Ask most buyers what a home costs and they'll quote the price. But between contract and keys, a stack of smaller costs lands — and on a Noosaville purchase they add up to a meaningful share of your deposit. Here's every one, with current Queensland figures.
Stamp duty (transfer duty)
The biggest single extra. Queensland transfer duty is tiered, and concessions apply for first-home buyers and owner-occupiers. On a $1.2M Noosaville home with no concession, budget roughly $50,000–$55,000. First-home buyers under the threshold can pay substantially less — sometimes nothing.
Conveyancing & legal
A solicitor or licensed conveyancer to handle contract review, searches and settlement. Expect $1,200–$2,500 depending on complexity. Worth every dollar on a unit, where the body corporate disclosure needs a careful read.
Building & pest
Non-negotiable on a house. A combined building and pest inspection runs $400–$700 on the Sunshine Coast. For units, the equivalent due diligence is the body corporate records search.
Loan & finance costs
Lender establishment fees, valuation, and — if your deposit is under 20% — Lenders Mortgage Insurance, which can run into five figures. Mortgage registration and transfer fees are smaller but real.
The smaller line items
Council and water rate adjustments at settlement, home and contents insurance from the day you're on the contract, utility connections, and removalists. Individually minor; collectively a few thousand dollars you'll want in reserve.
The bottom line
As a rule of thumb, set aside 4–5% of the purchase price for costs on top of your deposit. Build it into your budget from day one and settlement holds no surprises. For the full buying picture, head back to the Noosaville buying guide — or talk to us about your specific numbers.