How Much Does Conveyancing Cost in NSW?

Prices checked October 2026. Professional fee and disbursement ranges are typical quotes including GST and vary by firm and property. Government fees are the 2026-27 rates.

How much is conveyancing in NSW?

Most NSW buyers pay their conveyancer between $1,200 and $2,700 all up (professional fee plus disbursements), and most sellers between $1,000 and $2,400. Sydney quotes tend to sit higher than regional ones. Registration fees and transfer duty are paid on top.

NSW sits at the top of the national price range in most published guides, mainly because of Sydney. For the other states, see our guide to conveyancing costs in Australia.

What does it cost a NSW seller to prepare the contract?

In NSW the contract must be prepared before the property can be offered for sale, so the seller pays for this work early, before there is a buyer. Preparing it is normally part of the selling fee, with the attached documents charged as disbursements.

The contract must have prescribed documents attached. If any are missing, the buyer can rescind within 14 days of exchange. The main documents and their 2026-27 costs are:

Sellers also need a land tax clearance certificate, which must be given to the buyer at least 14 days before settlement, and the conveyancer arranges the discharge of any mortgage at settlement. See residential sale conveyancing for the rest of the seller's process.

What searches does a NSW buyer pay for?

The seller's contract already includes the title, plan and planning certificate, so a buyer's searches focus on money owing and anything the contract does not show. A buyer's disbursements usually total $300 to $700.

A strata inspection report on the owners corporation's records is different from the section 184 certificate and is paid for separately; our guide to strata reports explains what it covers. More detail on each item is in conveyancing disbursements explained.

What government fees are on top in NSW?

NSW charges a flat registration fee, whatever the price. From 1 July 2026, NSW Land Registry Services charges $182.73 including GST to register a transfer, the same to register a mortgage, and the same again for each discharge of mortgage. GST applies because NSW LRS is run by a private operator under a concession from the NSW Government.

So a buyer with a home loan pays $365.46 in registration fees, and a seller with one mortgage pays $182.73. The much larger cost for most buyers is transfer duty, paid to Revenue NSW and calculated on the price, with exemptions and concessions for eligible first home buyers. Our stamp duty guide explains how duty is worked out.

Is a conveyancer cheaper than a solicitor in NSW?

Usually, yes. Licensed conveyancers handle most NSW residential work within the $900 to $2,000 range above, while solicitors commonly quote $1,500 to $3,000 or more for the same job. Either can act on a standard purchase or sale; a solicitor is worth the extra when the sale involves a dispute, a complicated deceased estate or a business structure.

NSW conveyancers are licensed by NSW Fair Trading under the Conveyancers Licensing Act 2003, must hold professional indemnity insurance, and must disclose an estimate of their costs to clients. You can confirm a licence using our guide to checking a conveyancer's licence in NSW.

What makes a NSW conveyancing quote higher or lower?

The fee reflects how much checking and negotiating the matter needs. Common reasons a quote moves up:

• Strata and community title: extra certificates, levies and by-laws to review.
• Off-the-plan contracts: long contracts, sunset clauses and a long wait before settlement.
• Cooling-off waivers: a section 66W certificate lets a buyer exchange without a cooling-off period, but the solicitor or conveyancer signing it must first explain its effect, which takes time.
• Unusual titles: old system title and some leasehold or company title properties need extra work. See Torrens title vs old system title.
• Rural land and several titles: extra searches, easements and each extra title on the transfer.
• Urgency: councils can charge more for urgent planning certificates, and rushed exchanges take extra time.

A standard house or unit purchase on a straightforward contract sits at the lower end. We arrange quotes for Sydney conveyancing, Newcastle, Wollongong and regional NSW.

How to get an accurate conveyancing quote in NSW

Ask for a fixed fee in writing that separates the professional fee, each search and certificate, the PEXA fee and the NSW LRS charges, with GST shown. Tell the firm the property type, the likely price and whether you are buying at auction, so the quote reflects your matter.

Compare quotes on the same lines using our guide to comparing conveyancer quotes, and see conveyancing in NSW for the local rules. ConveyDirect arranges fixed-fee quotes for NSW purchases and sales, with a response within two business hours, a free contract review when you are buying, and no sale, no fee when you are selling.

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Rules, fees and timeframes change and differ between states, so confirm your own situation with a licensed conveyancer, settlement agent or solicitor.