Property Buying Cost Calculator

What this calculator does

Adds up the full upfront cost of buying, beyond the deposit – stamp duty, conveyancing and legal fees, building and pest inspections, loan and registration fees, and lenders mortgage insurance (LMI) if your deposit is under 20%.

Reading the result

The total is the cash you need to settle, on top of the deposit. Most first-time buyers underestimate this by thousands – LMI alone can run into five figures on a small deposit.

Example

On a $650,000 purchase, upfront costs outside the deposit might total $30,000 to $45,000 once duty, LMI, legals and inspections are added – money you need available at settlement, not just the 10 to 20% deposit.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the biggest cost? Usually stamp duty, then LMI if your deposit is below 20%.

Can any of it go on the loan? LMI can often be capitalised into the loan; most other costs need to be paid in cash.

What is conveyancing? The legal transfer of the property – contracts, searches and settlement, handled by a conveyancer or solicitor.

Buying soon? Line up your conveyancer early so settlement runs smoothly. See our rankings of the best conveyancers in Australia.