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Buying, selling, and investing in Australian property without the jargon. Deposits, stamp duty, borrowing power, suburbs, and the real costs of getting in.
Every state and territory runs its own first home owner grant, almost always for brand-new homes only. Here is how the amounts, caps and rules compare in 2026, plus where stamp duty relief often beats the grant.
The Queensland First Home Owner Grant is a one-off payment for eligible first home buyers building or buying a brand-new home, not an established one. Here is who qualifies, how much it pays, where it fits with stamp duty concessions, and where to confirm the current rules.
A buyers agent works for you, not the vendor, searching, evaluating and negotiating on your behalf. Here is what they cost in 2026, who they actually suit, and how to pick one who is genuinely independent rather than just well dressed.
Property is the biggest purchase most Australians ever make, and the difference between a good buy and an expensive lesson is mostly preparation. This is the map: finance, the buying journey, due diligence, the real costs, investing, and selling.
A cooling-off period is a short window after you exchange contracts on a private-treaty purchase, during which you can pull out for a small penalty. Here is how long it runs by state, why auctions are different, and how to use the time well.
Rental yield tells you how hard a property works as an income asset. We cover the gross and net formulas, typical Australian ranges, the yield versus growth trade-off, and a plain worked example you can copy.
Strata title is how apartments, units, and townhouses are owned in Australia. You get your own lot plus a share of the common property, and a body corporate runs the lot. Here is what that means for your money and what to check before you sign.
Rentvesting means renting where you want to live while buying an investment property somewhere cheaper. We cover who it suits, the tax perks, and the real trade-offs around CGT and tenure so you can weigh it honestly.
Buying off the plan lets you lock in a property before it exists, with years to save the balance and possible stamp duty savings. It also carries real risks: valuation shortfalls at settlement, sunset clauses and builder insolvency. Here is how to weigh both sides.
Selling a house in Australia means appointing an agent, picking private treaty or auction, presenting the home, then exchanging contracts and settling. Here is the full journey, the real costs to budget for, and how to weigh your options without losing your head.
Capital gains tax in Australia is not a separate tax. The gain on a property you sell is added to your taxable income and taxed at your marginal rate. Here is how the cost base, the 50% discount, and the main residence exemption fit together.
Buying an investment property in Australia comes down to six moves: define your strategy, line up investment finance, pick the location on data rather than emotion, budget every holding cost, understand gearing and capital gains tax, and keep a cash buffer. Here is the plain-English version, hedged and date-stamped.
A real estate agent's commission is usually the biggest cost of selling a home. We cover the typical ranges by state, the fee structures, marketing costs, and why the rate is always negotiable.
Buying your first home or your fifth, the Australian process runs the same way: sort your finances, get pre-approval, do your due diligence, then exchange and settle. Here is the full step-by-step, plus the upfront costs most people forget.
A building and pest inspection is a pre-purchase check of a home's structure and for pests, mainly termites. Here is what it covers, what it typically costs in 2026, and how to act on the report, especially before an auction where you cannot make the sale conditional.
Negative gearing is when the costs of owning an investment property outrun the rent, producing a loss you can generally deduct against your other taxable income. Here is how it works, how it differs from positive gearing, why it leans on capital growth, how the CGT discount fits in, and the political risk.
Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring property from seller to buyer. Here is what it covers, who handles it, and what it typically costs in Australia, with ranges last checked June 2026.