Sydney property guides

10 min read·May 2026

First Home Buyer Guide: Sydney Professionals You Need

A 2026 guide to the professionals a first home buyer in Sydney needs, when to engage each, what they cost, and the order-of-operations errors to avoid.

9 min read·May 2026

How Much Can I Borrow for a Sydney Home in 2026?

Plain-English 2026 guide to mortgage borrowing power in Sydney: the APRA 3% buffer, how income and expenses are shaded, deposit and LMI, a worked example, and how to lift your number.

9 min read·May 2026

Stamp Duty in NSW: How Much You'll Actually Pay (2026)

Plain-English 2026 guide to NSW stamp duty: current brackets, a $1.2m worked example, first home buyer exemptions, the 8% foreign-buyer surcharge, and when it's due.

7 min read·May 2026

How Much Does Conveyancing Cost in NSW? (2026)

A plain-English 2026 guide to conveyancing costs in NSW: typical fixed fees, disbursements, when to pay a solicitor instead, and how to compare quotes.

8 min read·May 2026

Is It Worth Using a Buyers Agent in Sydney? (2026)

A plain-English 2026 guide to using a buyers agent in Sydney: fee models, when it's worth it, when it isn't, NSW licensing, and conflict-of-interest red flags.

6 min read·May 2026

What Does a Mortgage Broker Actually Do?

Plain-English guide to what a mortgage broker does in Australia: the five-step process, Best Interests Duty, commission structure, lender panels, and when a broker beats going direct to a bank.

5 min read·May 2026

Conveyancer vs Solicitor NSW: What's the Difference?

A plain-English guide to choosing between a conveyancer and a solicitor for a NSW property transaction in 2026: licensing, scope, cost, and when each is the right call.

8 min read·May 2026

Cooling-Off Period NSW: Your 5 Business-Day Rights Explained

Plain-English guide to the NSW cooling-off period: 5 business days from exchange, the 0.25% forfeit, when it doesn't apply, and how section 66W waivers work.

9 min read·May 2026

Buying Off the Plan in Sydney: What You Need to Know Before You Sign

Plain-English 2026 guide to buying off the plan in Sydney: sunset clauses after the 2018 reforms, the 10% deposit, stamp duty deferral, defects, and valuation gaps at settlement.

9 min read·May 2026

Buying a Sydney Property With Friends or Family: Structures, Risks and the Agreement You Cannot Skip

Plain-English guide to co-buying property in Sydney: joint tenancy vs tenants in common, co-ownership agreements, finance traps, stamp duty splits, and exits.

9 min read·May 2026

Auction Bidding Strategy for Sydney Buyers: How to Walk in Prepared and Walk Out the Winner

Plain-English Sydney auction guide: NSW bidder registration, setting your ceiling, the 10% deposit due on the day, no cooling-off, and bidding tactics that actually work.

8 min read·May 2026

Real Estate Agent Commission in Sydney: What Vendors Actually Pay in 2026

Plain-English Sydney sales-agent commission guide for vendors: 2026 percentage ranges, marketing budgets, auctioneer fees, NSW agency agreement rules, and how to negotiate.

8 min read·May 2026

Refinancing Your Sydney Mortgage in 2026: When It's Worth It and What It Actually Costs

Plain-English guide to refinancing a Sydney mortgage in 2026: when it makes sense, true costs, break fees, cashback traps, APRA serviceability buffer, and timing.

7 min read·May 2026

Tax Depreciation Schedules for Sydney Investors (2026)

A plain-English 2026 guide to tax depreciation schedules for Sydney investment property: what's claimable, what changed in 2017, costs, and when a schedule pays for itself.

8 min read·May 2026

How to Choose a Financial Planner in Sydney (2026)

A plain-English 2026 guide to choosing a financial planner in Sydney: licensing, fee models, when you actually need one, conflict-of-interest red flags, and the questions to ask before signing.

7 min read·May 2026

Building & Pest Inspections in Sydney (2026)

A plain-English 2026 guide to building and pest inspections for a Sydney purchase: what's covered, what they cost, when to order them, and how to read the report.

9 min read·May 2026

Settlement Day in NSW: What Actually Happens, Hour by Hour (2026)

Plain-English guide to settlement day in NSW: the PEXA workspace, the 42-day timeline, the hour-by-hour flow, penalty interest, and what can go wrong.

8 min read·May 2026

NSW Land Tax for Sydney Investors: What You Actually Owe (2026)

Plain-English 2026 guide to NSW land tax for investors: current thresholds, a $1.5m worked example, the aggregation rule, foreign-owner surcharge, trust traps and how to plan ahead.

9 min read·May 2026

Capital Gains Tax on Sydney Property: What Investors Pay (2026)

Plain-English 2026 guide to capital gains tax on Sydney property: how CGT is calculated, the 50% discount, main residence exemption, the 6-year rule, trusts and SMSF treatment.

9 min read·May 2026

Buying Sydney Property Through an SMSF: What Actually Works in 2026

Plain-English 2026 guide to buying Sydney property through an SMSF: LRBA structure, lender list, sole-purpose test, costs, tax treatment, and the team you need.

7 min read·June 2026

Buyers Advocate vs Buyers Agent in Sydney: What's the Difference?

A buyers advocate and a buyers agent are the same role in Australia. Here is what the terms mean, what they do in Sydney, what they cost, and how to verify one.

8 min read·June 2026

Using a Commercial Buyers Agent in Sydney: What to Know Before You Buy

How a commercial buyers agent in Sydney works: how commercial differs from residential, cap rates, WALE, fees, GST, SMSF purchases, NSW licensing, and how to choose one.

9 min read·June 2026

Strata Management in Sydney: How It Works, What It Costs, and What to Check Before You Buy

Plain-English 2026 guide to strata management in Sydney: what a strata manager does, how levies and management fees work, and how to read a strata report before you buy.