Question 1

What is Realestate Lens?

Accepted Answer

Realestate Lens is your home-buying co-pilot for Australia, an iOS app you use across the entire 2-6 month house-hunt. It does three things: analyses any Australian property contract in about 60 seconds, researches any suburb across 10 categories (scores, market data, schools, transport, shopping, facilities, future development, crime & safety, dining, demographics), and plans your Saturday inspection routes. One product, three pillars.

Question 2

Why not just use ChatGPT?

Accepted Answer

ChatGPT is a great general assistant, but it isn't tuned to Australian property law. It will happily hallucinate a clause from the wrong jurisdiction, miss state-specific landmines (Section 32 in Victoria, REIQ in Queensland, NSW cooling-off rules), and won't optimise an inspection route across 8 properties on a Saturday morning. Realestate Lens is built specifically around AU state-by-state legislation, real Australian market data, and the day-to-day workflow of buying a home here. It doesn't replace your conveyancer, it makes you the most-prepared client they've ever had.

Question 3

Is this legal advice?

Accepted Answer

No. Realestate Lens is information, not legal advice. It helps you understand a contract, ask the right questions, and spot the things that should worry you, but the final review and sign-off should always come from a licensed Australian conveyancer or solicitor. Treat the report as a powerful first read that makes your conveyancer's job faster.

Question 4

Is there a free tier?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it's lifetime, not monthly. The free tier includes 1 contract analysis, 1 suburb research report, and 1 inspection route. No credit card required. It's enough to try every pillar of the product. When you're actively house-hunting, upgrade to Pro 3-Month or Pro Yearly for unlimited use.

Question 5

How much does Pro cost?

Accepted Answer

Two simple plans. Pro 3-Month is $79.99 AUD, built for an active 3-month search. Pro Yearly is $249 AUD (the best value at about $20.75 per month). Both unlock unlimited contract analyses, unlimited suburb research, unlimited inspection routes, and priority AI processing. All managed through the Apple App Store with no auto-renew lock-in.

Question 6

Which Australian states and territories are supported?

Accepted Answer

Every state and territory: NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, ACT, and NT. The AI is tuned to state-specific legislation including the Conveyancing Act (NSW), Sale of Land Act and Section 32 Vendor Statements (VIC), the REIQ standard contract (QLD), and the cooling-off rules and stamp duty regimes for each jurisdiction.

Question 7

Is there a web app or only iOS?

Accepted Answer

iOS only at launch, the app is built natively for iPhone and iPad to make on-the-go inspection planning and contract uploads feel instant. A web app is on the roadmap for late 2026. Join the early-access waitlist on the home page to be first in line when web rolls out.

Question 8

How does the AI contract analysis work?

Accepted Answer

You upload a PDF of any Australian property contract, and our AI reads the entire document, identifying over 50 risk elements including sunset clauses, special conditions, penalty clauses, and hidden costs. It produces a detailed report with a risk score, key findings, and recommendations, typically in under 60 seconds.

Question 9

Is my contract data secure and private?

Accepted Answer

Your contract is processed via Google's paid Gemini API. Google's paid-tier terms guarantee uploads are not used to train Google's models, and the uploaded file is deleted from Google's servers immediately after analysis. Your analysis report is stored on your device, not on our servers. As we improve the product, we may use de-identified contract content (clauses, conditions, pricing patterns, never your name, your address, or your search history) to make our own analysis sharper over time. When that ships, we'll tell you in plain English in Settings and let you opt out. Full technical detail on our /trust page.

Question 10

What does the Property Research feature include?

Accepted Answer

The Property Research feature provides comprehensive suburb and address-level analysis across 10 categories: scores, market data, schools, transport, shopping, facilities, future development, crime & safety, dining, and demographics. It helps you make informed decisions about where to buy.

Question 11

How does the Inspection Planner work?

Accepted Answer

The Inspection Planner lets you add multiple property inspections, then generates an optimized driving route to visit them all efficiently. It provides time estimates, directions, and lets you add notes for each property. It's designed to save you time on busy inspection days.

Question 12

Can I cancel my subscription?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can cancel your Pro subscription at any time through your Apple App Store settings. You'll continue to have Pro access until the end of your current billing period. After that, your account will revert to the free tier.

Question 13

What types of contracts can I analyze?

Accepted Answer

Realestate Lens can analyze any Australian residential property contract in PDF format. This includes Contracts for Sale of Land, Vendor Statements (Section 32), off-the-plan contracts, and auction contracts. It works with both standard form contracts and those with extensive special conditions.

Question 14

How is this different from reading the contract myself?

Accepted Answer

The average property contract in Australia is 40-80 pages long and filled with legal terminology. Realestate Lens reads the entire document in seconds, cross-references clauses against known risk patterns, calculates financial implications, and presents everything in plain English. It catches things that even experienced buyers commonly miss, like obscure penalty clauses or unusual sunset conditions.

Question 15

Can I pull out of a property contract after signing?

Accepted Answer

In most Australian states, you have a cooling-off period (typically 2-5 business days) after signing a contract during which you can withdraw, usually with a small penalty of 0.25% of the purchase price. However, cooling-off does not apply to auction purchases or where you have waived your rights with a solicitor's certificate. After cooling-off expires, pulling out can result in losing your deposit and being sued for damages.

Question 16

How long does property settlement take in Australia?

Accepted Answer

Property settlement in Australia typically takes 30-90 days from exchange of contracts, depending on the state and what is negotiated. NSW and QLD commonly settle in 42 days (6 weeks), while Victoria often uses 30-60 day settlements. The settlement period can be negotiated between buyer and seller as part of the contract terms.

Question 17

What is a Section 32 vendor statement?

Accepted Answer

A Section 32 vendor statement is a legal document required under Victoria's Sale of Land Act 1962. It must be provided by the seller before the buyer signs the contract. It contains essential information about the property including title details, planning information, building permits, owner's corporation details, and any covenants or restrictions. Failure to provide a compliant Section 32 can give the buyer grounds to rescind the contract.

Question 18

What is conveyancing?

Accepted Answer

Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring property ownership from one party to another. It involves preparing and reviewing contracts, conducting property searches, managing the exchange of contracts, and handling settlement. In Australia, conveyancing can be done by a licensed conveyancer or a solicitor. Typical costs range from $800 to $2,500 plus disbursements.

Question 19

Do I need a solicitor to buy property in Australia?

Accepted Answer

While it is not legally required in all states, it is strongly recommended to engage a solicitor or licensed conveyancer when buying property in Australia. They review the contract, conduct property searches, identify risks, manage the exchange, and handle settlement. The cost is typically $800-$2,500, a small price compared to the financial risk of an uninformed purchase.

Question 20

What is LMI (Lenders Mortgage Insurance)?

Accepted Answer

Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) is a one-off insurance premium that protects the lender (not the borrower) if you default on your home loan. It is typically required when you borrow more than 80% of the property value (i.e., your deposit is less than 20%). LMI can cost anywhere from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars depending on the loan amount and LVR.

Question 21

What are strata levies?

Accepted Answer

Strata levies (also called body corporate fees or owners corporation fees) are regular payments made by owners of strata-titled properties to cover the costs of maintaining common areas, building insurance, and shared facilities. They typically range from $500 to $2,000+ per quarter depending on the property and its amenities. Always check the strata records before buying an apartment or unit.

Question 22

What is the difference between strata and torrens title?

Accepted Answer

Torrens title means you own the land and everything on it outright. Strata title means you own your individual unit or apartment but share ownership of common areas with other owners. Torrens title gives you more freedom for renovations and no body corporate fees, while strata title is common for apartments and townhouses and includes shared maintenance costs through strata levies.

Question 23

How does buying at auction work in Australia?

Accepted Answer

At an Australian property auction, registered bidders compete by making increasingly higher bids. If bidding exceeds the reserve price, the property is 'on the market' and will sell to the highest bidder. The successful bidder signs the contract and pays the deposit (usually 10%) immediately. There is no cooling-off period for auction purchases, so all due diligence must be completed before auction day.

Question 24

How much stamp duty will I pay?

Accepted Answer

Stamp duty varies significantly by state, property value, and buyer status. For example, on a $750,000 property: NSW charges approximately $29,000 (or $0 for first home buyers), Victoria charges approximately $40,000, and Queensland charges approximately $18,000. First home buyers receive exemptions or concessions in most states. Use the Realestate Lens app to calculate stamp duty for your specific situation.

Frequently asked questions

Couldn’t find your answer?