If this is the year you want to buy a home, it’s time to sit down and familiarise yourself with the process and going through the necessary steps to ensure you’ve covered off all basis when it comes to the home buying checklist. Here are the steps you need to take.

Make a shortlist of properties you like

Engage a conveyancer

Once you’ve made your shortlist of places, you need to check over the finer details of the properties of interest and this is where you need to engage experts.

The conveyancing process usually will be what kick starts your legal journey to property ownership so it’s important to engage a solicitor or conveyancer who will be able to take care of the legalities for you.

But what’s the difference?

“Registered conveyancers are experts who specialise in conveyancing work … Some conveyancers are qualified solicitors but many are non-solicitors who have completed specialist tertiary education in conveyancing. In fact, many law firms employ registered conveyancers to undertake their conveyancing work.”

While there are DIY conveyancing kits available, these are useful only for the most straightforward property transactions.

But even the most simple-looking transactions can become complicated by legislation and regulations, making DIY a riskier move on your big investment.

You’ll want your conveyancer to consider things like local or national planning controls, permitted uses, heritage overlays and body corporate constraints.

And like any transaction, if you have any concerns or additional knowledge regarding the property you’re buying, communicate them to your solicitor or conveyancer to ensure the best outcome.

Get to know the sales process

Conveyancing in Australia varies slightly from state to territory. And so does the sales process.

For instance, there’s no cooling-off period for auctions (which are popular in the big cities), but with private treaty sales it’s different. And it’s even possible to buy via ballot.

So make sure you know and understand the different sales processes before you start.

Check the title

Freestanding houses in Australia typically have a freehold Torrens Title. But other types of title exist for different property types and come with their own legalities.

Strata Title was introduced to Australia in 1961. It’s a system for handling the legal ownership of a portion of a building or structure including units, townhouses, villas, commercial offices, factories, warehouses, retail shops and more.

Before 1961 buyers used Company Title to effectively purchase shares in a building, and some older buildings remain under Company Title. Each system has its own pros and cons, as well as its own legalities.  

More from Guides

How to negotiate the purchase price when buying a house

5 min read

How to bid at auction

5 min read

The home’s bright, light-filled interior added to the appeal for buyers.

---

So if you’re buying an apartment, villa or townhouse, it’s important to do some research first to make sure you’re familiar with how it works as well as conducting a strata search.

You’ll need to adhere to bylaws, take into account the fact you will be paying regular levies for maintenance and other expenses and enjoy the responsibility of voting at annual general meetings run by the strata management company and electing an executive committee.

There’s also leasehold or community title. Your conveyancer can guide you.

Find out: The hidden costs of buying a home

Set time aside to do the paperwork

Again, the legal paperwork associated with buying property varies slightly from state to territory. The process usually includes these key events and documents:

Contract paperwork

The vendor’s solicitor prepares a contract note or contract of sale concerning the property’s information and detailing exactly what is for sale. The settlement date should be specified – normally 30, 60 or 90 days. It can be very complex – for example, with properties sold off the plan.

A contract usually has other documents attached, including a zoning certificate, drainage diagram, a plan for the land, and a Certificate of Title that confirms current ownership and whether there are any encumbrances on the property.

The legal paperwork associated with buying property varies slightly from state to territory.

Exchange

The contract is effectively made binding when it’s signed at “exchange”. This takes place either at the auction, or after a private treaty sale price is agreed, and a deposit is usually paid at this time.

Settlement

Settlement is usually six weeks after contracts are exchanged (but the date is specified in the contract) and is when you pay the remaining amount for the property. Stamp duty typically has to be paid within 30 days of settlement, but varies by state or territory.

Land transfer

Is a document to be finalised at settlement by your conveyancer.

Mortgage

If you’re raising finance for your property via a loan, your solicitor or conveyancer will need to supply certain documentation to your lender.

Type of ownership

When buying a property with someone else, you can usually own it in one of two ways: joint tenants, or tenants in common.

Read more: 6 Property Settlement Tips for Buyers

Organise the necessary inspections

The building inspection process is an important part of the legal checklist for buying property.

For instance, the electrics and plumbing need to have been installed to certain requirements, and any renovations should have been approved by council. It’s also important to check the boundaries are in the correct position.

A proper building and pest inspection can find potential faults where you might not have seen any.

As long as you do your homework, and tick off your legal checklist, owning real estate grants you many freedoms – to buy, sell, renovate, invest and bequeath – or just to enjoy.