Australian Property Buying Guides
Use these practical Australian property guides to better understand deposits, loan-to-value ratio, lenders mortgage insurance, stamp duty, repayment types and the common costs involved when buying a property. These guides are written for general education and should be read together with the PurchaseWise calculators.
What You Can Learn
These guides cover the key financial concepts every Australian property buyer should understand before signing a contract.
- How much deposit you may need and what affects the minimum amount
- How LVR and Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) work
- How mortgage repayments are calculated and what affects the figure
- How stamp duty works across different Australian states and territories
- The difference between principal and interest and interest-only loans
- What upfront costs to budget for when buying property in Australia
All Guides
Plain-English guides grouped by topic so you can find what you need quickly.
Home loan basics
How mortgages, rates and loan features work.How Mortgage Repayments Are Calculated in Australia
See the mathematics behind principal and interest repayments, how interest-only periods work, how repayment frequency affects your loan and why your lender’s figure may differ.
Read guidePrincipal and Interest vs Interest-Only Home Loans
Compare the two main repayment structures side by side — how they affect your loan balance, total interest paid, and what can happen when an interest-only period ends.
Read guideBorrowing Capacity Explained in Australia
Understand how lenders assess how much you can borrow, and the factors that affect your borrowing capacity.
Read guideFixed vs Variable Home Loans
Compare fixed and variable interest rate home loans and what to consider before choosing between them.
Read guideOffset Account vs Redraw Facility
Learn the difference between an offset account and a redraw facility and how each can affect your loan interest.
Read guideHow Interest Rate Changes Affect Repayments
See how a change in your interest rate can affect your mortgage repayments over time.
Read guideBuying costs
Upfront costs beyond the deposit, from stamp duty to settlement.How Much Deposit Do You Need to Buy Property in Australia?
Understand how deposit percentages work, what affects your minimum deposit requirement, and how your deposit size relates to Lenders Mortgage Insurance and borrowing power.
Read guideUnderstanding LVR and Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) in Australia
Learn how Loan-to-Value Ratio is calculated, why lenders treat an LVR above 80% differently, what LMI costs and who it actually protects.
Read guideStamp Duty Explained in Australia
Find out what transfer duty (stamp duty) is, who pays it, what factors affect the amount, how rules differ by state and territory and when concessions may apply.
Read guideWhat Costs Are Involved When Buying Property in Australia?
A practical overview of all the upfront costs beyond your deposit — including stamp duty, conveyancing, inspections, lender fees, LMI, title searches and settlement adjustments.
Read guideSettlement Costs and Timeline in Australia
Learn what happens during property settlement, the typical timeline and the costs involved.
Read guideFirst home buyers
Specific help for buyers purchasing their first home.First Home Buyer Costs in Australia
A guide to the costs first home buyers should budget for when purchasing their first property.
Read guideLenders Mortgage Insurance Explained
Understand what Lenders Mortgage Insurance is, when it applies and how it is calculated.
Read guideProperty investment
Costs and considerations for investment property.Buying an Investment Property: Key Costs
A guide to the key costs to consider when purchasing an investment property in Australia.
Read guideCalculators and Tools
Put the guides into practice with free calculators.Helpful Calculators
After reading the guides, use the PurchaseWise calculators to estimate mortgage repayments, deposit requirements, LVR and general-rate stamp duty.
Resources
Reference pages drawn from across our guides.Australian Property Glossary
A plain-English A–Z reference of Australian property, mortgage and conveyancing terms.
Open resourceStamp Duty and First Home Buyer Costs by State
A side-by-side reference for transfer duty and first home buyer concessions across all states and territories.
Open resourceThese guides are general information only and do not consider your personal financial situation. Confirm figures with your lender, broker, conveyancer, settlement agent or relevant government authority before making a decision. See our Financial Disclaimer for full details.