Why Do We Even Have Stamp Duty? (And Why It Hurts So Much When You Buy a Home)
You have just found the home. You have done the numbers. You know what you can borrow. You know what the property costs. And then someone mentions stamp duty. Suddenly there is an extra $20,000, $40,000 or even $80,000 sitting between you and your new home, money the government wants before you can call it […]
Australian Property Prices Are Falling: What This Means for Buyers and Sellers in QLD and NSW Right Now
What Is Happening to Australian Property Prices in 2026? Australian capital city home prices have begun to fall, with the median capital city home price declining in May 2026, the first decline since January 2025, as high interest rates and inflation stretched buyer budgets. Capital city home prices have continued to fall over June 2026, […]
Property Settlement Adjustments Explained: Rates, Water, Strata and Land Tax
What Is a Settlement Adjustment? A settlement adjustment is a financial calculation made at the time of property settlement to fairly divide ongoing property costs between the seller (vendor) and the buyer (purchaser) based on the settlement date. Adjustments ensure that the seller (vendor) is not paying for costs that relate to the period after […]
Can I Add My Own Special Conditions to a Property Contract? Here Is What Buyers and Sellers Need to Know
You are about to sign a property contract and someone mentions “special conditions.” Maybe your agent asks if you want to add any. Maybe you have heard the term but are not entirely sure what it actually means or whether you are even allowed to add your own. Here is the honest answer, for both […]
Do You Need a Marketing Contract in NSW? Everything Sellers Need to Know
If you are thinking about selling a property in New South Wales, whether it is a family home, a farm or a commercial building, one of the first questions your conveyancer will ask is whether you have a marketing contract ready. Most sellers have never heard of one. Some agents assume everyone knows what it […]
Why Your Conveyancer Is Suddenly Asking for MorePaperwork: The New AML Laws Explained
You have found your property, ready to go, and then your conveyancer asks for your passport, proof of where your money is coming from, and a few other things you were not expecting. You are not being investigated, you have not done anything wrong, and no, your conveyancer does not think you are a criminal. […]
Selling Property in Australia? The ATO Clearance Certificate That Could Cost You 15% If You Ignore It
Here is a scenario happening more and more across NSW and Queensland. A vendor sells their property. Settlement is days away. The buyer’s conveyancer asks for an ATO clearance certificate. The vendor has never heard of it. Nobody mentioned it. The accountant did not bring it up. And now there is a problem. Because without […]
Wait! They’re Still Showing My House?! The Truth About the Cooling Off Period in NSW
You found the one. You made the offer. You signed the contract. You are in the cooling off period, five whole days to make sure your finance is sorted and everything checks out. And then you drive past the property on Saturday morning and there is an open home happening. Your property. With other buyers […]
Why You Should Inspect Before You Even Sign, The Pre-Exchange Inspection
Everyone talks about the final inspection before settlement. But here is the one nobody talks about, and honestly, it is the more important one. The pre-exchange inspection. By the time you get to a final inspection, you have already signed the contract. The property is essentially yours. Your options if something is wrong are limited, […]
So You’re About to Pick Up the Keys – Don’t Skip This
Settlement day is exciting. After all the contracts, the waiting, the stress and the paperwork, you are finally about to get the keys to your new home. But before you pop the champagne, there is one more step that a lot of buyers treat as a formality when it is actually anything but. The final inspection. […]