Sydney conveyancing questions, answered

Professional fees for a routine Sydney conveyance typically range from a few hundred to around fifteen hundred dollars, and many conveyancers offer a fixed-fee quote. On top of the professional fee you also pay government charges and disbursements such as title searches, certificates and registration, which vary by property. Always confirm in writing exactly what is and is not included before you engage anyone.

Transfer duty, previously called stamp duty, is the NSW state tax on a property purchase, administered by Revenue NSW. General rates are tiered by the property value. First home buyers may pay no duty or a reduced rate under the First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme, so it is worth getting your figure checked by a conveyancer or the Revenue NSW calculator.

A fixed fee is a set professional fee agreed up front for a routine transaction, while hourly billing charges for time spent and can suit complex matters. Either way, government charges and disbursements such as searches and registration are additional. Most conveyancers in our network offer fixed-fee quotes for standard buying and selling, confirmed in writing.

They review your contract for sale, carry out title and property searches, advise on conditions and dates, calculate and arrange transfer duty, liaise with the other side and your lender, and manage settlement so ownership transfers correctly. We connect you with licensed conveyancers and solicitors who carry out this work for you.

In NSW, the buyer and seller each sign identical copies of the contract for sale and then swap, or exchange, them. The sale becomes legally binding on exchange, and the cooling-off period, if any, runs from that point. Your conveyancer manages the exchange and confirms the deposit and key dates.

Off-the-plan means buying before the property is built, so risks include construction delays, the finished product differing from the plans, sunset clauses, and changes in value or finance between contract and completion. The disclosure and contract terms are detailed and specific to each development. Have a conveyancer review an off-the-plan contract carefully before you sign.

PEXA, short for Property Exchange Australia, is the online platform on which conveyancers, solicitors and banks lodge documents and complete property settlement electronically. In NSW most property dealings are now lodged electronically. It means settlement happens online rather than parties meeting in person.

NSW Land Registry Services maintains the New South Wales land title register, where transfers and titles are recorded, now largely electronically. The national rules for electronic conveyancing are developed by the Australian Registrars' National Electronic Conveyancing Council, known as ARNECC, with platforms such as PEXA operating within that framework.

A standard residential contract in NSW commonly allows around 42 days, or six weeks, from exchange to settlement, though the parties can agree a shorter or longer period. Conditions and finance usually fall due in the early weeks. Your conveyancer will confirm the key dates on your contract.

Yes, a building and pest inspection is strongly recommended, especially on older freestanding homes. It checks the structure and for pests such as termites, and can let you renegotiate or withdraw before you are bound. Your conveyancer will advise how the inspection fits with the contract and cooling-off timing.

The contract for sale sets the price, the conditions, the dates and your rights if something goes wrong, and once contracts are exchanged it is binding subject only to limited cooling-off rights. A conveyancer can spot unfavourable terms, missing prescribed documents or disclosure problems before you commit. We can connect you with a licensed conveyancer or solicitor to review your contract.

Typical searches include a title search to confirm the owner and any encumbrances, plus council, water, strata and other property searches depending on the property type. They are designed to reveal anything that could affect your ownership or use of the land. Your conveyancer selects the searches relevant to your property and explains the results.

Either can handle your matter. In New South Wales, conveyancing can be carried out by a licensed conveyancer, regulated by NSW Fair Trading under the Conveyancers Licensing Act 2003, or by a solicitor. A licensed conveyancer specialises in property transfers, while a solicitor can also advise on related legal issues. We connect you with both, depending on what your transaction needs.

Most residential contracts bought by private treaty in NSW have a 5 business day cooling-off period under the Conveyancing Act 1919. It runs from exchange of contracts and ends at 5pm on the fifth business day. If you rescind during this time, the vendor may keep 0.25% of the purchase price.

No. The cooling-off period does not apply to property bought at auction in NSW, or where contracts are exchanged on the day of a passed-in auction. This is why it is important to have the contract reviewed before you bid. We can connect you with a conveyancer to review auction contracts in advance.

A section 66W certificate is signed by the buyer's solicitor or licensed conveyancer and waives, shortens or extends the cooling-off period. Sellers often ask for one so that exchange is binding immediately. You should only sign a 66W certificate after your conveyancer has reviewed the contract and you understand you are giving up your cooling-off rights.

Under the Conveyancing Act 1919 and the Conveyancing (Sale of Land) Regulation 2022, a NSW vendor's contract for sale must include prescribed documents before it can be exchanged, such as a title search, a section 10.7 planning certificate from council and a sewerage or drainage diagram. Missing prescribed documents can give the buyer a right to rescind. Conveyancers in our network prepare these for sellers and review them for buyers.

A section 10.7 planning certificate, once called a section 149 certificate, is issued by the local council and sets out the planning rules and restrictions affecting a property, such as zoning, overlays and known hazards. It must be attached to a NSW contract for sale. Your conveyancer reviews it to flag anything that could affect your plans for the property.

Under the First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme, eligible first home buyers pay no transfer duty on a new or existing home valued at $800,000 or under, with a concessional rate between $800,000 and $1,000,000. Vacant land has separate thresholds. Eligibility rules apply, so confirm your situation with a conveyancer or Revenue NSW.

The NSW First Home Owner (New Homes) Grant is $10,000 for eligible first home buyers buying a brand-new home priced $600,000 or under, or building a home where the combined land and building value is $750,000 or under. It applies to new homes only and is administered by Revenue NSW. You must move in within 12 months and live there for at least 6 continuous months.

No, they are two separate schemes. The First Home Owner (New Homes) Grant is a $10,000 cash grant for new homes, while the First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme reduces or removes the transfer duty you pay on a new or existing home. You may be eligible for one, both or neither depending on the property and your circumstances. A conveyancer in our network can help you check both.

Yes, property can be transferred between family members, for example adding a partner to the title or transferring after a relationship change. Transfer duty may still apply depending on the circumstances, and there are specific rules for some family transfers. A conveyancer in our network can advise on the duty and prepare the transfer documents.

No. This website is a lead generation and referral service. We connect property buyers and sellers with licensed conveyancers and solicitors across Sydney and NSW. We are not a law firm, do not hold a conveyancer's licence or practising certificate, and do not provide legal services or legal advice. All conveyancing work is carried out by the independent professional we connect you with.