Conveyancing Articles
Things to Consider After Signing a Contract to Purchase Property
July 9th, 2013 by | Conveyancing
Finding the right property at the right price can take a lot of time and effort. Before signing a contract many purchasers will want to have the building checked and have a lawyer or conveyancer look at the searches and contract. Assuming all is well the contract can be signed – but that is not… Read more »
Private Contract for Sale and Purchase of Residential Property With No Sales Agents
June 25th, 2013 by | Conveyancing, Property & Leases
The question I repeatedly hear is “Do I need to go to a Real Estate Agent to sell my property if I have a found a buyer privately?” The answer is “no”. All you need to properly document the sale is a Contract for the Sale and Purchase of Land and an up to… Read more »
Title Restrictions – Encumbrances on Property
April 18th, 2013 by | Conveyancing
When purchasing a property in a recently developed area, an encumbrance in favour of the developer often appears against the title of the property. Encumbrances on property can be quite different in their terms and restrictions. There is no such thing as a “standard encumbrance”. If there is an encumbrance on a property that you… Read more »
When Does a Chattel Become a Fixture?
April 14th, 2013 by | Conveyancing, Property & Leases
A chattel is a piece of movable property such as a motor vehicle, furniture, jewellery etc. A fixture is anything that was once merely a chattel but has been fixed to the land. If a chattel is “affixed to the soil [it] becomes part of the soil” and therefore is the property of the landowner…. Read more »
Settlement Day
February 7th, 2013 by | Conveyancing
What is so special about this day? Do I need to attend? What actually happens there? Settlement is the meeting of parties of a conveyancing transaction, where the Vendor’s conveyancer hands over the documents to enable the purchaser to become the owner of the property in exchange for the funds agreed to in the contract…. Read more »
What is the Difference between Strata and Community Titles in SA?
January 22nd, 2013 by | Conveyancing, Property & Leases
Since June 2009, Strata Title divisions can no longer occur in South Australia. Existing Strata Corporations are not affected by the change. The alternative is a Community Division. So what is the difference? A Strata Unit’s boundaries are defined by structural divisions of a building (i.e. midway between the top of the floor, the bottom… Read more »
Government Grants for Home Buyers
November 26th, 2012 by | Conveyancing
Purchasing a home, be it your first or subsequent, can be an expensive process. To assist with these costs, the government is currently offering the following grants: First Home Owners Grant The South Australian Government ceased the FHOG for established homes for contracts to purchase established homes entered into from 1st July 2014. However, a… Read more »
Joint Tenants vs Tenants-in-Common
November 1st, 2012 by | Conveyancing, Property & Leases, Wills & Estate Planning
The consequences of not understanding the difference between joint tenants vs tenants in common can be costly. For example, how you own a property will determine whether your share of the property is passed down to your beneficiaries under the terms of your Will, or whether it becomes the property of the other surviving owners… Read more »
Rules for Pools
October 18th, 2012 by | Conveyancing
Many pool owners are still not aware of their obligations when it comes to selling their home. If you are looking at selling or purchasing a house with a swimming pool or a spa pool you need to be aware of legislation governing swimming pool and spa barriers. No matter when the pool or spa… Read more »
Good Due Diligence Helps Avoid a Lemon
October 5th, 2012 by | Business Sale & Purchase, Commercial Transactions, Conveyancing, Franchises, Property & Leases
We may still be disappointed when a due diligence exercise reveals what a mistake the purchase of a particular property or business would have been. It can be difficult to overcome the excitement and anticipation of a new home, investment or business, even though your lawyer shows you that you may have just “dodged a… Read more »
Before You Sign a Building Contract
October 5th, 2012 by | Commercial Transactions, Conveyancing, Property & Leases
We have significant experience in advising our clients on their rights and obligations under domestic and commercial building contracts, and residential “house and land” package deals. In South Australia a domestic building work contract can be cancelled if you take action to “cool-off” before the “prescribed time”. This is not a step that should be… Read more »
A Debt Doesn’t Entitle You to Lodge a Caveat
October 4th, 2012 by | Conveyancing, Court Disputes, Debt Collection, Finance & Securities, Property & Leases
The fact that a debtor who owes you money owns land is a good thing but beware of lodging a caveat when you’re not entitled to do so. A simple debt does not constitute a ‘caveatable interest‘ in land. The main situation where a caveat is apt arises when there is a contract to… Read more »
Ultimate Stress-Relieving Buying a House Checklist
September 12th, 2012 by | Conveyancing, Property & Leases
There are a lot of things to do when moving house, particularly if you’re buying a home for the first time. Remembering to have the electricity connected is one of them! The first night in an unfamiliar house without lights may be a memory you want to avoid! Without a home-buyers to-do list, especially in… Read more »
Land Tax Anti Avoidance
October 17th, 2009 by | Conveyancing, Property & Leases
Land tax is only payable in relation to investment or commercial properties and is calculated on a “sliding scale” on the basis of the total taxable site value of all land owned (by an owner or a group of owners) which exceeds the tax-free threshold ($353,000 in 2017/18 financial year). As a result of the 2007… Read more »
