Skip to main content
  • Dashboard
Courses
  • All Courses
Lessons
  • All Lessons
Tools & Calculators
  • Purchase Costs
  • Stamp Duty
  • Borrowing Power
  • All Tools & Calculators
Community
  • Forum

  • Sign in for personalised lessons

How to Property
How to Property is in Early Release. Full release 14 May 2026. Provide feedback and contact for partnerships.Contact Us

D

17

  • Days on MarketThe number of days a property has been listed for sale before it sells. A useful indicator of how competitive a local market is -- longer days on market usually means less competition and more room to include conditions in your offer.
  • Debt-to-Income (DTI) RatioA measure of a borrower's total debt relative to their gross annual income. A DTI of 6 means total debt is 6 times annual income. From February 2026, APRA requires lenders to limit loans with a DTI of 6 or higher to no more than 20% of new mortgage lending, with exemptions for new dwelling purchases and owner-occupier bridging loans.
  • Debt-to-income ratioYour total debt divided by your gross annual income. A DTI of 6 means you owe six times what you earn in a year. APRA considers a DTI of 6 or above to be high-risk.
  • Debt-to-income ratio (DTI)Your total debt divided by your gross annual income. A DTI of 6 means you owe six times what you earn in a year. APRA considers a DTI of 6 or above to be high-risk.
  • Decision fatigueA psychological phenomenon where the quality of decisions worsens after a long session of decision-making. It affects all high-stakes repeated decisions, not just property buying.
  • Deed of VariationA formal legal document that amends the terms of an existing contract. In property transactions, it is commonly used to record a negotiated price reduction after a building inspection, ensuring the lower price becomes the official contract price for stamp duty purposes.
  • Deemed EarningsThe ATO calculates earnings on your FHSSS contributions using a set rate called the shortfall interest charge rate, regardless of how your super fund actually performed. These deemed earnings are added to your withdrawal amount.
  • Defects liability periodA short window, typically 3 to 6 months after a new build is handed over, during which the builder must fix any defects in workmanship or materials at no cost to you. This is separate from the longer statutory warranty.
  • Deferred maintenanceRepairs or upkeep that a homeowner delays or skips, usually to save money in the short term. Deferred maintenance typically compounds in cost, with industry estimates suggesting every dollar deferred can become four to seven dollars in future repair costs.
  • Demand-Side AssistanceGovernment programs that help buyers afford higher prices or access larger loans, such as grants, stamp duty concessions, and deposit guarantee schemes. These increase buyer purchasing power without directly adding to housing supply.
  • DepositThe upfront cash you contribute toward the purchase price of a property. The remainder is covered by your home loan.
  • Deposit ForfeitureThe loss of your deposit (typically 10% of the purchase price) to the seller if you fail to complete the purchase after signing an unconditional contract.
  • DisbursementsThird-party costs paid during conveyancing for services like title searches, council certificates, and land registry fees. These are separate from your conveyancer’s professional fee and are passed through to you at cost.
  • Due DiligenceThe process of investigating a property before buying it, including building inspections, pest inspections, contract reviews, strata reports, and title searches. These costs are incurred before purchase and are not refundable if you decide not to proceed.
  • Dummy BidAn illegal fake bid made at auction by the seller, someone connected to the seller, or someone acting on the seller's instructions, intended to create artificial competition and drive up the price. Dummy bids carry significant financial penalties for all parties involved.
  • Dutiable ValueThe value on which stamp duty is calculated. This is usually the purchase price or the market value of the property, whichever is higher.
  • Dwelling-to-Income RatioThe median dwelling value divided by the median household income. A ratio of 8.0x means the median home costs 8 times the median annual household income.
How to Property

Free property education for Australians.
From first steps to settlement.

© 2026 How to Property.
All rights reserved.

Browse

  • Courses
  • Tools & Calculators
  • Definitions
  • Resources

Company

  • About
  • Contributors
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy

    • Media

    • Blog
    • Updates

    Stay in the loop

    New courses and guides — no spam, unsubscribe any time.