Committed to your needs

Harcourts has been helping people to buy and sell property for over a century.  Harcourts Vision are committed to helping you turn your property dreams into reality.
 
When you come to Harcourts Vision in search of your perfect property, your personal real estate consultant looks to establish your goals and set about achieving them for you.  It is their job to listen to what you want and to work with you with care and consideration at all times.

Your real estate consultant will guide you through the process of buying a house, providing advice on property values, investment potential, finance options and legal requirements.

It is all part of the extra-effort service.  And best of all, it’s all entirely free of charge.

Finding your home

Your Harcourts Vision real estate consultant will begin by showing you suitable properties, which are on the market right now.  You will see photographs and detailed descriptions of all the properties we have listed which meet your requirements.

When you see something you like, they will arrange a visit. Please feel free to use the Property Search feature on the left of your screen to search for any current listings by Harcourts.

Your wish list

We often hear "but the agent didn't listen to me!" While this may be true of some agents, your Harcourts consultant is trained to listen – not to talk.

Knowing your requirements early really helps us help you. Sometimes however, your circumstances and priorities can change. Often, we will check with you to ensure we remain on track.

Facts that help us in finding you the right property include:

• Suburb/s
• Price range
• Number of bedrooms
• Style of home
• Proximity to childcare/primary and secondary schools
• Garden size
• Drive on access and or garaging
• Special requirements e.g. no stairs

Your essentials

It is important that we know the absolute most important features you want in a property and will not compromise on. They may include:

• A separate office / study
• Sun aspect
• Security
• Garaging or mooring for a boat
• Low maintenance grounds

These requirements are unique to each buyer. Also give some thought to features you most definitely do not want in a property.

Searching for properties

Many buyers search the internet prior to viewing properties.

You can use the Property Search function to the left of this page for a comprehensive search facility which will provide you with property details and multiple photos of each property.  

Loan Calculator

A loan calculator enables you to easily determine fortnightly or monthly repayments by entering the amount you wish to borrow, your deposit, preferred interest rate and term of the loan. Please click here to use the Mortgage Express loan repayment calculator.

Inspecting properties

Your consultant will show you those properties that best fit your requirements.  This will be at times to suit you and the owner of the property. You will be kept informed of all changes relating to the properties you have viewed and you will be advised of new properties as they come on the market. Talk to your consultant about how you want to receive new property information i.e. via email, text or phone call.

Inspections of properties take time.  We recommend you do not rush or disregard too quickly.  Try not to judge a property from the outside only.  Some properties have little or no street appeal, but have much to offer inside.  An inspection will confirm your first impression or will pleasantly surprise you.

When the right property presents itself be prepared to make an offer. We will encourage you to do so as many people have found their perfect home and missed it because they didn’t take the opportunity when it as available to them.

Going to contract

When you are ready to write up a contract, the next step is to decide on the price you wish to offer the seller and under what conditions you wish to make the offer.  Common conditions of sale are: subject to finance, a builder's report, sale of another property, solicitor’s approval of the contract or specialist inspection or approval.

The seller can accept your offer, reject it or counter sign it.  Counter signing usually occurs when the seller is not satisfied with the price offered and/or conditions included and subsequently alters them.  The contract will be brought back to you for your consideration.  If you accept, you initial the seller’s alteration and the property is under offer to you subject to any conditions that the contract may contain. Alternatively you also have the right to counter sign. Your sales consultant will continue negotiations between you and the seller until you are both in agreement.

This process generally does not occur when buying at auction.  (See information on “Buying at Auction” below).

Buying at auction

Buying at auction avoids the often prolonged waiting of the traditional offer/counter-offer negotiation process and uncertainty of what another buyer may be offering. During an auction bids for the property are called in an open arena on a given day and time. If your bid is accepted you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you have purchased at true market value.

The dangers of offering too low

Once they find the property they wish to purchase many buyers are tempted to “start low” with their offer.

We understand, but would not be giving you complete service if we did not warn you of what can happen.

1. The seller could feel insulted, and become difficult to negotiate with from then on.     
2. The seller may think you are a bargain hunter “having a go” without serious intention to buy and dismiss your offer altogether.

If you are serious about purchasing the property it is wise to make a genuine offer that reflects your serious intentions and appreciation of the true value of the seller’s home.

Common conditions of sale

Along with the standard terms of the contract both buyers and sellers are able to insert further terms and conditions of sale. When writing in any special condition the key parts are who is going to do it; what are they going to do; when are they going to do it by; what standards will apply; what happens if it is not satisfied and who can waive it.

Once an inserted condition has been satisfied notice will be provided to the other party usually by the solicitors involved.

A condition can be either satisfied or waived. If you have inserted a condition but it has not been met by the required date you can choose to waive that condition. If the condition is neither satisfied nor waived then the agreement will be terminated and any deposit paid by you shall be immediately refunded.

Some common conditions of sale are:

• Conditional on sale of purchaser’s property
• Conditional on sale of purchaser’s property becoming unconditional

Inserting these clauses allows you to sell your property before purchasing. Use the appropriate clause to allow you time to sell your property or for an existing contract of sale to become unconditional in all respects.

• Conditional upon Finance
• Conditional upon obtaining Solicitor’s Approval of the Contract
• Conditional upon obtaining a Builder’s Report

Each of these conditions should be clearly worded and the dates for confirmation made clear.

Paying the deposit

Once all parties have signed the contract you will be asked to pay a deposit. This usually equates to 10% of the purchase price.

We can refer you to Mortgage Express who can assist you with this.

Property insurance

In some states of Australia you can be responsible for the insurance cover of the property you are buying from the first business day after the contract has been signed.

Harcourts can arrange a 30 day temporary cover to provide you with immediate, temporary insurance cover and “peace of mind”.

This service is complimentary and can save you hours spent researching the many insurance providers on the market today.

Your Harcourts consultant can provide you with more information.

Have you arranged your finance?

You don’t need to wait until you’ve found a property before you arrange finance.  It’s a good idea to find out first just how much you can borrow – that way you know what price bracket to start looking in and what level of repayments you’re comfortable with.

The problem that most people face today, however, is “which home loan is the right one for me?”  There are so many options when it comes to banks, products, rates, terms and fees.  With the purchase of such a large investment, you need to be confident that you have made the right financial choice.

Mortgage Express is a team of banking and financial specialists who can give you expert advice, at a place and time convenient to you - and at no cost.  Their team of consultants represent a range of banks, building societies and non-bank lenders. Their advice is unbiased so can focus on your needs.

Mortgage Express eliminates the need for any bank interviews. Once you have seen them, you immediately have the choice of many lenders and they will often get better terms than the bank will offer you direct. They also can arrange funds for your deposit once your offer is accepted.

The advice is free and there is no obligation. Talk to your consultant and they will put you in touch with a Mortgage Express representative.

Visit: www.mortgage-express.com.au
Phone: 1300 853 118

Property purchase costs

Financial fees vary greatly, depending on such matters as what percentage of the property value that you will be borrowing, the amount of the loan, the amount of the purchase and which bank you are borrowing funds from.  If you speak to your local Mortgage Express representative you can quickly ascertain approximate costs for your particular circumstances.

Possible expenses you may incur are:

• Bank fees which may include:

• Lender application fees, valuation fees, legal and settlement fees
• Lender monthly account keeping fees (if applicable)
• Lender “Professional Package” annual fees (if applicable)
• Lender’s Mortgage Insurance (if applicable)
• Lender retention account fees (if applicable)
• Title transfer, Mortgage registration fees
• Registration of mortgage discharge (refunded by seller at settlement)
  

• Solicitor’s charges may include legal searches (please consult your solicitor)
• Stamp Duty on Purchase   
• Home protection insurance
• Miscellaneous costs (Building / pest inspections, rates, removalists, etc.)

Completing the purchase

Before settlement your solicitor will undertake the necessary searches with respect to the property and your financier will prepare the mortgage documentation.

On settlement your solicitor will exchange with the seller's solicitor:

• Monies
• Transfer documentation
• Keys to the property
  

Within a few days of settlement your solicitor or financier will register the necessary documentation  and mortgage transfer with the Land Titles Registry.

Possession of the property usually takes place on the settlement day although the seller and buyer can agree for these dates to be different.

If you would like further information please download a full copy of our Buying Property with Harcourts Vision or contact us via phone: 03 9331 1180 or email: vision@harcourts.com.au