The Unstated Blog
Section 32s, contract clauses, title searches, and everything else you wish someone would explain, without billing you for it.
An easement gives someone else a legal right to use part of the land you're buying. Here's how easements work in Victoria, the common types, and where to find them in your Section 32.
Read article →How a plain-English Section 32 summary and a conveyancer's review differ, why they are not the same job, and how Victorian buyers use both together.
The four ways to get a Section 32 (Vendor's Statement) reviewed before you sign in Victoria, from reading it yourself to a conveyancer review, with the pros and cons of each.
A Section 32 has to include specific disclosures under Victorian law. Here's what belongs in one, how gaps happen, and what the Sale of Land Act says about statements that fall short.
The complete plain-English guide to the Section 32 Vendor's Statement in Victoria. What's legally required, every section explained, what makes one defective, and how it differs from the contract of sale.
A practical checklist of everything to review in a Section 32 (Vendor's Statement) before you sign a contract in Victoria.
A guide to the key sections of a Victorian contract of sale, what each part means, and what to look for before you sign.
The complete plain-English guide to buying your first home in Victoria. Deposit and budget, pre-approval, grants and concessions, guarantor and shared-equity options, choosing a property, and getting to settlement.
A plain-English timeline of buying property in Victoria, from making an offer to settlement day and beyond. Auction vs private treaty, cooling off, the gap before settlement, the final inspection, and what to do if something goes wrong.
Plain-English definitions of the property terms you will encounter when buying a home in Victoria.
A practical, step-by-step checklist for first home buyers in Victoria. From pre-approval to settlement, the things you actually need to do, in order.
The title search is one of the most important documents in a Section 32, and one of the hardest to read. Here's a plain-English guide to easements, covenants, caveats, and what they mean for you.
Australian property contracts are full of standard terms, and a few non-standard ones that can cost you. Here are the red flags to go through with your conveyancer before signing.
When two or more people buy property together in Victoria, they need to choose how to hold the title. Joint tenancy and tenants in common work very differently, especially when one owner dies.
A family guarantee lets a relative use equity in their own property to help you buy, without handing over cash. Here's how the arrangement works and what's at stake for everyone involved.
Most Victorian properties are sold by either private treaty or auction. The two processes work very differently, and knowing which you're dealing with changes how you prepare.
When you buy a property that already has a tenant, the tenancy carries over to you as the new owner. Here's what that means in practice and what to check before you sign.
In a private treaty sale, the negotiation between buyer and vendor happens through the agent. Here's what that process actually looks like and how to approach it.
Under Victorian law, a vendor can request access to your deposit before settlement using a Section 27 statement. Here's what that means and what to check before agreeing.
In Victoria, significant building work requires both a building permit before it starts and an occupancy permit once it's complete. Here's what each one means and why buyers should check for both.
Settlement completes the contract, but it doesn't always mean the end of issues. Here's what your options are if you discover a problem with the property after you've moved in.
Heritage overlays in Victoria restrict what you can do to a property. Here's what the overlay means in practice, what requires a planning permit, and what buyers planning renovations should check.
Asbestos-containing materials were widely used in Australian homes up to the mid-1980s. Here's where it's commonly found, what the risks actually are, and what to do as a buyer of an older property.
Victoria's First Home Owner Grant provides $10,000 toward the purchase or build of a new home. Here's who qualifies, what properties are eligible, and how to apply.
The Victorian Homebuyer Fund lets the state government co-purchase a share of your property, reducing how much you need to borrow. Here's how the scheme works and what the trade-offs are.
LMI protects the lender, not you, but you're the one who pays for it. Here's how it works, what it costs, and the main ways to avoid it.
Section 32 is a Victorian term. Every state has its own version of vendor disclosure with different rules and different documents. Here's a plain-English guide to what to expect in each state.
Once you've signed the contract and the cooling-off period has passed, there's typically a 60-day wait until settlement. Here's what actually happens during that time.
Before settlement in Victoria, you're entitled to inspect the property. Here's what to look for, what you can do if something is wrong, and why you shouldn't refuse to settle.
The First Home Owner Grant is a national scheme but each state and territory sets its own rules. Here's a plain-English overview of what's available across Australia, from grants to stamp duty concessions.
Stamp duty is set by each state and the rules vary widely. Here's a plain-English overview of how stamp duty works in each state and territory, and what concessions exist for first home buyers.
The three main residential property types in Victoria have different ownership structures, costs, and constraints. Here's what distinguishes them from a buyer's perspective.
Every Victorian property sale comes with a Section 32, a vendor's statement legally required before contract signing. Here's what it contains, what to look for, and why it matters.
Stamp duty is often the second-biggest cost after the deposit. Here's what it is, how it's calculated, and the concessions you might qualify for as a first home buyer.
Auctions are intimidating because nobody explains the choreography. Here's a walkthrough of what happens from the moment you arrive to the moment a property is sold or passed in.
A building inspection is the best $500 you'll spend in the buying process. Here's what the inspector actually looks at, what's beyond their scope, and how to read the report.
If you're buying an apartment, unit, or townhouse, you're not just buying the property. You're buying into a community with shared responsibilities. Here's what an owners corporation is and what to check before you commit.
Your conveyancer is the most important person you hire when buying a property. Here's exactly what they do at each stage, and what falls outside their scope.
Settlement is the day the property officially becomes yours. Here's what actually happens, who's involved, and what to do (and not do) on the day.
Every property in Victoria sits in a planning zone and may have one or more overlays. These rules govern what you can build and what you can change. Here's how to read them.
Buying off-the-plan can offer real advantages including stamp duty savings, but you're buying something that doesn't exist yet. Here's what to look for in the contract, the developer, and the project itself.
Pest inspections check for termites and other timber pests that can cause expensive structural damage. Here's what the inspector looks for, what limitations apply, and how to read the report.
Victoria gives most buyers a three-business-day cooling-off period after signing a contract. Here's how it works, when it applies, and the penalties for using it.
Pre-approval gives you a sense of what you can borrow, but it isn't the same as having a loan. Here's what pre-approval is, what it isn't, and how to use it.
These two documents come together but do different jobs. One tells you what you're buying. The other sets the terms of the deal. Here's how they fit together.
A walk-through is more than a vibe check. Here's a structured checklist of what to actually look at when you inspect a property, beyond the agent's polish.