Buying your first home is one of the biggest financial decisions you will make. Conveyancing is the legal process that transfers the property into your name. Having the right conveyancer in your corner means you understand every step before you sign anything.
Updated May 2026: For the latest first home buyer rules, read our First Home Buyer Stamp Duty Victoria 2026 summary of the Budget.
This guide covers what conveyancing involves for first home buyers, what you need to know about stamp duty concessions, and how to make it through to settlement without surprises.
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What is conveyancing and why do you need it?
Conveyancing is the legal transfer of property ownership from one party to another. In Victoria, a licensed conveyancer or solicitor handles this process on your behalf.
For a first home buyer, your conveyancer is the person who:
- Reviews the Contract of Sale and Section 32 Vendor Statement before you sign
- Identifies any conditions, risks, or red flags in the contract
- Conducts the necessary title and property searches
- Coordinates with your mortgage broker or bank to arrange finance for settlement
- Manages the settlement process from start to finish
- Ensures the title is transferred correctly into your name
You can legally buy property without a conveyancer, but very few experienced buyers would recommend it. Contracts are binding. Once you sign (or the hammer falls at auction), there is no going back.
The first home buyer conveyancing process
Here is what typically happens from the moment you find a property to the day you get the keys.
Step 1: Contract review (before you sign or bid)
Before you sign a Contract of Sale or bid at auction, your conveyancer reviews:
- The Contract of Sale, including all standard and special conditions
- The Section 32 Vendor Statement, the legal disclosure document the vendor is required to provide
- Title searches, including who owns the property and any encumbrances or caveats on the title
- Planning overlays such as zoning, heritage restrictions, bushfire zones, and any permitted uses that could affect your plans
If you are buying at auction, this review happens before auction day. Contracts at auction are unconditional, with no cooling-off period. Getting a review done in advance is not optional; it is how you bid with confidence.
If you are buying via private sale, you have a three-business-day cooling-off period after signing, but it is always better to review before you sign than to rely on cooling off.
Step 2: You sign and the contract goes unconditional
Once you sign the contract (and any finance or building inspection conditions are satisfied), the contract becomes unconditional. The process moves to settlement preparation.
Step 3: Searches and enquiries
Your conveyancer conducts a range of searches to confirm the property’s legal status:
- Title search (confirms the vendor’s ownership and any registered interests)
- Land tax certificate (confirms no outstanding land tax liability)
- Council rates certificate (confirms rates are paid to date of settlement)
- Water and sewerage searches
- Any planning or zoning searches relevant to your property
In most cases, these searches take 1 to 2 weeks to come back. Your conveyancer reviews everything and flags any issues.
Step 4: Finance and settlement preparation
Your conveyancer works with your mortgage broker or bank to:
- Confirm the settlement date
- Ensure loan documents are ready
- Calculate the settlement adjustments (council rates and water rates, prorated between buyer and vendor)
- Arrange the Statement of Adjustments
Step 5: Settlement
Settlement is the day the property legally transfers to you. In Victoria, most residential settlements now happen electronically through the PEXA platform.
On settlement day:
- Your conveyancer and the vendor’s conveyancer exchange documents and funds electronically
- The balance of the purchase price is paid to the vendor
- The title is transferred into your name
- You get the keys
The whole process, from signing to settlement, typically takes 30 to 90 days depending on the settlement terms agreed in the contract.
Stamp duty concessions for first home buyers in Victoria
One of the most significant financial considerations for first home buyers is stamp duty (officially called land transfer duty in Victoria). The good news is that first home buyers receive meaningful concessions.
First home buyer duty exemption and reduction
As of 2025-26, in Victoria:
- Properties valued up to $600,000: first home buyers pay no stamp duty (full exemption).
- Properties valued $600,001 to $750,000: first home buyers receive a partial reduction, which reduces on a sliding scale.
- Properties valued over $750,000: standard stamp duty rates apply, no concession.
To qualify, you must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, at least 18 years old, and a natural person (not a company or trust). You and your spouse or partner cannot have previously owned residential property in Australia. You must also occupy the home as your principal place of residence for 12 continuous months, starting within 12 months of settlement. These thresholds and conditions can change with State Budgets, so confirm current rules with your conveyancer at the time of purchase or check the State Revenue Office Victoria website.
First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)
Separate to stamp duty concessions, first home buyers may also be eligible for the First Home Owner Grant, a one-off payment from the State Government for eligible buyers of a new or substantially renovated home.
Your conveyancer can advise on eligibility and coordinate the grant application as part of the settlement process.
Off-the-plan stamp duty concessions
If you are buying off the plan (a property that has not yet been built or is under construction), additional stamp duty concessions may apply because duty is calculated on the contract price minus the construction costs incurred by the vendor before settlement.
Your conveyancer can advise on how this applies to your specific contract.
What does first home buyer conveyancing cost?
Conveyancing fees vary depending on the complexity of the transaction and the property value. Costs generally include:
- Professional conveyancing fees, which vary by firm and transaction type
- Search fees, the government and third-party search costs, typically $300 to $600 depending on the number of searches required
- PEXA fees, the electronic settlement platform fees that are standard for Victorian residential settlement
At Tick Box Conveyancing, we provide clear, upfront quotes with no hidden fees. Contact us for a quote specific to your situation.
Common questions first home buyers ask
Do I need a conveyancer for a private sale?
Yes, having your own conveyancer is strongly recommended. Even in a straightforward private sale, the conveyancer protects your interests, conducts searches, and manages the settlement process. The vendor’s conveyancer works for the vendor, not for you.
Can I use the same conveyancer as the vendor?
In most cases, no. It is a conflict of interest, and most conveyancers will not act for both parties in the same transaction.
What is a Section 32?
The Section 32 (Vendor Statement) is a document the vendor is legally required to provide before you sign. It includes title details, planning information, owners corporation details (if applicable), outstanding notices, and other disclosures. Your conveyancer reviews this as part of their pre-contract work. See our FAQs for more on what to look for.
What happens if I pull out after signing?
In a private sale, you have a three-business-day cooling-off period. If you pull out during this period, you forfeit $100 or 0.2% of the purchase price, whichever is greater. After cooling off expires (or at auction), pulling out means forfeiting the deposit and potentially facing legal action for breach of contract. This is why proper review before signing is so important.
How early should I get a conveyancer involved?
As early as possible, ideally before you sign anything. Many buyers engage a conveyancer when they start seriously looking, so they have someone ready to review a contract at short notice.
Can you help with the First Home Owner Grant?
Yes. We can advise on eligibility and manage the FHOG application as part of your settlement.
Do you work with mortgage brokers?
Yes. We work alongside your broker or bank to coordinate finance for settlement. Good communication between your conveyancer and your broker prevents delays.
Why first home buyers choose Tick Box
- 420+ five-star Google reviews, most of them from buyers who tell us we explained everything clearly and kept them calm
- 80+ years of combined team experience, so we have seen every type of contract and every type of complication
- Three offices across Victoria: Moonee Ponds, Mornington, and Geelong
- PEXA electronic settlement, modern, efficient, and fully digital
- Upfront fees with no hidden costs and no surprises at settlement
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Get a free quote online or call us directly on 1300 363 165.
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