Estimate the total upfront costs when buying a property in Australia. Get a detailed breakdown of stamp duty, conveyancing fees, building inspections, and loan establishment costs.
Select your state or territory
Stamp duty makes up the bulk of upfront costs and varies dramatically between states, so this selection has the biggest impact on the result.
Enter the property purchase price
Enter the contract price. The calculator uses this to estimate stamp duty, loan fees, and inspection costs.
Choose your buyer type
Select first home buyer, upgrader/owner-occupier, or investor so the calculator applies the correct stamp duty rate and any concessions.
Enter your loan amount
Enter how much you'll borrow. The calculator estimates loan establishment, valuation, and LMI costs (where applicable) based on your loan-to-value ratio.
Review the cost breakdown
See itemised estimates for stamp duty, conveyancing, inspections, loan fees, and council adjustments. Use this to plan how much cash you need at settlement, separate from your deposit.
Beyond the deposit and stamp duty, common forgotten costs include: building and pest inspection ($400–$800), conveyancing or solicitor fees ($1,500–$3,000), loan application and valuation fees ($500–$1,500), Lenders Mortgage Insurance if your deposit is under 20%, council and water rate adjustments at settlement, and moving costs. This calculator includes the major items so you can budget accurately.
A conveyancer is a licensed property transfer specialist (cheaper, focused on property transactions). A solicitor is a qualified lawyer who can also handle conveyancing (more expensive, but better for complex situations or contractual disputes). Most standard residential purchases use a conveyancer.
A combined building and pest inspection report typically costs $400–$800 in metropolitan areas, more for larger or rural properties. It's a small cost that can save you from buying a property with major structural problems, termite damage, or hidden defects. Don't skip it.
Council rates and water rates are paid in advance for the year. At settlement, the seller is reimbursed for any portion of the rates they've already paid that covers the period after settlement (when you'll own the property). It's typically a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars depending on timing.
Get a detailed breakdown of stamp duty, conveyancing, inspections, and loan fees — so you know exactly how much cash you need at settlement.
Fill in the property details to see the full cash you need at settlement — beyond the deposit — and which costs dominate.
Some lenders let you capitalise certain costs (like LMI) into the loan, but most upfront costs — stamp duty, conveyancing, inspections — must be paid from your own funds at settlement. Plan to have these costs available in cash, on top of your deposit.