The conveyancer you’d trust with your first settlement.
Tell us your state. We’ll email you a vetted shortlist of 2–3 licensed conveyancers within 24 hours. Free for you. No directories to scroll. No cold calls.
Three steps. One vetted shortlist.
Founder-curated. Not auto-generated.
- 1Tell us about your purchase.30 seconds. State, journey stage, contact.
- 2We vet a shortlist for your state.Licensed conveyancers matched to your situation.
- 3Shortlist in your inbox within 24h.No directory. No cold calls. You decide who to engage.
Independent. Honest. Built for first home buyers.
Fixed-fee, itemised
Every conveyancer on our shortlist quotes a fixed professional fee with disbursements separated. No surprise add-ons at settlement.
State-licensed
Every shortlisted conveyancer is verified against the state regulator (NSW Fair Trading, Consumer Affairs Vic, AIC, Law Society in QLD/ACT).
No agent referrals
We’re not paid by real estate agents or the seller. The shortlist serves you — not anyone else’s referral pipeline.
Settled, properly.First time.
Hundreds of Australian first home buyers matched to a vetted conveyancer — and into their first home — this year.
What our shortlist actually delivers.
We don’t run a directory. We don’t take agent referrals. We hand-check three things on every shortlisted conveyancer before we email you.
Founder-curated, not auto-generated. Every shortlisted conveyancer is state-regulator licensed and an AIC or Law Society member. No cold-call dump, no directory to scroll.
Every conveyancer on our shortlist gives written quotes with the professional fee and disbursements separated. No surprise add-ons at settlement — what they quote is what you pay.
NSW vs VIC vs QLD vs ACT all have different rules (solicitor required in QLD/ACT, settlement agent in WA). We match you to a conveyancer licensed for your state and your situation — FHBG, fast settlement, auction.
What does a conveyancer actually do?
A conveyancer is a licensed property-law specialist who handles the legal side of buying or selling a home. For a first home buyer purchase, they do six things from contract to keys:
- Review the contract of sale before you sign — catching unfair clauses, missing disclosures, dodgy special conditions.
- Order title and planning searches — confirming who legally owns the property and what restrictions apply (easements, caveats, zoning).
- Calculate and lodge stamp duty — including your first home buyer concession or exemption.
- Coordinate with your lender — making sure the loan funds are ready for settlement day.
- Attend PEXA electronic settlement — the digital workspace where funds move and title transfers in one workspace.
- Register the transfer of title in your name with the state land titles office.
In every Australian state you legally need either a licensed conveyancer or a solicitor to lodge the transfer. In Queensland and the ACT you must use a solicitor — there’s no standalone licensed conveyancer credential.
Conveyancer fees in Australia, state by state.
Professional fees only. Disbursements (title searches, PEXA, registration) add $350–$600 on top. Sourced from published firm fee schedules and AIC state body averages, May 2026.
| State | Fee range | Average | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | $1,200–$2,800 | $1,650 | PEXA mandatory. Sydney sits at higher end. |
| VIC | $800–$2,100 | $1,280 | Fixed-fee online from $840+GST. |
| QLD | $900–$2,300 | $1,050 | Must use a solicitor — no standalone conveyancer licence. |
| WA | $700–$2,000 | $1,410 | Called "settlement agents" locally. |
| SA | $700–$1,600 | $1,270 | Flat-fee online options from $880. |
| TAS | $500–$2,200 | $1,280 | Wide range; regional vs Hobart pricing diverges. |
| ACT | $700–$1,800 | $1,570 | Must use a solicitor. Higher average reflects solicitor pricing. |
| NT | $1,000–$2,500 | $1,875 | Highest nationally; thin market, fewer providers. |
Add $350–$600 in disbursements on top of professional fees. Always ask for a written quote that separates the two.
Conveyancer vs solicitor — which do you need?
- Specialises exclusively in property law
- Typical fee: $800–$1,500 plus disbursements
- Carries professional indemnity insurance
- Licensed by state regulator (NSW Fair Trading, Consumer Affairs Vic, AIC)
- Available in NSW, VIC, WA, SA, TAS, NT
- Full law degree — can handle any legal matter
- Typical fee: $1,000–$2,500 plus disbursements
- Required if you have a deceased estate, boundary dispute, complex strata or commercial crossover
- Mandatory in QLD and ACT — no standalone licensed conveyancer credential issued
- Available in all states
How to vet a conveyancer — 5-step checklist.
- Verify their licence. Ask for the licence number, then check the state regulator’s register (NSW Fair Trading, Consumer Affairs Vic, AIC, Law Society in QLD/ACT). Refusal or vagueness is a deal-breaker.
- Demand a written quote. Fixed professional fee on one line, disbursements itemised separately on another. If a quote bundles everything into one figure, ask for the breakdown — opacity is a transparency red flag.
- Confirm first home buyer experience. Ask how many FHB purchases they’ve handled in the last 12 months. You want regular not occasional — FHBs interact with FHBG, FHOG, stamp duty concessions in ways straight upgraders don’t.
- Check who actually does the contract review. Some firms quote a senior conveyancer but allocate contract review to a paralegal. Ask: “Will you personally review the contract?”
- Test the turnaround commitment. 24-hour contract review is the benchmark for urgent offers. If they can’t commit to that and you might bid at auction or under cooling-off pressure, find someone else.
NestPath checks all five on every conveyancer before we shortlist them. Tell us your state and we’ll email you 2–3 we’ve already cleared. Read the full conveyancer vs solicitor guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a conveyancer do?
A conveyancer is a licensed property-law specialist who handles the legal side of buying or selling a home. For a first home buyer purchase they review the contract of sale before you sign, order title and planning searches, calculate and lodge your stamp duty, coordinate with your lender, attend the PEXA electronic settlement, and register the transfer of title in your name.
How much does a conveyancer cost in Australia?
A conveyancer typically costs $800 to $2,800 in professional fees plus $350 to $600 in disbursements. State averages: NSW $1,650, VIC $1,280, QLD $1,050 (solicitor required), WA $1,410, SA $1,270, TAS $1,280, ACT $1,570 (solicitor required), NT $1,875. See the full state pricing table above.
What is the difference between a conveyancer and a solicitor?
A licensed conveyancer specialises exclusively in property law and is cheaper ($800–$1,500). A solicitor has a full law degree and can handle any legal matter, including disputes — typically $1,000–$2,500. In Queensland and the ACT a standalone licensed conveyancer is not available; you must use a solicitor.
Do I need a conveyancer or a solicitor in QLD or ACT?
You must use a solicitor in Queensland and the ACT. Both jurisdictions do not issue a standalone licensed conveyancer credential — only admitted solicitors can perform conveyancing work. This is the most common compliance trap for first home buyers comparing prices across states.
When should I hire a conveyancer?
Engage your conveyancer BEFORE you sign the contract of sale — ideally as soon as you start making serious offers. The contract review is the single most valuable thing they do and has to happen before signing. At auction the sale is unconditional the moment the hammer falls, so the contract must be reviewed before auction day.
How long does conveyancing take?
Conveyancing typically takes 4 to 8 weeks from contract signing to settlement. The exact timeline is set by the settlement period in your contract (30, 42, 60 or 90 days are common). Auction purchases usually have 30 or 42 day settlements — pick a conveyancer with capacity before you bid.
What are disbursements and how much do they add?
Disbursements are out-of-pocket costs the conveyancer pays on your behalf to third parties — title searches, council and water authority certificates, PEXA settlement fee and the land titles office registration fee. Expect $350 to $600 in disbursements on top of the conveyancer’s professional fee. A reputable conveyancer itemises them separately on the written quote.
How do I check if a conveyancer is licensed?
In NSW check NSW Fair Trading. In VIC check Consumer Affairs Victoria. In SA check Consumer and Business Services. In WA check the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety. In Tasmania check the Property Agents Board. Most licensed conveyancers also belong to the Australian Institute of Conveyancers (AIC) state body. Solicitor-conveyancers in QLD/ACT are listed on the state Law Society register.
Can I use the same conveyancer as the seller?
No. The buyer and seller must use different conveyancers — they have opposing legal interests in the contract. A conveyancer who tries to act for both is in a conflict of interest and is not allowed to under professional codes.
Should I use the conveyancer my real estate agent recommends?
Be cautious. Agents often have informal referral arrangements with specific conveyancers — the conveyancer wants to keep that referral pipeline open, which dampens their incentive to push hard on contract negotiations. Independent referrals carry no such pressure.
Is online conveyancing safe?
Yes. Australian property settlement has been fully electronic via PEXA since 2019, which means your conveyancer does not need to be in your suburb. A Melbourne-based conveyancer can settle a Sydney property because all parties connect through PEXA. Online fixed-fee firms (Settle Easy, JustConvey, Conveyancing.com.au) are legitimate provided the conveyancer is licensed in your state.
Can a conveyancer help with the First Home Owner Grant?
Yes. Your conveyancer lodges the FHOG application on your behalf and pairs it with the stamp duty concession or exemption you’re eligible for. They confirm you meet the residency test (typically moving in within 12 months and living there 6+ months) and that the property qualifies. Mention you’re a first home buyer at the first call.
Are conveyancing fees negotiable?
Professional fees are sometimes negotiable on complex transactions; standard FHB fixed-fee quotes typically aren’t. The real saving is comparing 2–3 quotes side by side and choosing fairly. Disbursements are not negotiable — they’re pass-through costs to third parties.
Can I do my own conveyancing?
Technically yes in NSW, VIC, QLD, ACT and NT, but it’s strongly not recommended. One mistake on a caveat, easement, transfer document or stamp duty calculation can cost tens of thousands or delay settlement. In WA and SA a licensed practitioner is effectively required. For a $1,000 fee on a $700,000 purchase, DIY is a false economy.
What is PEXA and do I need to worry about it?
PEXA is the electronic platform on which all Australian property settlements have been conducted since 2019. Your conveyancer connects to PEXA on settlement day along with your lender and the seller’s conveyancer — funds move and the title transfers in a single workspace. You don’t do anything with PEXA yourself — your conveyancer handles it. The settlement fee (around $120) appears as a disbursement on the itemised quote.
What questions should I ask a conveyancer before hiring?
Five worth asking: (1) What’s your licence number and which state regulator? (2) Will you give me a written fixed-fee quote with disbursements itemised separately? (3) How many first home buyer purchases have you handled in the last 12 months? (4) Are you handling the contract review personally, or is it allocated to a paralegal? (5) What’s your turnaround commitment for contract review? Hesitation on any of them is a warning sign.