Whether you are looking to buy or sell property, it’s the question on everyone’s mind – what fees should I expect to pay? See below for a general idea of fees that may be applicable to you.
Lodgement Fees
The Land Titles Office charge a lodgement fee to register any changes to a title. The ‘changes’ are primarily:
- To transfer the land from the old proprietor on title to you. This fee is dependent on the purchase price but can be calculated using this calculator;
- To include your bank if you are obtaining finance. At the time of writing, this fee is $122.10.
Adjustments
Any rates and outgoings such as council, water and Owner’s Corporation (if any) fees will be adjusted between you and the vendor. This means you will need to repay to the vendor any fees they have paid for beyond the settlement date. Our article discusses these adjustments in detail, but for the purposes of providing an estimate before settlement, we usually advise you to prepare $1000-3000 aside. For off-the-plan properties, you may need to set aside up to $10,000.
Service Fees
All conveyancing transactions in Victoria take place electronically on a settlement platform called PEXA. PEXA charges a service fee for each transaction, which for 2025-26 is $140.58. If you are obtaining additional finance via a third party scheme, such as the Victorian Homebuyer Fund, this third party may charge their own service fees.
These fees increase every financial year.
Bank fees
If you are obtaining finance, your bank will charge their own fees to prepare the loan and attend settlement. Their fees can range anywhere from $200-$500. You should read your loan documents carefully to understand the related costs, or check with your banker/broker. You may also need to account for your Lender’s Mortgage Insurance.
Stamp duty
Stamp duty is calculated based on the purchase price of the contract, minus any concessions or exemptions that may be applicable to you. You can use this calculator to determine your estimated stamp duty payable for a transaction.
Legal fees and disbursements
Finding a good conveyancer or solicitor may often come down to pricing. Be aware when obtaining quotes, as a firm offering fees of ‘$1,000 plus GST, plus disbursements’ may not be at a lower price point than a firm that offers ‘$1,800 including GST & disbursements’. Disbursements are the costs incurred by the firm when preparing for your settlement, and can range anywhere from $150-$600+. Therefore once the costs are added on to the base fees, you may be paying more than what you initially thought. Some packages also offer contract reviews as an add-on service only, rather than having it inclusive in the package.
Our firm offers fixed fee conveyancing with a contract review included, so there is no hidden surprise for your transaction. If you’d like to know more about our fees, reach out to our property lawyers at hello@wlegalgroup.com.au or give us a ring on 03 9590 6180!
