Property & Conveyancing in NSW
Buying a property in NSW
Buying a home is a big deal, and the contract you sign is where it can go right or wrong. We read it properly before you commit, then look after everything through to settlement. And because we’re a law firm and not just a conveyancer, you’ve got a full legal team behind you if you ever need one.
Catron Simmons Lawyers are conveyancing solicitors in Bella Vista, acting for buyers right across NSW. Whether you’re buying your first home, an investment, an apartment off the plan, or moving up to your next place, we check the contract of sale before you sign, manage the searches and stamp duty, and get you through to settlement. Below is how buying a property in NSW actually works, what it costs, and where having a lawyer makes the difference. Selling at the same time? See our guide to selling a property in NSW.
Solicitor or conveyancer?
Why use a lawyer to buy a property, not just a conveyancer?
In NSW, both a solicitor and a licensed conveyancer can handle the paperwork of a purchase. The difference shows up when something isn’t simple: a clause you want changed, a problem the seller didn’t disclose, or a purchase tied up with a separation or an estate. We can deal with all of it, because we’re a full law firm and not just a conveyancing service.
One firm for the whole matter
Property is rarely on its own. We also handle wills and estates, family law and litigation, so if your purchase is connected to a separation, a deceased estate or a trust, the same firm sees the whole thing through.
We check the contract before you sign
We go through the contract of sale before you sign or bid, and flag anything that should worry you: heavy clauses, unusual special conditions, easements, or disclosures that are missing. You still have room to negotiate or walk away.
You deal with a senior lawyer
We’re a small Hills District firm, so you talk to an experienced solicitor directly, not a call centre. When you have a question, you get a straight answer without the wait.
Step by step
The property purchase process in NSW
Most purchases in NSW follow the same seven steps. Here’s what happens at each stage, and where we come in.
Make an offer and do your checks
You find a place and agree on a price with the agent. Before you commit to anything, we read the contract of sale, raise any issues with the agent or the seller’s solicitor, and help you get your finance, building and pest inspections, and a strata report if it’s a unit.
Exchange of contracts
Both sides sign and swap contracts, and you pay the deposit (usually 10%). From here you have a binding agreement and a settlement date is locked in.
The cooling-off period
On most private-treaty residential purchases you get five business days to cool off after exchange. You can still pull out in that time, though you’ll forfeit 0.25% of the price. We use these days to confirm your finance and go through the inspection results.
Searches and enquiries
We order the searches that turn up what the contract might not: title, planning certificates, council and water rates, sewer diagrams and strata records. We raise requisitions on title, work out the adjustments each side owes, and prepare the transfer and your stamp duty.
Final inspection and figures confirmed
You do a final inspection to check the property is in the condition you agreed on. We confirm the settlement figures with your bank and the seller’s lawyer, and line everyone up for the day.
Settlement and handover
Settlement is done online through PEXA. The balance is paid, your lender’s mortgage is registered, and the title transfers into your name. The agent hands over the keys and the home is yours.
Registration and wrap-up
We make sure the transfer is registered and your duty is paid, and that the council and water authority know you’re the new owner. You get your documents to keep, and you can call us whenever you need them.
A quick word on title insurance
Searches pick up most problems before settlement, but a few can show up later, like an extension a previous owner built without approval, a fence over the boundary, or fraud against your title. Title insurance is an optional one-off policy that covers a lot of these for as long as you own the home. It’s worth a look on older or renovated properties, and it sits alongside good conveyancing rather than replacing it. We’ll let you know if we think it’s worth it for your place.
What it costs
How much does it cost to buy a property in NSW?
On top of the purchase price, there are a few costs to plan for. Our professional fee is fixed and we quote it up front. The disbursements and government charges are separate, and we set them all out clearly so nothing surprises you at settlement.
Transfer (stamp) duty Usually the biggest
A NSW Government tax based on the price you pay. For most buyers it’s the biggest cost, though first home buyers often pay little or nothing (more on that below).
Legal & conveyancing fees Fixed professional fee
Our professional fee for managing your purchase end to end, quoted as a fixed amount before you engage us. This covers our work only; the disbursements and charges below are separate.
Searches & disbursements
Title searches, planning certificates, council and water enquiries, sewer diagrams, and a strata report for units. Usually a few hundred dollars all up.
Your deposit
Usually 10% of the price, paid when you exchange. Sometimes a smaller deposit can be arranged.
Lender & mortgage costs
If you’re borrowing, your bank’s own fees plus the cost of registering the mortgage on the title.
Title insurance Optional
An optional one-off premium if you decide to take it out (see above).
First home buyers
Buying your first home? You might pay no stamp duty
First home buyers in NSW can save thousands through government schemes. We check what you’re entitled to and lodge the paperwork as part of your purchase.
Under the First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme, eligible buyers pay no transfer duty on a new or existing home worth up to $800,000, and a reduced rate up to $1 million. For vacant land, it’s a full exemption to $350,000 and a concession to $450,000. If you’re buying a brand-new home, you may also get the First Home Owner Grant of $10,000. Both have residence rules: you generally need to move in within 12 months and live there for 12 months straight.
Why Catron Simmons
Why buyers choose Catron Simmons
40+ years’ combined experience
Decades acting for buyers and sellers across NSW, including the tricky titles and contracts a lot of firms would rather avoid.
Admitted to the Supreme Court
We’re solicitors who appear in court, so if a purchase ever turns into a fight, you’re already with people who can run it.
A prosecutor’s eye for detail
With a background in prosecution, we read a contract the way the other side will, and pick up the things that are easy to miss.
Local to the Hills, acting across NSW
We’re in Bella Vista and easy to get to, and set up to act for buyers anywhere in the state.
Common questions
Buying a property in NSW: your questions answered
Should I see a lawyer before I sign or make an offer?
Yes. The best time to bring us in is before you sign anything or bid at auction. Once contracts are exchanged you’re legally bound, so getting the contract reviewed first is when we can still raise concerns, negotiate conditions, or tell you to walk away.
What’s the difference between a solicitor and a conveyancer in NSW?
A licensed conveyancer can only do the conveyancing transaction. As solicitors we can do everything a conveyancer does, plus advise on the wider legal side, like disputes, contract problems, and anything that crosses over into estates, trusts or family law. And if the matter ever turns into a fight, we can run it for you.
How long is the cooling-off period in NSW?
On most private-treaty residential purchases it’s five business days from exchange. You can still pull out in that time, but you’ll forfeit 0.25% of the purchase price. There’s no cooling-off period when you buy at auction, which is why your checks need to be done before you bid.
How long does the buying process take?
The gap between exchange and settlement is set in the contract. Six weeks (42 days) is the usual, but it can be shorter or longer if both sides agree. We’ll work to whatever timeframe suits your finance and your situation.
Do I need title insurance?
It’s optional, not compulsory. It’s worth thinking about for older homes, renovated properties, or anywhere past building work might not have approvals, which are the situations searches can’t fully rule out. We’ll tell you whether we think it makes sense for your property and leave the decision to you.
How much do you charge to buy a property?
We give you a fixed professional fee before you engage us, so you know that cost up front. Search disbursements and government charges like stamp duty are on top and depend on the property, and we set them all out clearly in your quote.
What about buying off-the-plan or a strata apartment?
Both need extra care. Off-the-plan contracts come with their own risks around sunset clauses, defects and changes to the build. Strata purchases need a close look at the by-laws, levies, the sinking fund, insurance and any planned works. We go through all of it before you commit.
Get started
Thinking of buying? Let’s talk.
Send through the property details or the contract you’ve been given. We’ll look it over and come back with a clear quote and a fixed professional fee, usually within a day.
How Can We Help You?
We are an experienced boutique firm with a client driven focus. Located in the Hills District at Bella Vista servicing Sydney wide. Catron Simmons Lawyers offer you the knowledge, confidence and the straightforward advice you require.
Alternatively, you can give us a call on 0407 171 626 (Alicia) or 0407 534 594 (Michelle). We are open Monday to Friday from 9am-5pm but contactable 24/7.