The Most Common Upfront Costs of Buying A Home
The two most common upfront costs for a mortgage are Deposit and Stamp Duty.
Deposit
Stamp Duty
Stamp Duty differs considerably from state to state. You can use our Stamp Duty Calculator to get an estimate.
First-home buyers can qualify for stamp duty exemptions or concessions when buying property up to a certain value, which also varies among states. For example, In New South Wales, on a $650,000 purchase of an existing home, first-home buyers can save up to $24,585 in stamp duty.
These costs include:
Lender’s Mortgage Insurance
Lender’s Mortgage Insurance (LMI) protects the lender if you default on the loan. A default is when you miss a payment or stop making payments. Paying LMI allows you to borrow a higher percentage of the purchase price ‒ sometimes more than 80% of the property value. Lenders have their own LMI provider, so you can’t choose one. What you can choose is a lender tied up with the cheapest LMI provider.
Conveyancing and Legal Fees
It is strongly recommended that first home buyers get a qualified conveyancer to handle the legal side of things. This will cost about $800 to $1,500. Conveyancing covers the legal and statutory process of transferring real-estate ownership. Generally, your conveyancer/solicitor will handle the preparation of the contract of sale, the exchange of contracts, and the settlement. Building and Pest Inspection An inspection is a detailed assessment of the condition of the property that a qualified professional performs. It can help you identify problem areas like cracked and damp walls, faulty roofs, etc. A building and pest inspection is recommended before you make any buying or selling decision. Depending on the property’s size and location, and the number of services you require from the inspector, the costs range between $200 and $1000.
Building and Pest Inspection
An inspection is a detailed assessment of the condition of the property that a qualified professional performs. It can help you identify problem areas like cracked and damp walls, faulty roofs, etc. A building and pest inspection is recommended before you make any buying or selling decision. Depending on the property’s size and location, and the number of services you require from the inspector, the costs range between $200 and $1000.
Title Transfer Fee and Registration Fees
The mortgage registration fee in NSW is $143.50 and the land transfer fee is also $143.50. These are government fees for transferring the land title to your name and for registering the mortgage on the title, respectively.
Home Insurance Prior to Settlement
Banks require you to insure your property before they’ll advance the loan amount. So, when buying a property, make sure your policy starts before the proposed settlement date and is insured for at least the minimum amount the bank requires. The average home insurance premium is around $1,000 in NSW and must be paid annually.
Bank Fees
There may be some bank fees for lodging an application, valuation of the property, settlement, etc. These fees can vary from $0 to $900. However, many banks waive these for first home buyers. Tips on Reducing Your Upfront Costs The points below can help you reduce some of your initial expenses. As mentioned earlier, to skip making a deposit from your own pocket, you can apply for a guarantor home loan or a no deposit home loan. Also, a mortgage broker can help you make a discounted deposit under certain home loan packages. You don’t need to pay stamp duty if your property is valued below a certain amount. This exception is available mostly for first home buyers and differs state to state. Your LMI fees can be added to your loan instead of paying them upfront. For fees covering services that your lender does not provide (legal processing, building inspection, etc.), you should always look for the best rates available, instead of going with the first service provider you find.
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