Buying essentials

01 · Start with the purpose

A home, an investment, an SMSF asset and a development site are not interchangeable briefs. Write down what the property needs to do: somewhere to live, income, retirement capital, or equity created through a project.

If more than one of those applies, decide which one leads. A property that tries to do everything often does the important job poorly.

02 · Separate price from the cash required

The purchase price is not the amount of money you need available. Upfront funds usually include the deposit, stamp duty, legal costs and ordinary purchasing costs. Those amounts change by state, property type and buyer.

A price range without a funds position is not yet a brief. Commercial and development purchases often need more equity than a straightforward home.

03 · Know the borrowing position first

A conversation with a broker or lender before you search tells you what is serviceable, what deposit is realistic, and which property types are harder for your circumstances.

Pre-approval is a point in time. It is not a promise that every property, or every format, will be funded on the terms you expect.

04 · Settle ownership before an offer

Whose name goes on the contract affects tax, lending, asset protection and, for an SMSF, whether the purchase is permitted at all. That decision belongs with your accountant or adviser before an offer, not after the contract is signed.

We do not provide tax, credit or legal advice. We will pause a search if the structure is still unsettled, because changing it later can be costly or impossible.

05 · Rank the non-negotiables

List what you will not compromise on, and what you will. Location, land, condition, cash flow, tenant type, timeframe and how much complexity you want to manage all compete with each other.

A shortlist only works if those priorities are ranked. Otherwise every new listing restarts the decision.

06 · Put the right people around the purchase

Most buyers need a broker, a solicitor or conveyancer, and, where relevant, an accountant. Building inspectors, valuers and property managers come in when a specific property is in view.

We coordinate the property research, sourcing and negotiation, and keep those parties working from the same facts. We do not replace them.

07 · What is useful to have ready

Before the first conversation, it helps to know the following. None of it needs to be perfect.

• The purpose of the purchase, and which goal leads if there is more than one
• A realistic price range and the funds you can actually contribute
• Your timeframe
• Whether this is a home, investment, SMSF purchase or development
• Any locations already in mind, and why
• The questions you want answered before you would commit