Buying guide

Buying property in Australia, end to end

Buying a home in Australia usually takes two to six months from first inspection to settlement, and longer if you're saving a deposit or waiting for the right property. Each stage stacks decisions: where to look, how much to spend, what to bid, what's in the contract, who to engage, and when to exchange and settle. Miss one and the cost can surface later as a higher interest rate, an undisclosed easement, or a sunset clause that lets the developer rescind.

This guide is the buyer journey laid out in one place. It points to the deeper guides on each stage and the state-specific resources for the rules that change at the border. Use it as a map. Start at the section that matches where you are right now and follow the links into the detail.

Last updated

Research the suburb before you research the property

Buyers who get this wrong spend a Saturday driving to open homes in suburbs they would not have shortlisted after checking the data. Pull attributable figures for prices, growth and rental conditions, then check school zones, transport and crime data with the responsible provider. Realestate Lens is pre-launch; its property-research page previews a planned comparison workflow, not a live report or verified speed claim.

First home buyer grants, schemes, and exemptions

Every state and territory has its own first home buyer grant, stamp duty exemption, and concession threshold. The numbers change in most state budgets, and some grants only apply to new builds or properties under a price cap. Before you put in your first offer, work out which schemes you actually qualify for. A first home buyer in NSW under $800,000 might pay zero stamp duty. The same buyer at $850,000 pays full duty. Knowing the threshold changes the property you should be looking at.

Inspections and the Saturday route

Inspection times can clash, so map the route, allow travel and parking time, and keep structured notes for each property. The Realestate Lens inspection-planner page previews a planned route-and-notes workflow; the app is not publicly available. Use a current mapping service and a checklist for inspections happening now.

Building, new builds, and off-the-plan

Buying a new build or an off-the-plan apartment is a different animal from buying established. You're signing a contract for something that doesn't exist yet, with sunset clauses, progress payments, and a builder's licence to verify. The risks compound when settlement is 18 to 36 months away and the market moves. Read the off-the-plan contract carefully, and consider getting a full review before you sign.

Valuation, insurance, and settling in

After the contract is signed, two things happen in parallel. The lender orders a valuation that determines how much they'll actually lend, and you start organising the move. A low valuation can blow up a purchase 48 hours before settlement, so understand the difference between bank valuation and contract price before you exchange. On the way in the door, your insurance needs to be live from settlement day, not the day you actually pick up the keys.

Explore the Realestate Lens concept

The app is pre-launch. Preview the intended workflow and sample report; public uploads, app pricing, and production capabilities have not been released.

Explore planned features