Buying Property Conveyancing

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Buy your property with ease through conveyancing

We are proud to be conveyancing experts with many years of valuable experience in assisting people in purchasing their dream properties.
At City Link Conveyancing, we understand the importance of finding the perfect property, and we recognize how overwhelming the conveyancing process can be for many people.

Our team consists of highly skilled professionals who are passionate about providing you with a smooth and hassle-free process. We take a client-focused approach and work closely with you to understand your specific needs and goals with regards to your property purchase. Whether you are a first-time buyer or an experienced property investor, we have the expertise necessary to guide you through every step of the way.

Our extensive knowledge of the conveyancing process allows us to identify and manage any potential issues before they become major problems.
You can trust us completely to handle all your conveyancing needs and to ensure that your property purchase is a stress-free and enjoyable experience.
With our attention to detail and commitment to excellent service, you can be confident that your property purchase is in good hands with us at City Link Conveyancing.

Our commitment to you is unwavering, and we strive to exceed your expectations every time.
Our goal is to provide you with a stress-free and smooth conveyancing experience, allowing you to focus on the excitement of your new property.
So why wait? Contact us today to start your journey towards your dream property!


Get in touch with us today at City Link Conveyancing to see how we can help you achieve your property ownership goals.

Service inclusions

In Victoria, offers for buying property are usually made by a purchaser signing a contract of sale.
What should be included in the special conditions? This can include things such as building and pest inspections, a specific settlement date or any repairs that need to be done before the property changes ownership.
The contract of sale outlines the terms and conditions of the purchase, including the purchase price and any special conditions that need to be met.
Can you make an offer with conditions? Yes, you can. It’s known as a conditional offer and can include conditions such as the sale of your current property or the approval of your finance.
Unless another timeframe is written in the contract, the vendor has 3 business days to accept your offer.
What happens if the vendor accepts the offer after the 3-day timeframe? The contract becomes binding, but you should speak to your solicitor or conveyancer to ensure that everything is in order.
If the vendor doesn’t accept your offer within this timeframe, your offer is considered rejected and you may need to negotiate further or look for another property.
What should you do if your offer is rejected? You may need to negotiate further with the vendor or start looking for another property.
If the vendor accepts your offer, they will co-sign sign the contract and then the property is sold and the contract is binding.

  • The settlement date is negotiable between you and the vendor, but is usually 30, 60 or 90 days.

If you are borrowing money for your purchase, make sure that:

  • You don’t sign a contract until you have finance pre-approval.
  • You get the agent to tick the Loan Box and complete the “Loan” section of the contract, which is usually located on page 4 or 5 of the contract.
  • The bank, the loan amount and the approval date are inserted, and the loan “Approval Date” needs to be at least 14 days from the date you make your offer.

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What happens if the bank doesn’t approve your finance? You can terminate the contract, but you may lose some of your deposit. Make sure you speak to your solicitor or conveyancer before making any decisions.
Remember that once the contract is signed by both parties, you are legally bound by its terms, so make sure you understand everything before signing.
Do you have to use a solicitor or conveyancer? No, but it’s highly recommended. They will help you navigate the buying process and ensure that everything is done correctly.
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What happens if something goes wrong? If something goes wrong with the purchase, speak to your solicitor or conveyancer as soon as possible. They will be able to advise you on what steps to take next.

Auction sale contracts do not have a 3-day cooling off period and are not usually subject to any conditions such as finance or building & pest report clauses, so it’s important to have your finance pre-approval and do all of your property and contract checks before the auction takes place.

  • A combined building and pest report can usually be obtained for around $600.
  • You can get these reports done before the auction, but only with the approval of the vendor and usually at your own expense.


It’s important to keep in mind that once the hammer falls and the property is sold to the highest bidder, the sale is final and legally binding.

  • At least a portion of the deposit is usually paid at the time an offer is put on the property and before a sale contract has been entered into.
  • Initial deposits (or holding deposits) are normally 0.25% of the purchase price.
  • Once a contract has been signed by the purchaser and vendor, the full deposit can be paid.
  • There are no laws setting the amount of the deposit for a property sale in Victoria, but they are usually 10% of the purchase price.
We can review any contract for you before you sign, and let you know if there are any issues with the contract or the property. (This takes all the stress out of buying property as it provides you with a clear picture of the property and the contract.). If you’re hesitant to make a deposit before entering into a sale contract, we can advise you on your options and negotiate deposit terms on your behalf. If you’re uncertain about the amount of deposit to make for your property purchase, we can provide guidance based on current standards and market trends. In addition to deposit advice, our team can assist with navigating local laws and regulations related to property sales in Victoria. . Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you navigate the property buying process with confidence.

When you are buying property and have the ability to request that the contract is altered to include a finance clause date, this can protect you by allowing you to terminate the contract if your finance is not formally approved for some reason.
It is important to keep in mind that during the 2-week period, you should do everything in your power to get your finances formally approved.
Because finance pre-approval does not guarantee finance formal approval.

The finance clause date is usually 2 weeks after the contract date.
However, it’s best not to rely on this cushion time. Consider completing all the necessary paperwork and processes for your formal finance application before the said date.
This usually allows for enough time for your bank to formally approve your loan.
This will give the bank ample time to process your application and precludes the need for time extension requests.
A one-week extension is usually applied for if the bank is not ready by this finance clause date.

But:

  • To terminate a contract under the finance clause, a number of conditions need to have to be met.
    For instance, failure to receive formal finance approval from the bank should not be due to your lack of effort to fulfill all the requirements governed by the finance clause.
    Such as applying for finance straight away, and getting a letter of finance decline from a banking institution.
  • To receive a 1 week finance clause extension, the vendor must approve the request.
  • Initial finance clause extension applications are usually approved as it is common for more time to be needed by banks to process a formal loan application.

We will monitor this important date for you and make sure it does not pass without either receiving your formal finance approval, or obtaining a finance clause extension.

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If you require any assistance with your finances, feel free to contact us, and we will help you along the way.

Another thing to consider when buying property in Victoria is if you want to request that the contract includes a building & pest report clause.
It is worth noting that building and pest reports are not always required in Victoria, but they are highly recommended by real estate agents and industry professionals.
These reports will give you a detailed report on the state of the property and can highlight issues such as building defects, rising damp, movement in walls, safety hazards, and pest infestations.

But:

  • To be able to terminate a contract under this clause, the report would need to identify either a “major building defect” or “major structural defect” (depending on the wording in the clause) in the property and include this wording somewhere in the report.

Even if this report doesn’t identify a major defect or infestation in the property, they still provide you with a very clear picture of the state of the property and could create an opportunity to negotiate for repairs or treatments.

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Overall, while requesting a building and pest report can add an extra expense to the property buying process, it can provide peace of mind and help you make an informed decision about your purchase.

If you are buying property and haven’t signed a contract yet, here are some other reports with links that you can use to get more information on the property you are interested in:

  • VicRoads report – Whether VicRoads (The Roads Corporation) has any approved proposals for works requiring the purchase or compulsory acquisition of land.
  • Property Planning Report – When buying property, this free service provides quick and easy access to both property and planning information.
  • Soil test reports – Site assessments are undertaken by environmental consultants to identify potential contamination.
  • Priority Sites Register – EPA Victoria maintains this free report that shows a list of the areas that have a current clean up or pollution abatement notice.
  • EPA Certificate – If the above report is too general then a certificate can be ordered for a specific property.
  • Flood level Certificate – If you’re buying property, you can request a flood level certificate to check for any flooding in the area.

Another important report to consider is the building inspection report, which gives an assessment of the overall condition of the property and identifies any major defects that may affect its value or safety.

When buying property, the statement of adjustments is usually prepared by the purchasers conveyancer and sent to the sellers (vendors) conveyancer about a week before settlement.

It includes all of the financial charges on the land, such as the water & land rates, owners corporation fees, land tax & lease payments, and adjusts on these figures so that it works out perfectly fair for both parties at the day of settlement.

An example of this would be if you had just received and paid your yearly land rates bill, but then sold your house a few weeks later.
The financial charges that are included in the statement of adjustments vary depending on the property and the state or territory it is located in.
The statement of adjustments is a crucial document that ensures both the buyers and sellers are paying or receiving exactly what they owe or are owed at the time of settlement.
Without the statement of adjustments, one party may end up paying more or less than they should on settlement day.
The adjustments would reclaim the amount of money that is equal to proportion of time that you would not be the owner of the property for the year.
For example, if you sold your property halfway through the year, the council rates and water rates for the entire year would have been in your name even though you only owned the property for half that time.
It is important to review the statement of adjustments carefully and ask questions if anything is unclear or seems incorrect.
Buyers and sellers should make sure they understand every item on the statement of adjustments before signing off on it.
In this case you would get nearly all of the money back (11 months worth or 91%).

Having a professional conveyancer or lawyer to help you navigate the property transaction process can also ensure that you don’t miss important details on documents like the statement of adjustments.
In summary, the statement of adjustments is a fair and necessary part of property transactions that protects both parties involved.
In addition to preventing financial complications, the statement of adjustments can also provide a sense of transparency and clarity in the property sale.
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Overall, it’s important to understand the statement of adjustments and its significance in the settlement process to avoid any surprises or setbacks on settlement day.

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city link conveyancing

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