Estimate your stamp duty, any state

Stamp duty (called transfer duty in most states and conveyance duty in the ACT) is a one-off tax charged when a property changes hands. It's a state and territory tax, not a federal one, so the rate you pay depends entirely on where you buy. Most states use a sliding scale where the rate steps up as the price climbs. On a typical Sydney or Melbourne purchase it can run into the tens of thousands, so it pays to know the figure before you fall for a place.

Because every jurisdiction sets its own rules, the same price can mean very different duty in NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, WA, TAS, the ACT or the NT. I work with buyers right across the country, so the calculator covers all eight. It defaults to NSW, my home market, and you can switch to wherever you're buying.

First home buyers usually get a real break, but this is where states differ most. Some give a full exemption up to a value cap and a reduced rate above it, some are far more generous on new builds and vacant land than on established homes, and one or two have moved to no price cap at all for eligible owner occupiers. The thresholds move around and the rules get tweaked, so the numbers here are an estimate and your state or territory revenue office is the final word. I can help you confirm whether you qualify.

Stamp duty sits alongside your deposit, lender fees, conveyancing and inspections as an upfront cost, and most lenders won't add it to the loan wherever you are. Get it into your budget early. It's smart to line this up with your borrowing power and, if this is your first purchase, my first home buyer support.