Property Buying Guides
Free, expert guides to help you navigate Australian property contracts, due diligence, costs, and legal requirements with confidence.
Our guides library covers the whole Australian buying journey. That includes state-specific references: the cooling-off period, stamp duty, and first-home-buyer grants differ in every state and territory, alongside process guides like reading a contract and running due diligence. Every guide is written in plain English and kept current with the rules that apply today.
Which guide do you need?
Researching
Get your finances and shortlist in order with the first-home-buyer guide, a home-loan and finance guide, and the due-diligence checklist.
Making an offer
Before you sign, learn how to read the contract, spot contract red flags, and understand a Victorian Section 32 vendor statement.
Exchange & cooling-off
Know your rights after signing with the state-by-state cooling-off period guide, and budget your upfront costs with the stamp duty reference.
Settlement & beyond
Investors should read the negative gearing and capital gains tax guides, both updated for the reforms landing 1 July 2027.
Start with a pillar
Each pillar collects every guide and tool for that stage of the buyer journey.
Buying
The end-to-end Australian buyer journey, suburb research to settlement.
Read pillarContracts
How to read, review, and decode every Australian property contract format.
Read pillarCosts
Stamp duty, mortgage, deposit, land tax, the real cost line by line.
Read pillarInvesting
Negative gearing, CGT, land tax, due diligence for property investors.
Read pillarBuying
Property Due Diligence Checklist: The Complete Australian Guide
A comprehensive property due diligence checklist for Australian buyers covering legal, structural, financial, and planning checks across all states and territories. Avoid costly mistakes with this step-by-step guide.
First Home Buyer Guide Australia: Everything You Need to Know (2026)
The complete guide for Australian first home buyers. Covers the buying process step by step, First Home Owner Grants, stamp duty exemptions, deposit requirements, costs, and expert tips for every state.
Property Valuation Guide Australia: Types, Costs and What to Expect (2026)
Everything you need to know about property valuations in Australia. Covers bank valuations, sworn valuations, kerbside and desktop valuations, what to do if a valuation is low, factors that affect value, and how to prepare.
Moving House Checklist Australia: The Complete Timeline Guide (2026)
The ultimate moving house checklist for Australians. Week-by-week timeline from 8 weeks out to moving day, covering removalists, packing, address changes, utilities, bond cleaning, and settling into your new home.
Property Insurance Guide for Australian Home Buyers and Owners
Compare building, contents and strata insurance, check when buyer cover should start, assess hazards and insured amounts, and understand the claims process.
Contracts
How to Read a Property Contract in Australia
A contract-first guide to checking the parties, title, disclosure pack, special conditions, scheme records, risk clauses and final signed version.
15 Red Flags in Australian Property Contracts You Must Know
Identify the most common red flags in Australian property contracts, from missing disclosures to unfavourable sunset clauses. Organised by severity with state-specific warnings and expert advice.
Special Conditions in Property Contracts: What You Need to Know
Understand the most common special conditions in Australian property contracts including subject to finance, building inspection, sunset clauses, and nominee clauses. Learn how to negotiate protective conditions.
Investing
Property Investment Guide Australia: How to Invest in Real Estate (2026)
A comprehensive guide to property investment in Australia. Covers investment strategies, rental yield vs capital growth, negative gearing, financing, tax deductions, property management, and common mistakes to avoid.
Negative Gearing Explained: The Complete Australian Guide (2026)
A comprehensive guide to negative gearing in Australia. Learn how negative gearing works, the tax implications, ATO rules, depreciation strategies, positive vs negative gearing, and who benefits most, with worked examples.
Capital Gains Tax on Property in Australia: The Complete Guide (2026)
A comprehensive guide to capital gains tax (CGT) on Australian property. Learn how CGT is calculated, the 50% discount, main residence exemption, 6-year absence rule, CGT on inherited property, cost base calculations, and legal strategies to minimise your tax.
Property Glossary
Quick definitions of common Australian property terms like stamp duty, conveyancing, LMI, and more.
Browse Glossary