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Buying a Property in NSW: Your Questions Answered
One link, every answer. Whatever stage you’re at, from researching your first inspection through to settlement day, here’s where to find the details.
Buying a home in NSW raises a lot of questions, and most of them have a specific, practical answer. We’ve pulled together our most useful guides below, grouped by where you are in the process, so you can find what you need without searching the whole site.
Selling instead of buying? Head to our seller questions hub.
Before you make an offer
Researching and getting ready
The groundwork that makes the rest of the process go smoothly, from what a step-by-step purchase actually looks like to the checks worth doing before you fall in love with a place.
Buying a House in NSW: A Step by Step GuideEvery stage of buying a house in NSW, from finance and inspections through to exchange, cooling-off and PEXA settlement day.
Buying Property at Auction in NSW: What Happens When the Hammer FallsThe winning bidder signs and pays the deposit on the spot, with no cooling-off period. What to check before you bid.
Do You Need a Pest and Building Inspection in NSW?Not compulsory, but the window is short. What each inspection covers, when to book and what to do if the report finds something.
What Should You Check at a House Inspection Before You Sign?Our room by room house inspection checklist for NSW buyers: what to test at the open home, and how to check the contract’s inclusions before you sign.
Why Do You Need A Strata Report?How strata fees work in NSW, recent changes to strata law and what to check in the strata report before you buy.
Why You Should Get an Insurance Quote Before You Buy in NSWBuyers compare loan rates for weeks but rarely price building insurance before signing. Why that’s worth changing.
Buying Property at Auction in NSW: What Happens When the Hammer FallsThe winning bidder signs and pays the deposit on the spot, with no cooling-off period. What to check before you bid.
Do You Need a Pest and Building Inspection in NSW?Not compulsory, but the window is short. What each inspection covers, when to book and what to do if the report finds something.
What Should You Check at a House Inspection Before You Sign?Our room by room house inspection checklist for NSW buyers: what to test at the open home, and how to check the contract’s inclusions before you sign.
Why Do You Need A Strata Report?How strata fees work in NSW, recent changes to strata law and what to check in the strata report before you buy.
Why You Should Get an Insurance Quote Before You Buy in NSWBuyers compare loan rates for weeks but rarely price building insurance before signing. Why that’s worth changing.
Money and duty
Costs, stamp duty and first home buyer help
What it actually costs to buy in NSW, and the exemptions worth checking before you sign anything.
How much does it cost to get a contract of sale?The key costs of selling a home, including the contract of sale and conveyancing fees.
When Do You Pay Stamp Duty on Property in NSW?What stamp duty (transfer duty) is and whether it applies to you when buying in NSW.
NSW First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme: Stamp Duty Exemptions ExplainedHow the First Home Buyer Choice Scheme makes buying more affordable through stamp duty relief.
What Is a Deposit Bond and How Does It Work?How deposit bonds work and how to get one if you don’t have the cash for a deposit.
When Do You Pay Stamp Duty on Property in NSW?What stamp duty (transfer duty) is and whether it applies to you when buying in NSW.
NSW First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme: Stamp Duty Exemptions ExplainedHow the First Home Buyer Choice Scheme makes buying more affordable through stamp duty relief.
What Is a Deposit Bond and How Does It Work?How deposit bonds work and how to get one if you don’t have the cash for a deposit.
Your offer has been accepted
Exchange, deposits and ID checks
What actually happens between an accepted offer and exchange of contracts, and the paperwork you’ll be asked for along the way.
Here’s What To Do After Your Offer Has Been AcceptedThe steps after your offer is accepted: your details to the agent, the deposit, exchange of contracts and the 5 business day cooling-off period.
When Do I Pay the Deposit to the Real Estate Agent in NSW?When your deposit is actually due: the 0.25% paid to the agent, the balance on exchange and how cooling-off affects it.
Holding Deposits in NSW: Why There’s No Such ThingThere is no such thing as a holding deposit in NSW. What that money really is and what actually secures a property.
Gazumping in NSW: Can You Be Outbid After Your Offer Is Accepted?Gazumping is legal in NSW until contracts are exchanged. Whether you get your money back and how to close the window.
What Is Exchange of Contracts in NSW?Why exchange of contracts is a critical step in buying or selling property, and how it works.
What Is a Purchaser Declaration? The NSW Form Every Buyer SignsEvery NSW purchaser signs one. It tells Revenue NSW whether you are a foreign person, which decides if the 9% surcharge applies.
Verification of Identity (VOI): A Quick GuideA quick, visual step-by-step guide to completing your mobile Verification of Identity (VOI) check.
Anti-money laundering checks when buying or selling property: your questions answeredWhat the new anti-money laundering checks mean for you, including the extra ID and source of funds checks every client now completes.
What Is a Cooling-Off Period in NSW, and Is It Negotiable?The NSW cooling-off period is 5 business days from exchange. What it costs to pull out, when it doesn’t apply and whether it’s negotiable.
What is a 66W certificate? Waiving your cooling-off period in NSWA 66W certificate cancels your cooling-off period. What you give up and when it makes sense.
Cooling-off Period vs Finance Clause: What Each One Actually DoesA cooling-off period lets you walk away within 5 business days. A finance clause only helps if your lender declines. How the two work together.
When Do I Pay the Deposit to the Real Estate Agent in NSW?When your deposit is actually due: the 0.25% paid to the agent, the balance on exchange and how cooling-off affects it.
Holding Deposits in NSW: Why There’s No Such ThingThere is no such thing as a holding deposit in NSW. What that money really is and what actually secures a property.
Gazumping in NSW: Can You Be Outbid After Your Offer Is Accepted?Gazumping is legal in NSW until contracts are exchanged. Whether you get your money back and how to close the window.
What Is Exchange of Contracts in NSW?Why exchange of contracts is a critical step in buying or selling property, and how it works.
What Is a Purchaser Declaration? The NSW Form Every Buyer SignsEvery NSW purchaser signs one. It tells Revenue NSW whether you are a foreign person, which decides if the 9% surcharge applies.
Verification of Identity (VOI): A Quick GuideA quick, visual step-by-step guide to completing your mobile Verification of Identity (VOI) check.
Anti-money laundering checks when buying or selling property: your questions answeredWhat the new anti-money laundering checks mean for you, including the extra ID and source of funds checks every client now completes.
What Is a Cooling-Off Period in NSW, and Is It Negotiable?The NSW cooling-off period is 5 business days from exchange. What it costs to pull out, when it doesn’t apply and whether it’s negotiable.
What is a 66W certificate? Waiving your cooling-off period in NSWA 66W certificate cancels your cooling-off period. What you give up and when it makes sense.
Cooling-off Period vs Finance Clause: What Each One Actually DoesA cooling-off period lets you walk away within 5 business days. A finance clause only helps if your lender declines. How the two work together.
Reading your contract
Certificates and clauses to understand
Some things in a contract are easy to miss but matter a lot. Here’s what the most commonly-asked-about clauses and certificates actually mean.
Section 10.7 Certificates and Contract Clauses: What They’re Really Telling YouThe planning certificate and contract clauses that can sound alarming, and what the most common ones actually mean.
What Is Title Insurance and Do You Need It in NSW?What title insurance covers in NSW, what it doesn’t, what it costs and when it’s worth having.
What Is a Section 10.7 Planning Certificate? NSW Contracts ExplainedWhat a Section 10.7 planning certificate discloses and why most entries are nothing to worry about.
Buying Bushfire-Prone Land in NSW: What Your Contract Is Telling YouWhat bushfire-prone land mapping means for building work and insurance, especially across Lake Macquarie and the Hunter Region.
Buying in a Mine Subsidence District in NSW: What It MeansWhat it changes, and what it doesn’t, when your Section 10.7 certificate says the property is in a mine subsidence district.
What Does “Subject to Existing Tenancy” Mean in Your Contract?What “subject to existing tenancy” means for the lease, the rent and when you can move in.
Selling a Property With a Pool in NSW: Compliance Certificates ExplainedNew pool regulations apply to properties for sale in NSW, and what that means for compliance certificates.
What Is the Home Building Compensation Fund in NSW?What HBCF covers, how long it lasts and what it means for your contract when you buy or sell.
What Is Title Insurance and Do You Need It in NSW?What title insurance covers in NSW, what it doesn’t, what it costs and when it’s worth having.
What Is a Section 10.7 Planning Certificate? NSW Contracts ExplainedWhat a Section 10.7 planning certificate discloses and why most entries are nothing to worry about.
Buying Bushfire-Prone Land in NSW: What Your Contract Is Telling YouWhat bushfire-prone land mapping means for building work and insurance, especially across Lake Macquarie and the Hunter Region.
Buying in a Mine Subsidence District in NSW: What It MeansWhat it changes, and what it doesn’t, when your Section 10.7 certificate says the property is in a mine subsidence district.
What Does “Subject to Existing Tenancy” Mean in Your Contract?What “subject to existing tenancy” means for the lease, the rent and when you can move in.
Selling a Property With a Pool in NSW: Compliance Certificates ExplainedNew pool regulations apply to properties for sale in NSW, and what that means for compliance certificates.
What Is the Home Building Compensation Fund in NSW?What HBCF covers, how long it lasts and what it means for your contract when you buy or sell.
Getting to settlement
Final steps and choosing who helps you get there
How to prepare for settlement day, and how to pick the right person to guide you through it.
How to Prepare for Settlement in NSWSettlement day is largely automatic. The work is in the six weeks before it, and this is our checklist for buyers.
How Are Council Rates and Water Adjusted at Settlement in NSW?Council rates, water and strata levies are split by the day at settlement. How the adjustments work, with a worked example.
What Happens If Settlement Is Delayed in NSW?A missed settlement date doesn’t end the contract. How a notice to complete works and who pays for the delay.
Conveyancer vs Solicitor in NSW: Which Should You Use?For the conveyancing itself, a licensed conveyancer and a solicitor do the same job. What actually differs.
What Does a Conveyancer Do in NSW?What a conveyancer does at each stage of buying or selling, from the contract to settlement.
Can You Use the Same Conveyancer as the Seller in NSW?You can use the seller’s conveyancer only in limited cases with written consent, and it’s rarely a good idea.
Joint Tenants vs Tenants in Common: What Is the Difference?Buying with another person? Why you should decide how ownership is divided before you begin.
How Are Council Rates and Water Adjusted at Settlement in NSW?Council rates, water and strata levies are split by the day at settlement. How the adjustments work, with a worked example.
What Happens If Settlement Is Delayed in NSW?A missed settlement date doesn’t end the contract. How a notice to complete works and who pays for the delay.
Conveyancer vs Solicitor in NSW: Which Should You Use?For the conveyancing itself, a licensed conveyancer and a solicitor do the same job. What actually differs.
What Does a Conveyancer Do in NSW?What a conveyancer does at each stage of buying or selling, from the contract to settlement.
Can You Use the Same Conveyancer as the Seller in NSW?You can use the seller’s conveyancer only in limited cases with written consent, and it’s rarely a good idea.
Joint Tenants vs Tenants in Common: What Is the Difference?Buying with another person? Why you should decide how ownership is divided before you begin.
Still have a question we haven’t covered?
Get a fixed-fee, no-surprises quote for your purchase and one of our conveyancers will answer it directly.