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 […]

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 […]

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 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. […]