Purchasing property “off-the-plan” (OTP) means you are contracting to buy something that does not yet exist in its final form. While this offers benefits like lower deposits and potential capital growth, it carries unique risks because the finished product may differ from your expectations. Key Risks for Buyers Risk Area What You Need to Know...

It is a uniquely Australian dream, and perhaps even more specifically, a Victorian one: owning a primary home in the inner city, while maintaining a coastal retreat down the Great Ocean Road, the Mornington Peninsula, or the Bass Coast. Recently, a client presented a fascinating scenario: “We own a block of land in a coastal...

A surprising number of Victorian property owners still do not realise that Vacant Residential Land Tax (VRLT) carries its own compulsory notification regime. It is not just a tax that appears if the State Revenue Office happens to find you. If you own relevant vacant residential land, you may have to tell the SRO yourself,...

In the world of Victorian property law, three or four digits can be the difference between a routine tax assessment and a financial headache. Those digits make up the Australian Valuation Property Classification Code (AVPCC). While most owners focus on their property’s “Capital Improved Value” (CIV) or “Site Value” (SV), the AVPCC is the silent...

For many purchasers, the final inspection feels like the last step before settlement. Finance is in place, moving arrangements are underway, and the keys seem close. Then a problem appears. It may be a water stain, a faulty appliance, damage that was not obvious before, or a property that has not been properly cleaned or...