Conveyancing costs in NSW have two parts: the conveyancer’s or solicitor’s professional fee, which is not regulated and varies, and the disbursements, such as searches and government fees. For a purchase with a mortgage, the NSW Land Registry charges $182.73 to register the transfer and $182.73 to register the mortgage in 2026-27.

NSW conveyancing costs at a glance
Cost Set by Amount
Professional fee The conveyancer or solicitor Quoted, fixed fee or hourly
Transfer registration NSW Land Registry Services $182.73 (2026-27)
Mortgage registration NSW Land Registry Services $182.73 (2026-27)
Searches and certificates Councils, agencies and search providers Itemised in the quote
Transfer duty Revenue NSW Based on the price or value

What does a conveyancer do when you buy?

  • Reviews the contract and the documents attached to it, and explains the risks.
  • Orders searches and checks the title, zoning and any notices.
  • Handles exchange, including the deposit and the cooling-off period.
  • Works with your lender to prepare for settlement.
  • Lodges the duty and settles electronically, then registers the transfer and mortgage.

The guide to what happens at settlement follows the last steps in detail.

Conveyancer or solicitor?

Both can do conveyancing in NSW. Conveyancers are licensed by NSW Fair Trading and specialise in property transfers. Solicitors can also give broader legal advice, which helps with unusual contracts, family arrangements, trusts or disputes. For a straightforward purchase, either is common; for anything complex, a solicitor is often the safer choice.

What makes up the professional fee?

The fee is set by each firm. Most quote a fixed fee for a standard purchase, and some charge by the hour or add charges for extra work, such as an off-the-plan contract, a company title unit or a contract that needs negotiating. Ask for the quote in writing, with what is included and what costs extra.

What documents come with a NSW contract for sale?

In NSW, the seller must attach prescribed documents to the contract before it is signed, so the buyer can check them. They include a title search, the plan of the property, a planning certificate from the council and a sewerage diagram, with extra documents for strata and off-the-plan sales. Your conveyancer reads these first, because problems found before exchange can still be negotiated.

What are disbursements?

Costs the conveyancer pays on your behalf and passes on, such as:

  • title and plan searches;
  • council, water and land tax certificates;
  • strata records searches for units;
  • electronic settlement fees;
  • registration fees for the transfer and mortgage.

Government fees are set and public; search and settlement fees vary by provider. A good quote lists each one.

What other costs come at the same time?

Costs that usually arrive alongside conveyancing
Cost When
Transfer duty Within 3 months of exchange or at settlement, whichever is first
Building and pest inspection Before exchange, or during cooling-off
Strata report Before exchange, for a unit
Home and contents insurance From exchange or settlement, as your lender requires

The guide to first home buyer costs in Sydney puts them in order, and the buying cost calculator adds them up.

How does the cooling-off period work?

For most residential purchases in NSW, the buyer has a cooling-off period of 5 business days after exchange. If you pull out during it, you forfeit 0.25% of the price. There is no cooling-off period at auction, and a buyer can waive it with a certificate from their conveyancer or solicitor. The article on the cooling-off period in NSW explains the rules.

Do strata and off-the-plan purchases cost more?

Often, a little. A strata purchase adds a strata records search and more documents to review, and an off-the-plan contract is longer and runs for months before settlement. Ask whether the fixed fee covers these, because some firms charge extra for them.

What should you ask before you choose a conveyancer?

  1. Is the professional fee fixed, and what does it include?
  2. Which disbursements apply, itemised?
  3. Who will do the work, and how quickly will they respond?
  4. Have they handled this property type before, for example strata or off-the-plan?
  5. Can they review the contract before you make an offer or bid?

The checklist of questions before making an offer pairs well with this.

When should you engage a conveyancer?

Before you make an offer or bid at auction, so the contract is reviewed while you can still negotiate or walk away. At the same time, get your finance ready: the home loan pre-approval page explains how.

Questions people ask

How much does conveyancing cost in NSW?

It is the professional fee, which each firm quotes, plus disbursements. Government registration fees are $182.73 each for the transfer and the mortgage in 2026-27.

Is a conveyancer cheaper than a solicitor?

Often, for a standard purchase, but compare written quotes. A solicitor adds broader legal advice for complex purchases.

When do I pay the conveyancer?

Usually at settlement, with disbursements, though some ask for search costs up front.

Charles Touma works alongside your conveyancer so the contract, the loan and settlement line up, and can introduce you to conveyancers he works with. A free 30-minute call covers your finance and timing. General information only, not legal or credit advice. Sources: NSW Land Registry Services fees for 2026-27; NSW Fair Trading, conveyancer licensing; Revenue NSW, when transfer duty is due; Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), cooling-off provisions, checked 17 October 2026.

General information only, not credit, legal or tax advice. Your situation is assessed properly before any recommendation. Government scheme details change; figures are current at the time of writing.