Get started with a quote
Buying property
/
Getting ready to buy

Getting ready to buy

Before you find a property, a few things are worth sorting early — understanding how the buying process actually works, knowing what conveyancing will cost, getting your contract reviewed before you sign, and choosing the right conveyancer. Getting these right up front is where buyers save the most money and avoid the most stress.

Guides

Buying or selling in your state

Explainers

What are the steps to buying a property, start to finish?

Generally, you get your finances ready, search for a property, carry out the relevant property and contract checks, make an offer, enter into the contract, satisfy any applicable conditions, prepare for settlement and complete settlement. The exact process varies by state, contract and circumstances.

What does a conveyancer actually do for you?

A conveyancer handles the legal transfer of ownership — reviewing your contract before you sign, managing the conditions, and getting you to settlement on time.

What upfront costs does every property buyer pay?

The costs everyone pays when buying are the unavoidable expenses that apply on top of the purchase price, whatever you buy. They include government transfer (stamp) duty, a transfer registration fee, conveyancing, and building and pest inspections — plus lender's mortgage insurance if your deposit is under 20%.

What is stamp duty, and who pays it?

Stamp duty — now called transfer duty in most states — is a state government tax the buyer pays when property changes hands. It's usually the largest upfront cost after your deposit, and the amount depends on the price and which state you buy in.

What's the difference between your borrowing capacity and your maximum purchase price?

Borrowing capacity is an estimate of how much a lender may be prepared to lend based on its assessment of your circumstances. Your property budget is broader: it also needs to account for your deposit, buying costs, available funds and what you can afford to repay.

What is conveyancing?

Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring ownership of a property from the seller to the buyer — the contract review, title and property searches, identity checks, settlement calculations, and the final transfer of title and funds. A licensed conveyancer or property solicitor handles it, and their work can start before you sign and continues until any post-settlement tasks are done.

What documents do you need for pre-approval?

Documents for pre-approval are the identity, income and financial records a lender needs to assess how much you can borrow. For PAYG earners that means 100 points of ID, payslips and your ATO income statement, three months of bank statements, and statements for every debt; self-employed applicants also need tax returns, BAS and financials.

Guides

The real cost of buying a home in Australia

The sticker price isn't what you'll pay. Every extra cost of buying, from stamp duty and LMI to conveyancing and insurance, with worked examples.
→

How to set a buying budget you'll actually stick to

How to set a buying budget you'll actually hold to: what you can borrow versus what you should spend, stress-tested against rate rises and costs.
→

Getting pre-approved for a home loan

How to get pre-approved so you can house-hunt with a real number: finding the right broker and getting your documents in order.
→

Stamp duty and first-home grants

What transfer (stamp) duty will cost you, how it's worked out, the NSW, QLD and VIC rates, and the first-home exemptions that can cut the bill.
→

Getting your contract reviewed before you sign

Why having your contract of sale reviewed before you sign matters, what a review covers, and how it protects your deposit and position.
→

The conveyancing process: what happens when you buy

A step-by-step walk through the conveyancing process when buying, from making an offer to settlement, and who does what along the way.
→

Foreign buyers purchasing property

What overseas buyers need to know: FIRB approval, the extra duties, and the rules for buying Australian property, state by state.
→

Latest from our experts

Ask Zoe

READY TO BUY?

Make your move with Zettle

One fixed fee, free contract reviews, and a dedicated conveyancer from contract to settlement.

Get a quote

Free and no-obligation — see your fixed price in minutes.

Illustration of a home