How buying a home works in Australia
A plain-English walkthrough of every stage — from deciding whether to buy through to getting the keys. The process differs depending on whether you buy by private sale or auction.
10 steps
in the process
3–12 mo
typical timeline
4 pros
you may need
Step 1
Decide if buying is actually right for you
Before anything else — is ownership what you genuinely want, or what feels expected?
Step 2
Understand your borrowing capacity
Find out what's actually possible financially before you look at a single property.
Step 3
Get pre-approval
A pre-approval letter means you can move fast when you find the right property.
Step 4
Search for the right property
Browse listings, attend inspections, and learn how to evaluate what you're looking at.
Step 5
Engage a conveyancer
Get your conveyancer in place before you make any offer — not after.
🤝 Private sale
Steps 6–10 for private sale purchases
Step 6
Make a conditional offer
In a private sale, your offer includes conditions that protect you.
Step 7
Building and pest inspection
Use the condition period to inspect the property — before you're legally committed.
Step 8
Finance approval confirmed
Your lender needs to approve the specific property, not just your borrowing capacity.
Step 9
Exchange contracts
Once conditions are satisfied, both parties sign — the sale is now legally binding.
Step 10
Settlement
The balance is paid, ownership transfers, and you get the keys.
Not sure where you are in this process?
Answer 4 quick questions and we'll tell you exactly where you are, what to focus on next, and what you can safely ignore for now.
✦ This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice. Processes vary by state — confirm details with your conveyancer.