What are the costs of buying a house in Perth?

There are many costs associated with buying a house in Perth, not just the purchase price of the property.

When you are budgeting for the cost of buying a house in Perth, don’t get caught short. Make sure you have enough money available to pay all additional costs.

To help you plan your budget for your new home, we’ve put together a list of the various fees you should expect to pay.

Bank Fees

Home loan fees

Many financial institutions charge a fee simply for applying for a home loan or to set up your home loan account.  Other common fees include valuation fees, document preparation fees, bank cheque fees and monthly or annual account services charges. These fees will normally be deducted from the amount of money you borrow, before funds are made available to pay for your new home. Fees can vary significantly between lenders, so do your research to find out exactly what fees and charges you must pay.

Lenders mortgage insurance

Banks and other financial institutions will charge a one-off insurance fee if your home deposit is less than 20% of the property value. This is generally 1-3% of your loan amount and provides insurance to covers the lender. To avoid paying this fee, you will need to save a larger deposit or offer additional security.

WA Government Fees

Mortgage registration

If you take out a mortgage (home loan) to fund the purchase of your new home, the bank may register a mortgage against your property to secure the loan.  There is a one-off Landgate registration fee to register a mortgage.

Transfer Duty

Also commonly known as ‘Stamp Duty’, transfer duty is a tax based on the purchase price of the property. It is levied by the State Government to cover the costs of transferring the title of the property.

In Perth and throughout Western Australia, qualified first home buyers buying properties valued at $430,000 or less are not subject to transfer duty.

Visit the WA Department of Finance for more information and to view transfer duty rates in Western Australia.

Professional Fees

Real estate agent

As a buyer of a property you will not have to pay any real estate agent fees.  However, if you are selling a property in order to purchase another and are using a real estate agent, you will need to pay your agent’s commission, usually as a percentage of the sale price.

In Perth, real estate agent commission rates are generally between 2-2.5%.

Conveyancer

Professional assistance by a suitably qualified person is needed to legally transfer ownership of the property you are buying. A settlement agent or lawyer can conduct property and title searches to ensure the seller is legally entitled to sell the property. If you’re purchasing a strata property, they will make enquiries to the strata body corporation in relation to levies and insurance.

Other

Utilities and services connections

Before moving into your new property, you may need to set up and pay for any utilities and services to be connected. They are likely to be one off payments and, for Perth buyers, can include:

• Gas – Klleenheat or Alinta
• Electricity – Synergy
• Telephone
• Internet
• Cable television – Foxtel

In Perth, your conveyancer will assist you in setting up your new water account with the Water Corporation as part of the settlement process.

Removalists

Unless enlisting family and friends to help you move, you may want to use the services of a removal company.

Most removalists in Perth charge an hourly rate. The price varies based on the size of the truck and number of removal staff.  Check whether insurance is included and if there are any extra charges, such as a call out fee. Also note that hours are calculated from the time the vehicle leaves the depot to when it returns, not when it arrives and leaves your home.

Need a removalist? All CS Legal clients are eligible for a discount with Kent Removals, contact them today to learn more!

Building and pest inspection

Building and pest inspections are optional however recommended as the inspection fee is insignificant compared to the potential cost of dealing with a major building or pest control issue.

There are various types of building inspections available and the cost increases the bigger the property and the more items you have checked. The investment can be well worth it in the long run as it could uncover unknown issues and you may be able to renegotiate your offer price.

In Perth, it is common for most real estate agents to recommend buyers get a termite inspection as a condition of the offer and acceptance.