Queensland conveyancing in 2026: what to expect.

Queensland conveyancing is governed by the Property Occupations Act 2014, the Land Title Act 1994, and the Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997 (for unit purchases). The standard contract used in over 95% of residential transactions is the REIQ Contract for Houses and Residential Land.

Standard REIQ contract

Queensland is unusual in having a single industry-standard contract used by nearly all real estate agents and conveyancers. The current edition (Edition 16, in use since November 2023) includes:

• 5 business days statutory cooling off (s166 Property Occupations Act 2014)
• Standard finance condition (subject to satisfactory finance approval)
• Standard building and pest inspection condition
• Disclosure obligations on the seller (defects, encumbrances, body corporate information)
• Standard PEXA settlement arrangements

Most variations to the contract are by special condition added on the front page. Buyers should have a conveyancer or solicitor review the contract before signing — once you’ve signed, your cooling-off clock is running.

Typical Queensland fees

• Standard residential purchase — Brisbane median: $1,480 professional fee (range $1,050–$2,100).
• Gold Coast median: $1,420 (range $1,000–$2,050).
• Sunshine Coast median: $1,380.
• Regional QLD (Townsville, Cairns): $1,150–$1,350.
• Off-the-plan unit (Gold Coast high-rise): $2,200–$3,500 due to multi-stage settlement complexity.
• Total typical disbursements: ~$680 including title search ($43), Titles Registry transfer fee, council searches, water search.

Cooling off — how it actually works

Under s166 of the Property Occupations Act, residential buyers have 5 business days from signing to withdraw from the contract by written notice. Key points:

• Cooling off applies to residential property only (not commercial)
• Does not apply to auctions or contracts signed within 2 business days of an auction
• Cooling-off period can be waived or shortened by mutual agreement
• If you withdraw, you forfeit 0.25% of the purchase price (e.g. $1,500 on a $600,000 home) to the seller
• The withdrawal must be by written notice to the seller or seller’s agent

Building and pest inspection — the QLD edge

The standard REIQ contract includes a building-and-pest inspection condition. If the inspection reveals defects to the buyer’s reasonable dissatisfaction, the buyer can terminate or negotiate a price reduction. This is more buyer-protective than the standard NSW or VIC contracts and is one of the most frequently invoked conditions.

Standard inspection report cost: $400–$700 for residential.

Body corporate searches (units)

For unit purchases, a body corporate search reveals contributions, current and pending levies, scheduled improvements, dispute history, and any sinking fund balance. Reputable conveyancers commission a search ($300–$450) before exchange so the buyer understands the ongoing financial commitment.

Settlement and PEXA

Most Queensland residential settlements occur via PEXA. Standard settlement is 30 days from contract date (shorter than NSW’s 42 days). Cash buyers can settle in 21 days; off-the-plan or finance-dependent matters may extend to 60 days or longer by agreement.

Stamp duty (transfer duty)

Queensland transfer duty is administered by Queensland Treasury. Key points for buyers in 2026:

• First home buyers under $700,000 may be eligible for the first home concession (effective full exemption under $550,000)
• Foreign buyer additional duty: 8% surcharge on purchase price
• Standard rates scale from 1% (under $5,000) to 5.75% (over $1m)
• Off-the-plan concessions apply for new properties under specific thresholds

What to ask the conveyancer

1. Is the fixed professional fee on your quote inclusive of all disbursements? If not, what disbursements are extra?
2. Will you commission a building-and-pest inspection on my behalf, and at what cost?
3. If I am buying a unit, what body corporate search do you recommend and what does it cost?
4. When do I need to submit my finance application to meet the contract finance date?
5. What is your same-business-day response commitment during settlement?