Property guides for buyers and sellers
Plain-English guides to selling and buying property in Australia, checked by a named editor and dated. 164 guides and articles, free to read without signing up.
The two free guides
Free guide, 2026 edition
Selling a home
Pricing your home, what agents really charge, choosing an agent and getting to settlement, personalised to your suburb.
Free guide, 2026 edition
Buying a home
What you can really spend, the 2026 schemes state by state, how not to overpay, and the contract through to settlement.
Selling your home
Picking an agent, what selling costs in each state, and how commission and the campaign work.
Cost of selling by state
- Real estate agent fees and commission in Australia (2026)What real estate agents charge across Australia: commission rates by state, what's included, marketing costs charged separately, fixed-fee alternatives, and how to negotiate.
- The Cost of Selling a House in Australia (2026): Every Fee ExplainedEvery cost of selling a house in Australia: agent commission, marketing, conveyancing, styling, repairs, auction and discharge fees, plus capital gains tax on an investment. With a worked example and where you can negotiate.
- How to Sell a House in Australia (2026)A step-by-step guide to selling residential property in Australia: deciding when to sell, choosing the right agent, setting price, the auction vs private treaty decision, the campaign, contracts and settlement.
- How Much Is My House Worth? Free Property Appraisal (Australia)Pick your suburb, see what houses there are selling for, and get a free appraisal from a local agent. Plus the three ways a house is valued in Australia, why they disagree, and what actually drives your number.
- How to Choose a Selling Agent in Australia (2026)A practical guide to picking the right real estate agent to sell your home: how to interview, what questions to ask, the appraisal trap, fee structures, and how to negotiate the listing agreement.
- How to Negotiate Real Estate Agent Commission in Australia (2026)Agent commission is not set by law anywhere in Australia, every rate is an opening offer. Average commission by state, what's actually negotiable, tiered structures, word-for-word scripts, and when a cheap agent costs more than they save.
- 23 Questions to Ask a Real Estate Agent Before You List (2026)The questions to ask a real estate agent when selling: comparable sales, sale method, commission and marketing costs, the agency agreement, buyer qualification and what happens if it doesn't sell — with what a good answer sounds like versus an evasive one.
- How to Prepare for a Property Appraisal (2026): What Agents Look ForHow to prepare for a property appraisal: what agents assess in the walkthrough, what to clean and fix beforehand, the paperwork to have ready, how to spot an inflated appraisal, and the difference between an appraisal and a bank valuation.
- The Best Time to Sell a House in Australia (2026)When to sell a house in Australia: why spring and early autumn draw the most buyers, the case for selling in winter, why your suburb matters more than the month, and how interest rates and preparation beat timing the calendar.
- Auction vs Private Treaty: Which Way Should You Sell? (2026)Auction vs private treaty in Australia: how each method works end-to-end, the real cost differences, 2026 clearance-rate context, cooling-off and underquoting rules by state, and a decision framework for choosing the right method for your property.
- What to Fix Before Selling a House (2026): What Pays, What Doesn'tThe repairs that return money when selling a house in Australia and the renovations that never do: the buyer-turnoff list, what building inspectors flag, cosmetic wins under $5,000, the over-capitalisation trap, and when to sell as-is.
- Home Staging Costs in Australia (2026): What Property Styling Really CostsWhat home staging costs in Australia in 2026: full styling prices by city, partial and virtual staging, the six-week hire terms to watch, what the ROI claims are really worth, DIY staging on a budget, and when to skip staging entirely.
Articles
- Changing real estate agents mid-campaign: when you can, what it costs, and how to avoid paying two commissions
- Contract of sale in NSW: what must be attached, the cooling-off period, and what happens if it is wrong
- Contract of sale in Queensland: the seller disclosure statement, the cooling-off period, and what happens if it is wrong
- Contract of sale in South Australia: the Form 1 vendor's statement, the two-day cooling-off period, and what happens if it is wrong
- Contract of sale in Western Australia: the offer and acceptance, no cooling-off period, and what the seller must still get right
- Fixed-fee vs commission real estate agents: what each model costs, where the break-even sits, and which one to choose
- Agency agreements by state: exclusive vs open listings, the term, cooling-off and how you get out (NSW, Vic, Qld, SA, WA)
- Real estate agent complaints: the red flags, what the regulator can and cannot do, and the Fair Trading route in every state
- Reserve price at auction: how it is set, how it relates to the price guide, and what changes in Victoria from October 2026
- Section 32 vendor statement in Victoria: what it must contain, what it costs, and what happens if it is wrong
- Selling a deceased estate property in Australia: probate, who can sign, CGT on inherited property and the two-year rule
- Selling or transferring the house after separation or divorce: time limits, consent orders, stamp duty exemptions and the CGT rollover
- Selling a house with tenants in Australia: notice periods by state, open homes and photos, and capital gains tax on an investment property
- Underquoting laws by state: what an agent may advertise, the penalties, and how to report it (2026)
- How to sell your house privately in Australia: costs, steps, and when an agent is worth it
- Selling Your Home: Tips for Maximum Value
First home buyers
Grants, schemes, deposits and LMI. Start with the national guide, then read the one for your state.
- First Home Buyer Guide Australia: Grants, Schemes & Steps (2026)
- First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) by State: 2026 Amounts & Eligibility
- First Home Guarantee 2026: Buy With a 5% Deposit, No LMI
- Help to Buy Scheme Australia: How the Shared Equity Scheme Works (2026)
- Shared Equity Schemes in Australia (2026): Help to Buy and Every State Scheme
- First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSS) 2026: Limits, Tax and How to Withdraw
- Can I Use My Super to Buy a House? What You Can and Can't Do (2026)
- How Much Deposit Do You Need to Buy a House in Australia? (2026)
- Lenders Mortgage Insurance: What it costs and how to avoid it (2026)
- 10 First Home Buyer Mistakes to Avoid (and How to Fix Them), Australia 2026
First home buyer guide by state
Help to Buy by state
Buying a home
From the search to settlement: inspections, the contract, cooling-off, auctions and the offer.
- How to buy property in Australia: the complete step-by-step guide (2026)
- Due Diligence Checklist for Buying a House in Australia (2026)
- Building and Pest Inspection Cost in Australia (2026): Prices by City and Property Type
- Conveyancing Fees in Australia (2026): Costs in NSW, VIC, QLD and Every State
- Cooling-Off Period by State: How Long You Have to Pull Out (Australia 2026)
- Cooling-Off Period in Victoria (2026)
- Property auctions in Australia: how to bid and how to sell (2026)
- How to negotiate property price in Australia: a buyer's guide (2026)
- What happens on settlement day in Australia (2026 walkthrough)
- How Long Does It Take to Buy a House in Australia? Realistic 2026 Timelines
- Best Time to Buy Property in Australia: Seasons, Cycles, and Market Signals (2026)
- Best Brisbane Suburbs for Families in 2026
- Buying property in Australia as a foreign buyer: complete FIRB guide (2026)
Articles
- Best Value Regional Towns for a Family Home Under $500,000 (2026)
- The Cheapest Suburbs to Buy a House in Australia 2026
- First Home Buyer Schemes by State: The Complete 2026 Guide
- How to Buy Property Interstate in Australia: A Practical Guide
- First Home Buyer Guide: Moreton Bay Region
- House and Land Packages: Are They Worth It?
- Understanding Off-Market Properties
Home loans and stamp duty
What a lender will approve, how to structure the loan, and the duty each state charges on the purchase.
- How Much Can I Borrow? Home Loan Borrowing Power in Australia (2026)
- Home Loan Pre-approval in Australia (2026)
- How to Choose a Mortgage Broker in Australia (2026)
- Fixed vs variable rate home loans: which is better in 2026?
- Offset accounts explained: how they work, what they save, and when they don't (2026)
Upgrading or downsizing
When two transactions need to talk to each other: sell or buy first, bridging loans and their alternatives, deposit bonds, and downsizing.
- Sell First or Buy First? The Australian Mover's Decision Guide (2026)
- Bridging Loans Australia: How They Work, What They Cost & the Risks (2026)
- Alternatives to a Bridging Loan in Australia: What Costs Less (2026)
- Deposit Bonds Australia: How They Work, What They Cost & the Risks (2026)
- Downsizer's guide to Australian property: super contributions and concessions (2026)
Property investors
Tax, yield and running costs: negative gearing, depreciation, SMSF property and granny flats.
- Negative gearing in Australia: how it works (2026)
- Property depreciation: how investors maximise tax deductions (2026)
- Capital growth vs cash flow: how Australian property investors actually choose (2026)
- House vs Apartment Investment in Australia: Which Builds More Wealth? (2026)
- Rentvesting in Australia: A Practical Guide (2026)
- Property Management Fees in Australia 2026: Rates by State, With Calculator
- How Much Does a Buyer's Agent Cost in Australia? (2026)
- Buying property in an SMSF: complete guide (2026)
- Sydney vs Melbourne Property Market: Which Should You Buy In? (2026)
Renovating and building
What the work costs and how to find a builder you can trust.
Renters
Your rights as a tenant, state by state: bond, rent increases, repairs, entry, and ending a tenancy.
Market updates and news
City market reports, rate decisions, budget changes and scheme news, newest first.
- Are House Prices Crashing in Australia?
- House price forecasts for 2026 and 2027 by capital city: what CBA, Westpac, NAB, ANZ and Domain expect, and what has happened so far
- Home values post their biggest monthly fall since 2022 — and the market has split in two
- Negative gearing and CGT reform is now law: what changes on 1 July 2027, and what to do before then
- Late-July wrap: Wednesday's inflation number, the August rate call, and the first buyer's-market spring in years
- Queensland keeps the $30,000 grant, and Help to Buy just opened to more buyers
- The cheapest suburbs in every Australian capital city, ranked (Winter 2026 report)
- Winter market wrap: a quiet July, and why spring sellers should start now
- Queensland’s $30,000 first home grant: the 30 June deadline that never came
- Auction clearance rates slump to 47%, the weakest result since 2020
- NSW bets on prefab and modular homes to build faster
- APRA Holds the 3% Buffer, Flags New Limits on High-DTI and Investor Lending
- Rents climb toward record highs as vacancies stay tight
- Help to Buy: First Buyers Are Already Moving Into Shared-Equity Homes
- Building approvals fall again, deepening Australia's housing supply squeeze
- The 5% Deposit Scheme Is Now Open to Every First Home Buyer
- Sydney and Melbourne Cool as Rate Hikes Bite: Mid-2026 Property Market Update
- RBA Holds the Cash Rate at 4.35%: What the June 2026 Decision Means for Buyers
- Rental Vacancies Tick Up to 1.2%: Is the Squeeze Finally Easing?
- Capital Gains Tax on Property: How the 2026 Budget Changes the Rules
- Federal Budget 2026: What It Means for Australian Property
- Negative Gearing Changes 2026: What Every Property Investor Needs to Know
- Adelaide Property Market 2026: The Quiet Achiever Keeps Quietly Achieving
- Brisbane Property Market 2026: Still Running, But Less of a Sprint
- Canberra Property Market 2026: High Prices, High Quality, Quietly Recovering
- Darwin and the Northern Territory Property Market 2026
- Hobart and Tasmania Property Market 2026: Steady After the Boom
- Melbourne Property Market 2026: A Slower, More Selective Recovery
- Perth Property Market 2026: After the Boom, Where to Now?
- Sydney Property Market 2026: Where Prices, Yields and Demand Are Heading
- Moreton Bay Property Market Update Q1 2025
- Top 5 Suburbs for Families in Moreton Bay
Calculators
Run the numbers before you talk to an agent, a lender or a conveyancer.
- Real estate commission calculatorWhat an agent's commission costs on your sale price, state by state.
- Selling costs calculatorEvery cost of selling, with what you walk away with.
- Stamp duty calculatorDuty and first home buyer concessions in every state.
- Borrowing power calculatorAn estimate of what a lender may lend on your income and expenses.
Our guides are general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Check current grants, thresholds and rules with the state agency or a licensed professional before you rely on them.