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Conveyancing in Australia, explained simply

Buying or selling property anywhere in Australia? These independent guides walk you through the conveyancing process, what it costs, stamp duty, and the decisions you will face, state by state, in plain English, with the rules straight from the source.

37+ Australian conveyancing guides, cited to official sources

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Choose your state

Conveyancing rules, costs and stamp duty differ in every state. Start with yours.

New South Wales
5 business days cooling-off · transfer duty · Vendor disclosure (s52A)
Victoria
3 clear business days cooling-off · land transfer duty · Section 32 vendor statement
Queensland
5 business days cooling-off · transfer duty · Seller disclosure statement (Form 2)
Western Australia
No cooling-off period · transfer duty · No general vendor disclosure statement (caveat emptor)
South Australia
2 clear business days cooling-off · stamp duty · Form 1 vendor statement (section 7)
Tasmania
No cooling-off period · property transfer duty · No mandatory vendor disclosure statement (buyer beware)
Australian Capital Territory
5 working days cooling-off · conveyance duty · Required documents (Civil Law (Sale of Residential Property) Act 2003, s9)
Northern Territory
4 business days cooling-off · stamp duty · No mandatory vendor disclosure statement (buyer beware)

Tools & comparisons

Work out the numbers for your own purchase, or compare the rules across all 8 states and territories.

Conveyancing cost calculator
Line-by-line breakdown of professional fees and disbursements for buying, selling, or refinancing, with verified current figures for all 8 states and territories.
Stamp duty calculator and by-state comparison
See stamp duty, first home buyer concessions, and thresholds compared across all 8 states and territories, then calculate your own estimate with verified current rates for every state and territory.
Cooling-off period by state
How long you get to change your mind in each state, the penalty for pulling out, and the two states with no cooling-off period at all.
Conveyancing cost by state
Fees, disbursements, and duty compared across all 8 states and territories, so you know what varies and what does not.

Wherever you're buying

Questions that come up no matter which state or territory you are in.

Do I need a conveyancer?
Buying, selling, auction, refinancing, or private transfer.
Conveyancer vs solicitor
Which one you need, and when.
How long does conveyancing take?
Typical timelines for buyers and sellers, and what causes delays.

Start here

New South Wales has the deepest guide set on this site. New to all this? Get the big picture first, then work through the steps in order - or use the state picker above for any other state or territory.

Conveyancing NSW What conveyancing involves, who does it, the key stages, timeline, and costs - complete plain-English guide. The conveyancing process Step-by-step from offer accepted to settlement day. NSW conveyancing checklist Step-by-step buyer and seller checklist: what to do before exchange, after exchange, and on settlement day.

More New South Wales guides

Costs, buying and selling situations, contracts and settlement, certificates and title, and choosing who to use.

Costs & fees

True cost of buying in NSW Every cost at 5 price points: stamp duty, conveyancing, PEXA, searches, inspections. Conveyancing cost calculator Line-by-line breakdown of professional fees and disbursements for buying, selling, or refinancing. Total cost estimator Enter your purchase price for a complete NSW cost breakdown. Conveyancing fees NSW What conveyancers and solicitors charge, and how to compare quotes. Stamp duty in NSW How transfer duty works, current rates, and first home buyer exemptions. Affordable conveyancing NSW How to find a fair price and the red flags in low-cost quotes.

Buying & selling situations

Deposit bonds NSW How deposit bonds substitute for the 10% cash deposit at exchange. Buying a house in NSW The step-by-step buyer journey: offer to settlement day. First home buyer NSW Stamp duty exemptions, the First Home Owner Grant, and the 5% deposit scheme. Buying at auction in NSW No cooling-off period, deposit risks, and the section 66W waiver explained. Off-the-plan conveyancing NSW Deposits, sunset clause reforms, stamp duty timing, and settlement risks. Strata conveyancing NSW Inspection reports, section 184 certificates, levies, and by-laws. Selling property in NSW Contract preparation, mandatory disclosures, costs, and settlement day. Refinancing conveyancing NSW Mortgage discharge, PEXA, costs, and legal representation.

Contracts & settlement

Discharge of mortgage NSW What it is, when it happens, and what your conveyancer does. Contract of sale NSW What it contains, what to check, and exchange vs settlement. Exchange of contracts NSW The 10% deposit, the cooling-off period, and 2026 contract form changes. Cooling-off period in NSW How the 5 business days work and what the 0.25% penalty means. Settlement day in NSW What happens, when you get the keys, and the pre-settlement inspection. Section 66W certificate NSW Waiving your cooling-off period: risks and what to check first.

Certificates & title

Section 10.7 certificate What it discloses, the (2) vs (5) difference, and who pays. Transfer of title NSW When you need one, the process, duty rates, and family exemptions. Joint tenants vs tenants in common NSW How you hold title affects what happens when one owner dies. Co-ownership agreement property NSW Costs, exit rights, and what happens if one party wants to sell. Caveat on property NSW Who can lodge one, how to remove it, and what happens at settlement.

Choosing who to use

How to choose a conveyancer in NSW What to look for, questions to ask, and how to compare quotes. Conveyancer vs solicitor NSW: who can do what Task-level scope comparison and where scope limits create risk.
Why trust this site? Every guide is written in plain English and cites primary sources (each state's revenue office, fair trading body, and legislation) so you can verify the rules yourself. We are an independent information resource, not a conveyancing firm.

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Conveyancing Explained is an independent information site, not a law firm. We refer enquiries to independent legal partners we work with, and may receive a referral fee. See our privacy policy for how your details are handled.

Conveyancing Explained provides general information about property transactions in Australia. It is not legal advice and does not create a client relationship. For advice on your situation, engage a licensed conveyancer, settlement agent, or property solicitor in your state or territory.