Question 1

When should I engage a conveyancer when buying a property?

Accepted Answer

Before you sign a contract or bid at auction. Ideally we review the contract and Section 32 while there is still room to negotiate amendments — finance dates, cooling-off, special conditions, settlement timing. If you have already signed, contact us straight away: cooling-off rights, finance conditions and disclosure protections may still be available, but only for a short window.

Question 2

What is included in a fixed-fee purchase?

Accepted Answer

Our fixed professional fee covers the legal work for your purchase end to end: contract and Section 32 review, drafting any special conditions, lender and agent coordination, statutory searches, stamp duty and grant calculations, the PEXA electronic settlement workspace, and registration of your transfer. Third-party costs that genuinely vary — government transfer duty, registration fees, statutory search certificates and bank fees — are itemised separately, not marked up.

Question 3

How long does a property purchase take to settle?

Accepted Answer

Most Australian residential contracts settle 30 to 60 days after exchange, depending on what the parties agreed and the state. Off-the-plan, finance-subject and complex purchases take longer. Once your matter is open you will see a live timeline in the workspace with every milestone — cooling-off, finance, searches, pre-settlement inspection and settlement — and what is expected of you at each step.

Question 4

What is PEXA and how does electronic settlement work?

Accepted Answer

PEXA (Property Exchange Australia) is the electronic settlement platform used by lawyers, lenders and land registries across Australia. On settlement day your lawyer, the vendor's lawyer, your lender and the discharging lender meet in a digital workspace; funds are exchanged and the transfer is lodged with the land registry in a single coordinated step. There is no bank cheque, no in-person settlement room and no waiting for paper title.

Question 5

I'm a first home buyer. What do I need to know?

Accepted Answer

First home buyer concessions, stamp duty exemptions and government grants vary by state, by property type and by purchase price. We confirm what you are eligible for before settlement, complete the relevant statutory declarations, and coordinate the application so the concession is applied at settlement rather than refunded later. Use our stamp duty calculator for an indicative figure and we will confirm the final position once your contract is in.

Question 6

Do I need FIRB approval if I am not an Australian citizen?

Accepted Answer

Possibly. Foreign persons — including most temporary residents — generally need Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) approval before purchasing residential property in Australia, with limited exceptions for permanent residents and Australian-citizen spouses. The application fees and rules differ for new dwellings, established dwellings and vacant land. We assess whether approval is required, prepare the application and time it so it does not delay settlement.

Question 7

What if my finance is not approved by the contract date?

Accepted Answer

If your contract is subject to finance, the clause typically allows you to end the contract and recover your deposit if formal approval is not received by the finance date. The mechanics are strict — you must give written notice in the correct form within the time allowed. We monitor the date, liaise with your broker or lender, and where needed seek a written extension from the vendor before the date passes.

Question 8

What happens at the pre-settlement inspection?

Accepted Answer

In the few days before settlement you are entitled to inspect the property to confirm it is in the same condition as at the day of sale, that any chattels included in the contract are present, and that anything excluded has been removed. We tell you what to check and how to raise any issues — most can be resolved at settlement through an adjustment or retention.

Buying Property

Every step of a residential purchase.

Contract and Section 32 review

Finance and stamp duty

Searches and due diligence

PEXA settlement

First home buyers

FIRB applications

Contract to keys, in one workspace.

Get a quote

Engage online

Pre-signing review

Finance and cooling-off

Searches and adjustments

PEXA settlement

Have your contract reviewed before you sign or bid.

First home buyers, foreign buyers and auctions.

Concessions applied at settlement.

Approval, where it is required.

Pre-auction review is essential.

Often combined with a purchase.

Contract Review & Section 32

First Home Buyers

Off-the-Plan Purchases

Property Settlements

Background from the Information Centre.

Section 32: what every seller must disclose.

Buying at auction — without surprises.

Settlement day, explained.

FIRB approval, decoded.

Buying property, answered.

Get a fixed-fee conveyancing quote.