoria, as it’s quite a big lump sum of money that needs to be considered, on top of your house deposit. If you’re not careful in calculating the cost of your stamp duty beforehand, you might be in for a shock when faced with it during the property purchase process. The cost of s ..read more

First home owner’s grant (FHOG) NSW: Eligibility & incentive Looking to get on to the property ladder? Congratulations! Buying a home for the first time can be quite a task, but there are plenty of buying incentives to help you to get into the property market, including the first homeowner’s grants in New South Wales. In this article, we’ll delve into NSW first home owner’s grant to outline who is eligible and how to apply for yourself. As Sydney’s leading conveyancing firm, our team of conveyancers know the ins and outs of the FHOG in NSW intimately. Table of contents What is the first h ..read more

Buying your first home is no doubt an exciting prospect – but also something that may feel out of reach to many people in Victoria as house prices continue to soar. Figures suggest that the median house prices in Melbourne have risen by 67% in the decade to June 2023. The good news is that the Government does want to continue incentivising home purchases, particularly for first-time home owners. This is where the first homeowner’s grant comes in. Just one of the buying incentives offered by the State Government, the grant is designed to make owning your first home easier. In this article, we w ..read more