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Buying Residential Property - Cleveland

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Buying residential property - Cleveland

We offer a range of advantages when it comes to conducting residential property conveyancing for individuals.

To begin with, we bring substantial experience and expertise to this legal domain, ensuring a smooth and efficient conveyancing process. Our deep understanding of the local property market, coupled with our meticulous attention to detail, guarantees the fulfillment of all necessary legal requirements.

Furthermore, we take a personalised and client-centric approach to our conveyancing services. We invest time in comprehending the unique needs of each client and customise our services accordingly. Our conveyancing transaction are conducted by an accredited lawyer rather than a conveyancer.

In addition, we employ cutting-edge technology to streamline the conveyancing process, minimising the risk of errors and delays. This results in a swift and efficient service that fulfills all your requirements.

When you choose Mott and Associates Solicitors in Cleveland for your residential property conveyancing, you can anticipate a high degree of professionalism, expertise, and personalised care. This is the optimal approach to ensure the effective and efficient handling of your property transaction.

 

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FAQ

What should I do before I sign a contract?

What should I do before I sign a contract?

Once you are ready to put in an offer on a property, you may choose to provide our office with a copy of the contract for our staff to review.  We provide this service as part of our standard conveyancing fixed fee. Your real estate agent will provide you a copy of the contract upon request.  We will review the contract to ensure it is in the correct and most recent template and ensure all special conditions are drafted correctly to guarantee your needs are met. 

We will also look for any additional issues that could cause problems to arise throughout the transaction such as the misspelling of names or errors in other critical details.

It is ok if I have already signed the contract?

It is ok if I have already signed the contract?

It is preferable to contact us prior to signing the contract to ensure that your requirements are met and all details in the contract are accurate.  In Queensland it is common for real estate agents to use the REIQ Contract for Houses and Residential Land contract template.  This template is produced by the Real Estate Institute of Queensland and drafted in conjunction with the Queensland Law Society.  The template is regularly updated and is drafted to provide an equal balance of rights and obligations between the buyer and the seller. 

If you have signed a contract and you wish to terminate same, you may be able to terminate if you are still within the statutory cooling off period, which commences the day the contract is dated and remains open for five business days.  Dependant upon your contract and the conditions contained in same, you may have rights to terminate on conditions such as Finance and Building and Pest. 

If you have any concerns about a contract you have entered into, please contact our friendly staff immediately for specific advice.

What is the finance clause? Should the purchase be subject to finance?

What is the finance clause? Should the purchase be subject to finance?

If you are applying for a mortgage from a financier, you should ensure the finance clause in the contract is completed correctly. We recommend a specific financier is not named and the financier is "buyer choice".  This is to ensure your options remain open to you, and that you are not limited by the contract to one financial institution.

A reasonable time to obtain finance should be added to the contract.  Note that currently there are extended timeframes for finance approval.  This is the case even if you have been granted "pre-approval".  Please talk to your lender before filling in these details or call us for assistance in determining an appropriate time for this condition.

Did you know, not all imperfect building and pest inspection reports mean you may terminate the contract?

Did you know, not all imperfect building and pest inspection reports mean you may terminate the contract?

If you receive a less than satisfactory building and pest report, save for major damage or structural issues, it can be difficult to terminate a contract.  You can’t terminate a contract on the basis of a leaking tap or broken light fitting, so what can you do for minor issues?  As a buyer, you can seek that a seller rectifies minor issues prior to settlement, or seek a reduction in the purchase price, relevant to the quoted amount for repairs. This is at the seller’s discretion and the arrangement must be agreed to by all parties.

You should pay attention to such items during your initial inspections and ensure any such issues are resolved before signing a contract.

Contact our office for more information.

Does buying a property at auction comes with a different set of conditions?

Does buying a property at auction comes with a different set of conditions?

Be aware that purchasing a property under the hammer means you may not have the luxury of certain conditions to the contract. In fact, purchasing at auction means the contract will be unconditional. This means, you will not have a statutory cooling off period of 5 business days, the contract will not be subject to a building and pest inspection or finance.

Contact our office for more information and to discuss our fixed fee conveyancing prices.

 

 

When do I need to insure my new home?

When do I need to insure my new home?

Did you know, as a buyer when purchasing a new home you are liable for insurance over the property before settlement?

The property becomes at the buyer’s risk from 5pm the following business day after signing the contract. It is strongly advised you arrange insurance over the property, even though settlement is yet to be effected.

In certain circumstances, where damage occurs to a property i.e. fire or vandalism, the contract will be enforced, and you will be required to set...tle on the damaged property. Call insurers to obtain further information on policies that suit your situation.

What searches do I need to undertake?

What searches do I need to undertake?

As part of our fixed fee conveyancing, the standard searches we will genearlly conduct include a Title search, Registered Plan, Land Tax, Local Rates and Water search.

During the initial conveyancing process, we will provide you with a searches list, outlining searches you can instruct us to undertake on the property. Any additional searches outside the scope of our standard conveyance will incur additional costs.

What is the cooling off period and how does this affect me?

What is the cooling off period and how does this affect me?

When the Buyer signs the standard Contract of Sale for a residential property they receive a statutory five business day cooling-off period in which they can terminate the contract without providing a reason to the Seller for doing so. If the Buyer elects to terminate during this period the Seller is entitled to keep 0.25% of the purchase price from the Buyer’s deposit. This will not apply in some instances such if the property was purchased at auction. If you have any concerns about the Property or the Contract you have entered into, please contact our office immediately for advice.

What happens if I do not pay my deposit on the due date?

What happens if I do not pay my deposit on the due date?

In the standard REIQ, Deposits are commonly due when the Buyer signs the Contract, on a fixed date, a Special Condition or when the Contract becomes unconditional.

If a Buyer does not pay the Deposit to the nominated deposit holder by the due date, they will be in default under the Contract. If a Buyer is in default under a Contract, the Seller may have a right to terminate the Contract.

If you have signed a Contract and have not yet paid the Deposit or will be unable to pay by the due date, please immediately contact our office. We may be able to arrange an extension of time but is at the discretion of the Seller.

When and where do I collect the keys?

When and where do I collect the keys?

Once settlement has been effected, we will notify the Real Estate Agent in writing and request the release of keys. Keys will be collected from the Real Estate Agent unless an alternative arrangement has been agreed between the parties.

What is transfer duty and when is this payable?

What is transfer duty and when is this payable?

Also known as ‘stamp duty’. This is a state tax levied upon the transfer of property and is payable by the buyer. The transfer duty amount varies from state to state and depends on the value of the property. There are concessions available in certain circumstances that may be available to the buyer, such as a home, or first home concession.

Transfer Duty must be paid within 30 days of the Contract or 30 days of the unconditional Contract date, whichever date is earliest. It can be calculated either as the unencumbered value of a property or the amount that has been agreed under the Contract, whichever is greater.

For more information on transfer duty or to determine if you are eligible for a concession, please contact our office.

What is ‘time is of the essence’?

What is ‘time is of the essence’?

‘Time is of the essence’ is a term that genearlly governs all of the conditions under a standard Contract of Sale in Queensland. Essentially it means that each deadline must be fulfilled by the specified time on the due date. During the conveyancing process in Queensland there are many dates and times that must be adhered to and a failure to comply with these can place you in breach of the Contract and may allow the other party to terminate the Contract or sue for specific performance.

Can we request an extension of time if we are unable to satisfy a condition?

Can we request an extension of time if we are unable to satisfy a condition?

Generally, if you are unable to provide the Seller with confirmation that a condition has been satisfied before 5pm (or the required time) on the due date, then you can instruct us to request an extension of time from the Seller. However, the granting of an extension is at the discretion of the Seller. Depending on the situation, the Seller may grant the extension without penalty or grant the extension subject to specific conditions.

If the Seller is not agreeable to the extension request, and you are unable to satisfy the condition, you will be in breach of Contract and may allow the Seller to terminate or sue for damages or specific performance.

If you are unable to satisfy a condition by the due date, please contact our office immediately.

Should we conduct a final inspection on the property before settlement?

Should we conduct a final inspection on the property before settlement?

Under the usual conditions used in Queensland, you are entitled to and we strongly recommend you arrange a final inspection of the property before settlement occurs (or you take occupation of the property if you are taking early possession thereof). You should arrange with the Real Estate Agent to inspect the premises on the morning of or day before settlement to check that there has been no damage done to the property since the date of exchange of Contracts (fair wear and tear excepted) and that the Seller has removed all their furniture and belongings from the property. Once settlement takes place, it is too late to find out that some of the inclusions are missing or that something has been damaged.

Purchasing a property with a pool? What does the Seller need to provide?

Purchasing a property with a pool? What does the Seller need to provide?

 Depending on the terms of the contract, if a seller has a valid Pool Safety Certificate, a copy must be provided to the buyer prior to settlement.

If there is no Pool Safety Certificate in effect before entering the Contract of Sale, the seller must usually provide the buyer with a Form 36 – No Pool Safety Certificate. Form 36 advises that the pool may not comply and the steps the buyer must take to ensure the pool complies with regulation. A copy must also be provided to the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC). It is the seller’s responsibility to obtain a Pool Safety Certificate prior to settlement.

Should the seller fail to obtain the Pool Safety Certificate by settlement, the buyer may terminate this Contract and all moneys paid shall be refunded and the Contract will be at an end. The buyer may waive the benefit of this clause.

If the buyer settles the contract without receiving a Pool Safety Certificate from the seller, then the buyer will become responsible at its cost to obtain a Pool Safety Certificate. Buyers will be given 90 days from the settlement date to obtain a Pool Safety Certificate. Once this 90-day period expires, the buyer will face penalties should they fail to obtain the Pool Safety Certificate for the pool. (Your contract may contain different terms, please contact us for specific advice.)

CTS: What searches do I need to undertake?

CTS: What searches do I need to undertake?

As part of our fixed fee conveyancing, the standard searches we will conduct include a Title search, Registered Plan, Land Tax, Local Rates and Water search and a Body Corporate Management Certificate.

During the initial conveyancing process, we will provide you with a searches list, outlining searches you can instruct us to undertake on the property. Any additional searches outside the scope of our standard conveyance will incur additional costs.

CTS: What is common property?

CTS: What is common property?

This refers to the areas in the building that are owned by the strata scheme. When you buy a strata property you generally own everything inside your unit but not the actual building structure. Common property can include external walls, driveways, gardens, stairwells, roofs, pools, lifts etc. All of the individual owners in a strata property share the responsibility for looking after common property and must abide by the strata rules. The areas that are deemed ‘common property’ vary from one strata scheme to the next, so you will need to familiarise yourself with these when you buy your unit. For example, some may include balcony railings or garage doors.

CTS: What is a body corporate?

CTS: What is a body corporate?

A body corporate is a special type of company set up to manage the common property in a complex for a set of units. There is a community management statement which outlines how the body corporate is to be managed. Each unit owner pays fees to the body corporate for the ongoing maintenance of the complex.

From the body corporate fees paid by the unit holders, the body corporate must maintain, manage and control the common property, while also establishing rules and maintaining building and public liability insurance for the common property. The common property will usually include driveways and often the building containing the units.

The unit holders are also required to pay yearly fees into a sinking fund. The body corporate management committee to fund large cost maintenance and capital works when needed retains these fees.

CTS: What are By-Laws?

CTS: What are By-Laws?

Each complex has a registered set of By-Laws being the rules and regulations for the complex. These are more specific to each complex and set out the do's and don'ts over and above the Body Corporate Community Management Act. Owners and residents are required to abide by these By-Laws.

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Binding Financial Agreements

Binding Financial Agreements (BFA) - (known as prenup or prenuptial agreements in other countries)

The Family Law Act in Australia allows couples to sign financial agreements prior to marriage to allow the division of property to be agreed up front. In other countires, these are often referred to as a 'prenup' or 'prenuptial agreement'. Although these agreements are seen as a very difficult conversation to have with a partner, they can avoid a lot of issues in the event a relationship breaks down. These agreements are also useful when one or both parties have significant assets prior to commencing the relationship and they wish to ensure if the relationship does breakdown, that they are able to keep those assets.

A BFA must meet several requirements to be considered legally binding under the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth). These requirements are set out in sections 90G and 90UJ of the Act for married and de facto couples, respectively. The key requirements include:

  1. Written Agreement: The BFA must be in writing and signed by all parties involved.

  2. Parties: The BFA must be between two parties who are in a marriage or de facto relationship. The parties can enter into a BFA before, during, or after their relationship.

  3. Independent Legal Advice: Before signing the agreement, each party must have received independent legal advice from a legal practitioner about the effect of the agreement on their rights, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of entering into the agreement.

  4. Legal Advice Certificate: Each party must be provided with a signed statement by a legal practitioner, confirming that the advice was given to them regarding the effect of the proposed agreement and the advantages and disadvantages of entering into it. This statement must be annexed to the agreement.

  5. Voluntary Agreement: The agreement must be signed voluntarily and without any undue influence or pressure.

  6. Original and Copy: After the agreement is signed, an original copy must be given to one party and a certified copy to the other party.

  7. Not Terminated or Set Aside: The agreement must not have been terminated or set aside by a court.

If these requirements are not met, the BFA may not be legally binding and could be set aside by a court. It is important to note that the court does not assess the fairness of a BFA. As long as the agreement meets the legal requirements, the parties are bound by it, even if it is not considered 'just and equitable'. Please contact us at our Cleveland office to make an appointment to ensure your BFA meets the criteria required.

 

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FAQ

What is a BFA?

What is a BFA?

The Family Law Act of Australia allows couples to sign financial agreements for them to formalise their agreement about the division of property, in the event of a breakdown of the relationship. These financial agreements are called “Binding Financial Agreements”, or BFAs. Although it might be an awkward or difficult conversation to have with your partner, BFAs can help prevent lengthy and expensive property division proceedings in a Court. A BFA is also an alternative to applying for Consent Orders in the Court.

What are Consent Orders?

What are Consent Orders?

Consent Orders are just as they sound – an agreement made by the consent of the parties, which are formally made into orders by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, or a local Magistrates Court (in Queensland) depending on your circumstances. If you have separated from your partner, whether de facto or married, you can choose to apply for Consent Orders. If your matter relates only to property, does not involve parenting matters, and you both live within the same Court District, then you can apply for Consent Orders to be issued from your local Magistrates Court.

Who can use a BFA?

Who can use a BFA?

This strategy is not limited just to couples prior to their marriage (which is sometimes known colloquially as a “pre-nup” or a “pre-nuptial agreement”). Couples, including de facto couples, can choose to make a BFA at any point in their relationship – whether this is:
  • pre-cohabitation, for de facto couples or married couples; or
  • during the relationship, for de facto couples or married couples; or
  • after separation, where one person moves out of the home or both people agree on a date of separation but live in the same house (this is a legally technical area and might trip you up if you are not careful, so you should seek legal advice if this situation applies to you), for de facto couples or married couples; or
  • after divorce, for married couples.
Couples who fall into any of the above categories, or individuals with significant assets who are about to enter a new relationship, should consider whether a BFA is right for them.

Should I make a BFA or Consent Orders?

Should I make a BFA or Consent Orders?

This will depend on your circumstances. If you have not separated from your partner, then a Court cannot make Consent Orders so a BFA is your only option if you want to formalise your agreement. As a BFA is make without the intervention of the Court, they are not orders which can be enforced. This means that if one party does not do what they say they will under the BFA, there is no ability to bring contravention (breach) proceedings against that party and a fresh application to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia will need to be made. The advantage of BFAs is that they are generally quicker to put together, if both parties agree on the division of property, and a filing fee is not payable. On the other hand, Consent Orders can be enforced against a party who breaches them. If you have concerns that your partner will not do what they have agreed to, then this is most likely your best option. The disadvantages of Consent Orders is that you do have to pay a court filing fee, they generally take longer to put together, and may take some time to be returned from the very busy Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (who deal with Family Law matters from all over the country) or the local Magistrates Court (in Queensland) if you are able to apply there.

My partner and I agree how we are going to divide our property. Why do I need to see a lawyer?

My partner and I agree how we are going to divide our property. Why do I need to see a lawyer?

Even if you and your partner agree about how your property will be split if your relationship breaks down, the Family Law Act of Australia says that you need to get independent advice about the BFA. Any agreement reached will not be effective unless, among other requirements, each of you receives independent legal advice. Your lawyer will need to talk you through the effect of the BFA on your rights, how it is different from what the Court would consider (if the matter was litigated), and the advantages and disadvantages of the BFA to you. If you have any questions about the process involved, please do not hesitate to contact our office.

Family Law

Family Law - Cleveland

Interesting fact about Cleveland: It has been suggested that Captain James Cook named Cleveland when he sailed past the shoreline in 1770. It was reputedly named after John Clevland. John Clevland was the First Secretary of the Admiralty from 1759 until his death in 1763. 

  • Domestic Violence

  • Separation

  • Divorce

  • Children and Parenting

  • Property Settlements

  • Binding Financial Agreements

  • De facto Relationships

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Hopper Mott Bunting Lawyers provide Family Law services in Cleveland. The reality is that many marriages end in divorce, leaving individuals with uncertainty and dread about the future. We recognise the immense pressure that comes with separation and the strain it places on relationships. Our team is here to answer all your questions and help you achieve the best possible outcome during this challenging time.

Family law disputes do not necessarily mean litigation or court proceedings. In most cases, these disputes can be resolved through dispute resolution processes where both spouses negotiate terms to resolve the issue. At Hopper Mott Bunting Lawyers, we prioritise the best interests of the child in any family law matter involving children, ensuring their physical and emotional wellbeing, their relationship with both parents, and their views and wishes are considered. We also handle property and financial settlements, taking into account each party's financial and non-financial contributions, future needs, and the practical effect of any proposed settlement. If there is a history of family violence or abuse, we address these issues with utmost seriousness, particularly in relation to child custody and visitation arrangements.

Our services include assisting with parenting arrangements, spousal maintenance, and providing legal representation tailored to your specific needs. We encourage mediation and dispute resolution before considering court proceedings, understanding the costs, time, and emotional toll involved. Additionally, we address the impact of separation on wills and estate planning, ensuring all legal aspects are covered. At Mott and Associates, we also emphasise the importance of emotional wellbeing, offering support and guidance to help you navigate through this emotionally challenging period. If mediation is required, we can source mediations services in the Cleveland area so hopefully litigation can be avoided.

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Address: Suite 5/120 Bloomfield Street, Cleveland and Suite 3/27 Mt Cotton Road, Capalaba.
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