For many, buying your first home is a big step in life, full of excitement and dreams. But sometimes, the legal parts can make you feel worried. To make things clearer and offer good advice to a first time home buyer like yourself, we talked with Liam Howard, a Senior Executive at Bond Property Lawyers and his team.
In this interview, Liam and his team share what they know about common problems, the importance of a conveyancer, and what first time home buyers should look for when choosing legal help.
Liam: There are some key things first time buyers often don’t notice. A big one is unapproved dwellings or structures. These are building or additions that weren’t properly approval by the local Council. We always check with the Council to make sure everything is approved. If something isn’t, we ask the real estate agent to add a special rule to the contract. This rule makes sure the approval is provided before you officially own the home.
Another common problem is when things included in the sale aren’t clear or don’t work. Buyers might think appliances like the fridge or dishwasher are included, but if they’re not clearly written in the contract, they might not be. We strongly tell buyers to check that all appliances are working before they sign. If something is broken, we ask for it to be fixed or replaced before settlement. We always make sure these items are clearly listed in the contract.
We also highly recommend adding a satisfactory building and pest report condition. This protects you if major problems are found with the house, like termites or big structural issues. We also carefully check the completion period, which is how long both you and the seller have to get ready for settlement, to make sure there’s enough time.
If there are any easements (rights for someone else to use part of your land, like for power lines) listed on the property’s title that aren’t mentioned in the contract, we suggest doing extra checks to understand where they are and how they might affect your use of the property.
Finally, and very important, is if the contract has no conditions. We strongly suggest making the contract subject to finance. This means you have enough time for your bank to give final approval for your loan, like a pre approval home loan. This condition is a vital safety net, allowing you to back out without losing money if your loan doesn’t go through (which happens often for many reasons).
Liam: A conveyancer or property lawyer acts like the main organiser. We keep in touch directly and often with everyone involved from brokers (like Fox Home Loans), real estate agents, pest inspectors, and the seller’s legal team. We work closely with your loan broker on important dates for your contract and any papers they need for your loan approval. We talk to the real estate agent about deposit confirmations and to plan for settlement day.
We’re also there for building and pest inspectors if they have questions about accessing the property or need us to clarify their reports. In the end, we’re like the “glue” for the whole deal. We make sure everyone is on the same page and that there are no surprises at the last minute when you’re buying your first home.
Liam: A common mistake for the first time home buyer is not realising all the upfront costs. This is especially true for fees like transfer registration and stamp duty in Queensland, which can be quite large. Banks don’t always explain these clearly, so many buyers are surprised. At Bond Property Lawyers, we give you an early, detailed breakdown of all expected costs. We also provide information on state calculators and grants that you might qualify for.
Another common misunderstanding is about when and how the deposit is paid. We make this clear in our first email and then call you personally before the due date to ensure you understand your responsibilities. Clear guidance early on makes the whole process less stressful.
My best advice is to always get help from a solicitor of conveyancer before you buy a property or sign any official offer. This is important even before your pre approval home loan.
Liam: Buyers should expect to hear from our team a lot, right from the start. We begin with a personal call to answer your questions and go over the contract review we provide. We want to make sure we explain all the important terms clearly and answer all your questions, so you feel comfortable.
Once the purchase is moving forward, most updates are sent by email because written instructions are best. But it’s also common for us to talk to clients on the phone every few days to check in or give updates on important steps. Our clients can call or email us at anytime if they need more clarity or reassurance, whether it’s before they buy or during the process.
Liam: This might be the most important decision after choosing the house itself. You need a property lawyer or conveyancer who is not only very experienced but also active, excellent at communicating, and truly understands what you need. Buying your first home can feel overwhelming, so it’s important to have someone on your side who explains everything clearly, points out risks early, and supports you at every step.
A smart conveyancer will help you avoid expensive mistakes, manage important deadlines, and lower your stress by keeping you informed and confident.
Liam: Most settlements are done online through a system called PEXA. On settlement day, we submit the stamp duty payment (if it applies) and everyone involved from, the seller’s lawyer, both banks, and our office is part of settlement day. We agree on the final money figures, including adjustments for things like council rates, water, and body corporate fees. This makes sure the seller pays up to the settlement date and the buyer takes over from that point.
We also enter any payments the seller needs to make, like their bank’s discharge fee, and all fees the buyer needs to pay. The buyer’s bank puts in the money needed. If there is not enough and the bank has permission, they’ll take it from the buyer’s account. If not, we tell the buyer early so they can transfer the missing money to our trust account, which we then add to PEXA for settlement.
Once everything is ready and the online workspace is balanced, we agree on settlement time and confirm it with everyone, including the buyer. All funds are transferred at the same time, and everyone gets a notification as soon as settlement is finished. Once done, we tell the real estate agent and our client, and the buyer can then pick up the keys.
A key tip for the first home buyer: Even though it’s tempting to plan moving or deliveries for settlement day, it’s best to be flexible. Delays can happen for many reasons, so we suggest having some extra time before you book your moving truck or furniture delivery. This helps avoid extras costs and stress.
Liam Howard and his team’s insight show that buying your first home is a journey that is much easier with professional help.
At Fox Home Loans we can be the guide you need for your first home. Enquire now!
For more essential tips, check out our guide: “7 Pitfalls of Purchasing a Home – Guide for First-Time Buyers”
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Bill has over 26 years of experience working in the finance industry. He has worked across a number of different businesses including Home Loans, Personal Loans, Collections and Insurances. Bill's passion is to utilise his knowledge and experience in the industry to assist clients in meeting their financial goals.
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