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.

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.