First home buyers in Brisbane can combine a $30,000 First Home Owner Grant on eligible new homes under $750,000 with zero transfer duty under the First Home (New Home) concession, while fixed fee conveyancing starts from $599. The grant applies to contracts signed by 30 June 2026, then reverts to $15,000. A Queensland solicitor reviews the contract, checks Form 2 disclosure, orders searches and manages PEXA settlement, commonly within 30 days.
For local buyers, first home buyer conveyancing brisbane costs here is the cost stack explained in plain terms.
First Home Buyer Conveyancing Brisbane Costs Explained
The total is not one number. It is usually a fixed professional fee plus disbursements, government charges and any transfer duty that still applies. The parent guide to first home buyer conveyancing brisbane explains the legal role; this page isolates the budget lines that decide what you actually pay.
- Professional fee: the buying service starts from $599, while standalone contract review is listed from $299.
- Disbursements: title, council and water searches are extra, and PEXA fees may also apply.
- Duty and grant position: eligible new home buyers may pay zero transfer duty and receive the $30,000 grant.
- Timing risk: the doubled grant ends 30 June 2026, so contract dates affect entitlements.
Grant and duty savings that change the conveyancing budget
Queensland's First Home Owner Grant provides $30,000 for eligible buyers purchasing or building a new home valued under $750,000, for contracts signed between 20 November 2023 and 30 June 2026. From 1 July 2026 it is scheduled to revert to $15,000. The First Home (New Home) concession removed the stamp duty price cap from May 2025, so eligible buyers of new homes pay zero transfer duty regardless of purchase price. Established homes receive a transfer duty concession on a sliding scale. The combined savings can reach up to $60,000, but eligibility conditions apply and should be confirmed against current Queensland Revenue Office criteria.
A solicitor can help check eligibility, prepare the FHOG application and make sure the grant is correctly credited at settlement. That matters because the benefit is not automatic paperwork; it interacts with contract dates, valuation thresholds and the settlement statement.
Fixed fee inclusions and the disbursement trap
Fixed fee pricing reduces billing uncertainty, but the headline figure is not the whole bill. Ask for a written scope that lists what is included and which disbursements are excluded before you engage anyone. Routine legal work may be quoted as a fixed professional fee, while searches, registration and PEXA charges are set out separately.
- Request the fee in writing before signing the contract.
- Separate the professional fee from title searches, council and water searches.
- Ask how PEXA fees and any registration costs are handled.
- Confirm whether contract review is bundled or charged as a standalone $299 service.
- Check that transfer duty concessions and the FHOG are calculated before settlement funds are finalised.
Contract review, Form 2 and settlement timing
In Queensland, conveyancing is legal work carried out or supervised by a qualified solicitor. A useful review starts before you commit, while the five business day cooling-off window is still available, except where auction rules remove that protection. The vendor's contract usually reflects the seller's position, so the solicitor checks special conditions, finance and inspection clauses, inclusions and exclusions, and any unusual settlement timeframe.
Queensland's mandatory Seller Disclosure Statement, Form 2 under the Property Law Act 2023, became effective in August 2025. Your solicitor checks it for known material facts, outstanding notices, body corporate levies on units and other items needing follow up. Settlement itself is electronic through PEXA and has been mandatory since February 2023. A 30 day settlement is typical, though it can be negotiated to align with finance approval. After settlement the transfer is lodged at the Titles Registry and keys are released once ownership updates.
Questions to ask before you appoint a solicitor
Because Queensland does not permit independent licensed conveyancers in the same way as some states, the key question is whether you are engaging a current Queensland Law Society member solicitor. That status brings professional indemnity insurance and regulation under the Legal Profession Act 2007.
- Is the quote fixed, and which disbursements are extra?
- Have you processed recent FHOG applications and confirmed the 30 June 2026 deadline?
- Will you review Form 2 and flag special conditions before I sign?
- Is PEXA settlement included, and how are delays handled?
- Can the settlement date be moved if lender approval runs late?
- Confirm eligibility early. Check FHOG value limits, contract dates and duty concession criteria before making an offer.
- Get a written fixed fee. Ask the solicitor to separate the professional fee from searches, registration and PEXA charges.
- Review before signing. Use the cooling-off window where available to examine special conditions and Form 2 disclosure.
- Coordinate finance and settlement. Align the settlement date with lender approval so PEXA exchange can proceed on the day.
- Complete lodgement. After settlement, confirm the transfer is lodged at the Titles Registry and keys are released.
| Cost line | Amount or rule | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Professional buying service | From $599 fixed fee | Written scope and excluded disbursements |
| Standalone contract review | From $299 | Whether it is bundled into the buying service |
| First Home Owner Grant | $30,000 for eligible new homes under $750,000 | Contract signed by 30 June 2026 |
| New home transfer duty | Zero for eligible First Home (New Home) concession buyers | Eligibility under current duty rules |
| Settlement | Typically around 30 days | PEXA timing and lender readiness |
Common questions
What is the biggest date risk for first home buyers in Brisbane? The $30,000 First Home Owner Grant is tied to eligible contracts signed between 20 November 2023 and 30 June 2026, then reverts to $15,000. Buyers building or buying a new home under $750,000 should confirm eligibility before exchange rather than assuming the higher grant will still apply.
Is the $599 conveyancing fee the full cost? No. The $599 figure is a fixed professional fee starting point for the buying service, with contract review available separately from $299. Government charges, searches, registration and PEXA fees are additional and vary by property, so ask for a written breakdown before engaging anyone.
Can a conveyancer handle everything in Queensland? Queensland requires conveyancing to be carried out or supervised by a qualified solicitor, so you are effectively engaging a Queensland Law Society member solicitor rather than an independent licensed conveyancer. Verify membership, insurance and recent experience with FHOG and Form 2 disclosure.
This guide summarises cost drivers and timing for Brisbane first home purchases and is not legal advice for a specific contract.