Property and mortgage law in Victoria, explained
General information from a broker who deals with these rules daily. For advice on your contract, speak to a conveyancer or solicitor; we can introduce you to one.
Contracts, cooling-off & settlement
Your building and pest inspection rights in Victoria
Victorian buyers have no automatic right to a building inspection. How cooling-off, contract conditions and owner-builder rules protect you …
ReadCaveats on property in Victoria
What a caveat is under the Transfer of Land Act 1958 (Vic), who can lodge one, whether it can stop a sale or refinance in Victoria, and how …
ReadThe contract of sale in Victoria, clause by clause
What a Victorian contract of sale contains, the particulars, general and special conditions to check, Sale of Land Act deposit rules and you…
ReadConveyancing and title transfer in Victoria
How conveyancing works in Victoria from contract review to registration: conveyancer vs solicitor, searches, PEXA e-conveyancing, duty, tran…
ReadThe cooling-off period when buying property in Victoria
How the 3 business day cooling-off period works when buying property in Victoria, when it doesn't apply, the $100 or 0.2% penalty and how it…
ReadDeposit bonds, explained
What a deposit bond is, when Victorian vendors accept one instead of a cash deposit, how it works at settlement and on default, costs and ho…
ReadThe Section 32 vendor statement, explained
What a Section 32 vendor statement must disclose in Victoria, what it leaves out, your rescission rights if it's wrong and how lenders use i…
ReadThe property settlement process in Victoria
How settlement works in Victoria step by step, from loan documents and PEXA to adjustments, final inspection, stamp duty and keys, plus late…
ReadThe subject-to-finance clause in a Victorian contract
How a subject-to-finance clause protects Victorian buyers, the approval date deadline, what counts as a genuine attempt to get finance and h…
ReadUnderquoting laws in Victoria
How Victoria's underquoting laws work: the Statement of Information, indicative selling price rules, banned phrases, penalties and protectin…
ReadWhat happens if your finance falls through after signing a contract
If your home loan is declined after signing in Victoria, your options depend on whether the contract is conditional: deposits, default notic…
ReadTax, duty & ownership
Buying property with a partner in Victoria
Buying a home with a partner, friend or sibling in Victoria: ownership shares, joint loan liability, co-ownership agreements, duty concessio…
ReadCapital gains tax on property, explained
How capital gains tax works when you sell property in Australia: main residence exemption, 50% discount, six-year rule, cost base and a Melb…
ReadFIRB approval for buying property in Australia
Who needs FIRB approval to buy residential property in Australia, what temporary residents can buy, the established-home ban, fees, penaltie…
ReadForeign purchaser additional duty in Victoria
Victoria's 8% foreign purchaser additional duty explained: who counts as a foreign purchaser, the spouse exemption, a worked example and how…
ReadJoint tenants vs tenants in common in Victoria
Joint tenants vs tenants in common in Victoria: survivorship, severance, unequal shares, duty on transfers between owners and what each mean…
ReadLand tax in Victoria, explained
How Victorian land tax works under the Land Tax Act 2005: the 31 December assessment, 2024–2033 rates, home exemption, absentee surcharge an…
ReadOwners corporations in Victoria, explained for buyers
How owners corporations (strata) work in Victoria under the Owners Corporations Act 2006: fees, levies, tiers, certificates, disputes and wh…
ReadStamp duty exemptions and concessions in Victoria
Every Victorian land transfer duty exemption and concession explained: first home buyers, principal place of residence, off-the-plan, pensio…
ReadVacant residential land tax in Victoria
Victoria's vacant residential land tax now applies state-wide. Who pays, the 6-month vacancy test, escalating rates, exemptions and the 15 J…
ReadYour rights as a borrower
The best interests duty for mortgage brokers
What the mortgage broker best interests duty under the NCCP Act means for Melbourne borrowers, how it differs from a bank's obligations and …
ReadYour financial hardship rights on a home loan
Your legal right to a hardship variation on an Australian home loan, the 21-day lender response rule, what help to ask for, credit report ef…
ReadLegal responsibilities of a home loan guarantor
What a guarantor is legally liable for on an Australian home loan, National Credit Code and Banking Code protections, limited guarantee caps…
ReadMortgage default and repossession in Victoria
Defaulting on a home loan in Victoria: the 30-day default notice, court possession orders, mortgagee sale rules, shortfall debt and stopping…
ReadThe National Consumer Credit Protection Act, explained for borrowers
How the National Consumer Credit Protection Act and National Credit Code protect Australian home loan borrowers: licensing, responsible lend…
ReadReady to talk about your loan?
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