The red flags property experts look for, in plain English.
Strata reports, contracts, development next door and the risks most buyers never check, written for NSW buyers.
First home buyer checklist for NSW
A step-by-step NSW first home buyer checklist: budget and stamp duty help, checking the area and property, the contract, exchange and settlement.
Read Building and pestBuilding and pest inspection cost in Sydney
Typical building and pest inspection prices in Sydney for houses and apartments, what affects the cost, what's covered, and when to spend more.
Read Strata and apartmentsHow much does a strata report cost in NSW?
What a strata report costs in Sydney and NSW, what affects the price, inspecting the records yourself, and how to get value from the report.
Read Strata and apartmentsIs a low capital works fund a red flag?
How to tell whether a NSW strata building's capital works fund is too low, by comparing it with the 10-year plan, and what it means for you.
Read Strata and apartmentsShould you buy an apartment with a special levy?
How to decide on a NSW apartment with a special levy: where it's up to, your share in dollars, who pays under the contract, and when to walk away.
Read Strata and apartmentsCan ChatGPT review a strata report?
What ChatGPT and other AI assistants can and can't do with a NSW strata report, how to use them safely, and what a proper review covers.
Read Flood, fire and other risksBush fire prone land in NSW: what buyers should know
What bush fire prone land means for a NSW property: how to check the planning certificate and map, what each bushfire attack level means, and building costs.
Read Strata and apartmentsStrata by-laws to check before you buy in NSW
The NSW strata by-laws that catch buyers out: pets, renovations, short-term letting, parking, and special by-laws that make you responsible for common property.
Read Building and pestUnapproved building work: how to check in NSW
How to spot and check unapproved extensions, granny flats and conversions before buying in NSW, and what a building information certificate does.
Read Contracts and buyingBuying a tenanted property in NSW: what to check
Buying a tenanted NSW property: vacant possession or subject to tenancy, what to ask about the lease and bond, and how a tenancy ends before settlement.
Read Development and planningNSW planning certificate: what it tells buyers
How to read the section 10.7 planning certificate in a NSW contract: zoning, flood rules, bush fire, acquisition and hazards, and what it doesn't show.
Read Strata and apartmentsStrata certificate (section 184) in NSW, explained
What a NSW strata certificate (section 184) shows about an apartment's levies and unpaid amounts, what it leaves out, and when to get one before you buy.
Read Contracts and buyingWhat to look out for when buying a property in NSW
Nine things to check before buying a house or apartment in NSW, from development next door and special levies to unapproved work and flood.
Read Building and pestBuilding and pest reports in NSW: how to read one
How to read a NSW building and pest report before you buy: major defects, safety hazards, termites, areas not inspected, and what the report doesn't cover.
Read Strata and apartmentsStrata report review: what to look for in NSW
How to review a NSW strata report before you buy an apartment: funds, special levies, defects, disputes, orders and by-laws.
Read Contracts and buyingProperty due diligence in NSW: the full checklist
What to check before you buy in NSW: the contract, building, strata records, nearby development, flood, noise and the full cost.
Read Flood, fire and other risksHow to check flood risk on a NSW property
Planning certificate flood questions, council flood maps, insurance quotes and signs on site: how to check if a NSW property could flood.
Read Development and planningHow to check DAs near a property in NSW
How to find every development application and CDC near a NSW property before you buy, what each stage means, and how a project next door could affect you.
Read Contracts and buyingNSW cooling-off period and 66W certificate
How the 5 business day cooling-off period works in NSW, what it costs to pull out, when there is none, and what a 66W certificate means.
Read Strata and apartmentsSpecial levies in NSW: find them before you buy
How to spot special levies in a NSW strata report: where they hide, how to work out your share, who pays under the contract, and what to ask.
Read Strata and apartmentsNSW strata report red flags: what to look for before you buy
The warning signs in a NSW strata report: special levies, a low capital works fund, strata loans, defects, disputes, insurance gaps and by-laws.
Read Contracts and buyingSpecial conditions in a NSW contract for sale: what to look for
The special conditions in a NSW contract that shift cost and risk to you: as-is clauses, late settlement penalties, levies, deposits and rescission.
Read Development and planningThe NSW Low and Mid-Rise Housing rules: what they mean for buyers
How the NSW Low and Mid-Rise Housing rules allow terraces, townhouses and apartments near stations and town centres, and how to check a property.
Read Building and pestWhat a building and pest report doesn't tell you
The limits of a NSW building and pest inspection: visual-only checks, areas not inspected, approvals, plumbing, wiring, asbestos and pools.
ReadWhat's being built in your suburb.
Development applications and complying development certificates from the NSW Planning Portal, updated every few hours.