Conveyancing

Plain-English definition. Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring ownership of property from seller to buyer, including title searches, contract review, exchange, and settlement.

How it works in Australia. You can use a licensed conveyancer (cheaper, focused only on property) or a solicitor (broader legal advice if disputes arise). Each state regulates conveyancers differently: NSW under the Conveyancers Licensing Act 2003, Victoria under the Conveyancers Act 2006, Queensland legally restricts conveyancing to solicitors. Most states have moved to mandatory electronic conveyancing through PEXA (Property Exchange Australia), where settlement, title transfer and bank disbursements happen simultaneously online. Typical fees: $1,000–$2,500 plus disbursements of $300–$800.

Concrete example. Buying a $700,000 home in Melbourne, your conveyancer reviews the section 32, conducts title and planning searches ($300), arranges signing of the contract, holds the deposit in trust, prepares the transfer of land, books the PEXA workspace, calculates settlement adjustments (rates, water, owners corp fees), attends electronic settlement, and registers the new title. Total professional fee: $1,400. Disbursements: $550. Total: $1,950 plus stamp duty.

Common confusion. Cheap fixed-fee online conveyancers are tempting but often quote bare-bones fees that don't include searches, adjustments, or chasing the vendor's solicitor. Always ask for an "all-inclusive" written quote. Also: you can engage your conveyancer before signing — pre-purchase contract review is the highest-value part of the service.