Conveyancing Guides & Resources
Welcome to our Conveyancing Guides and Resources, a practical hub for anyone buying or selling property in Melbourne, Geelong, and across Victoria.
First-home buyer, property investor, or seller, our articles are written to take the mystery out of conveyancing and give you the knowledge to make confident decisions.
You'll find clear explainers on the things that matter most in a Victorian property transaction: property transfers, Section 32 vendor statements, contracts of sale, title searches, stamp duty, and the settlement process. We break Victorian property law down into plain English so you understand what's happening at each stage.
We also keep an eye on the changes that affect Victorian property, from law reform to market shifts, and share the updates worth knowing about. The aim is simple: practical guidance that helps your property transaction run smoothly, with no surprises along the way.
Have a question about your own matter? Call us on (03) 9500 0299 or contact us here.
Contracts & Section 32
Contract of Sale in Victoria: What to Ask For Before You SignThe standard Victorian contract already contains a finance condition and a building and pest condition to be validated and enacted as necessary. Most of what a buyer loses is lost not because a clause was missing, but because a box was left unticked or a notice was served late. There is a second half to ... Read more
Mick Mastromanno
Contracts & Section 32
Section 27 Deposit Release in Victoria: A Buyer and Seller Decision GuideA Section 27 statement asks a Victorian buyer to release the deposit to the vendor before settlement. If the buyer gives no written response within 28 days of receiving the disclosed details, the law treats that silence as approval. For the seller, making the request does not guarantee quick access to useful cash. The mortgage ... Read more
Mick Mastromanno
Settlement & the Conveyancing Process
How to Sell a House Privately in VictoriaSelling your home without a real estate agent is legal in Victoria, and the marketing is the part most private sellers handle well. When you sell your house privately, every legal duty an agent would normally carry now lands on you, and some of them start before the first buyer walks through the door. When ... Read more
Mick Mastromanno
Stamp Duty & Property Costs
Conveyancing Fees in Victoria (2026): A Line-by-Line GuideYou have two or three conveyancing quotes open in front of you, and the totals do not match. One is several hundred dollars higher than another for what looks like the same job, and nothing on the page explains why. Every conveyancing quote in Victoria is built from three parts: the professional fee for the ... Read more
Mick Mastromanno
Contracts & Section 32
What Is a Section 32? A Victorian Buyer’s Guide to the Vendor StatementA Section 32 Vendor Statement is the disclosure document a Victorian seller must give a buyer before the buyer signs the contract of sale. It records what affects the land and what the vendor is required to disclose about it. such as mortgages, easements, planning restrictions, and recent building permits . You will also see ... Read more
Mick Mastromanno
Settlement & the Conveyancing Process
The Property Settlement Process in Victoria: A Step-by-Step GuideThe weeks between signing a contract and settlement day are quiet ones, which is exactly why they catch people out. Nobody is ringing you, so it can feel as though nothing is happening. Settlement is the day you pay the balance of the purchase price and the property changes hands. In Victoria that day usually ... Read more
Mick Mastromanno
Settlement & the Conveyancing Process
Conveyancer vs. Solicitor: Choosing the Right Expert for Your Property TransactionThe maze of property transactions can feel overwhelming when you’re buying a house in Victoria. You’ll need professional guidance to steer through the complex legal requirements and guarantee your property transaction proceeds smoothly. This is where the choice between a conveyancer and solicitor becomes essential for your path through property law. Both professionals can provide ... Read more
Mick Mastromanno
Off-the-Plan
Victorian off-the-plan stamp duty calculatorSign an off-the-plan contract early in the build and you can pay a fraction of the stamp duty you would pay on the finished home. Victoria works out off-the-plan duty on the contract price minus the construction costs incurred on or after the day you sign. The earlier you sign, the less there is left ... Read more
Mick Mastromanno
Conveyancing Tools
Victorian Stamp Duty CalculatorStamp duty on an $800,000 established home in Victoria is $43,070, and you pay it at settlement. Move the price, the buyer or the contract date, and that figure moves with it. That is what the calculator below is for. Enter the price and your situation and it applies the State Revenue Office rates for ... Read more
Mick Mastromanno
Conveyancing Tools
Victorian cooling-off period calculatorSign a contract to buy a home in Victoria and, in most private sales, you get three clear business days to change your mind. Miss the deadline by a day and the right is gone, so the date matters. Counting it is fiddlier than it looks. The day you sign does not count. Weekends do ... Read more
Mick Mastromanno