Conveyancer in Melbourne CBD
Conveyancing for Melbourne CBD Apartments and Off-the-Plan Buyers
Clear advice before you sign, from our Port Melbourne office, a short trip from the city.
Send us your contract for a free 24-hour Section 32 and contract review before you sign.
Conveyancing Help for Buying and Selling in the Melbourne CBD
Property in the Melbourne CBD is mostly apartments, and an apartment contract carries more paperwork than a house. There is an owners corporation, a set of rules, a levy to pay and often a building that is still being finished. At Complete Conveyancing we read all of it for you and explain what it means before you commit.
If you are buying, we check the Section 32 statement, the title and plan of subdivision, the owners corporation certificate and the special conditions, then tell you in plain English what to question or negotiate. If you are selling, we prepare the vendor’s statement and keep your sale on track through to settlement.
We act for owner-occupiers, investors and overseas buyers across the Melbourne CBD, and we work by phone, email and electronic signing, so you do not need to visit an office.
You will always know where your matter is up to, and who to call.
Why Choose Complete Conveyancing in the CBD?
Complete Conveyancing has more than 30 years of experience and runs settlements electronically, which suits CBD transactions where buyers, lenders and developers are often in different places. Our office is at Building A, Suite 5.2, 85 Turner Street, Port Melbourne, a short trip from the city if you prefer to meet in person.
Apartment purchases are where a second set of eyes pays off. Owners corporation fees, special levies, building works and sunset clauses can each change the real cost of a purchase. We look for these early, while you can still ask questions or walk away.
We offer a free 24-hour Section 32 and contract review, so you can find out what you are signing before you pay a deposit.
We quote a fixed fee up front, so there are no surprises when settlement arrives.
Initial Consultation and Documentation
2. Due Diligence and Financial Preparation
3. Settlement and Finalization
Our Melbourne CBD Conveyancing Services
We handle residential purchases and sales in the CBD from the first contract review to the keys. That includes established apartments, off-the-plan purchases, investment units and commercial or business transactions, with electronic lodgement and settlement through PEXA.
Typical work includes contract and Section 32 reviews, owners corporation certificate checks, negotiating special conditions, stamp duty and concession applications, foreign purchaser duty calculations, title and planning searches, and coordinating with your lender. Ask us if you need something not listed.
Hire Complete Conveyancing for Your Melbourne CBD Property
CBD apartments come with a few traps that do not appear in a standard house sale. An owners corporation certificate shows the current fees, any unpaid amounts, funds held, insurance and planned works. The owners corporation must issue it within 10 business days of a written request and fee, and it is only as current as its date, so we check how old the one in your contract is.
Off-the-plan buyers have extra rules to understand. A sunset clause lets a developer end the contract if the plan is not registered by a set date, but in Victoria a developer can generally only enforce it with the buyer’s written consent or a Supreme Court order. Deposits are capped at 10% of the price. We also help claim the strata off-the-plan duty concession, which lets eligible buyers deduct construction costs from the dutiable value. It applies to contracts signed on or after 21 October 2024 and before 21 April 2027. We also act for buyers in nearby suburbs such as Docklands, East Melbourne and South Melbourne.
Overseas buyers should know that foreign purchaser additional duty is 8% on top of normal duty, and the off-the-plan concession does not reduce it. Investors should also know that vacant residential land tax can apply when a Victorian home is not lived in or genuinely rented for six months of a calendar year. We flag these costs in your first review.
Whether you are buying your first apartment, adding to an investment portfolio or selling in the city, we will explain each step as it comes up. Read more about our buyer services and seller services, or send us your contract for a free 24-hour Section 32 and contract review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fees vary with whether you are buying or selling, whether the property is an apartment with an owners corporation, and whether the contract is off the plan. We give you a fixed quote in writing before you engage us. Send us your contract for a free 24-hour Section 32 and contract review and we will include the quote with it.
In Victoria, a licensed conveyancer or a solicitor can both handle a standard property purchase or sale. A licensed conveyancer specialises in the transfer process: contract review, searches, adjustments and settlement. A solicitor is the better choice if a dispute, a complex legal question or litigation is involved. Most CBD apartment transactions are routine conveyancing, and we will tell you straight away if yours needs a solicitor.
Look at the current fees and any special levies, unpaid amounts, funds held, insurance details, planned major works and any legal proceedings. The certificate should come with the owners corporation rules and the statement of advice for buyers. Check the date too, because a certificate inside a Section 32 statement can be months old. We read it with you and ask for an updated one when it matters.
Ask about the sunset clause and registration date, the size of the deposit (capped at 10%), what happens if plans or finishes change, and when settlement is expected. Also check whether your lender will still be happy with the finished unit at the contract price. We review special conditions before you sign, and can check whether the strata off-the-plan duty concession applies to your contract.
The settlement date is set in your contract, so it varies from deal to deal. Off-the-plan settlement depends on construction and plan registration, so it can be much longer than an established apartment. Your conveyancer does the searches, certificates and lender coordination in the meantime. We keep you updated by email and let you know early if anything threatens the date.
Still have more questions?
What Our Clients Say About Complete Conveyancing
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I couldn’t be happier with the service I received throughout my purchase. As a first home buyer, the whole process felt pretty overwhelming at times, but Mick, Matt, Tyson, Halle and Christina were incredible from start to finish.
Everyone … More was professional, approachable and always happy to answer my (many!) questions. They kept me informed every step of the way, explained everything clearly, and made what could have been a stressful experience feel so much more manageable.
Settlement went through smoothly, and I always felt like I was in good hands. I’m so grateful for all of their hard work and would absolutely recommend them to anyone looking for a conveyancing team that’s knowledgeable, efficient and genuinely cares about their clients.
Thank you all so much for helping me buy my first home! -
Mick Mastromanno and his team assisted me with the preparation of documentation and completion of settlement on a property that I was selling after many years. The team were communicative and responsive and the whole process was stress … More free as a result. My thanks to Halle, Ruby and Ava for their excellent work and support.
Stephe -
Just settled on two property transactions One Sale and One Purchase,
This is the Fifth time we have had Complete Conveyancing look after our property transactions .
Highly recommend the team at Complete.
They kept us up to date with simple … More and straightforward easy to understand process.
Great service and extremely great value for money,
very realistic costs and so great to deal with. -
I’ve been a client of Complete Conveyancing for 14 years and have completed five property transactions with them. Across every engagement, their professionalism, depth of knowledge, and genuine customer focus have been exceptional. In that … More entire time, I honestly haven’t experienced this level of consistency and service from any other business I’ve dealt with.
They make complex transactions feel straightforward and always act in your best interests. I wouldn’t consider using anyone else and recommend them without hesitation. -
Great company to deal with. They were super quick to respond, dealt with paperwork and any issues in a timely and highly professional manner, ensured we were aware emails had been sent and needed signing or checking and were on top of all … More details at all times, keeping us well informed. Well done and a huge thanks to Mick and the team, each of the 3 times working with you all has been an absolute pleasure.
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This is the second time I’ve worked with Complete Conveyancing & Corporate Services, having previously engaged them for the purchase of this property and more recently for the sale qand once again, the experience was outstanding.
From … More contract review through to settlement, everything was handled with professionalism, attention to detail, and clear communication. The team was proactive, easy to deal with, and ensured the entire process ran smoothly, including managing adjustments and settlement via PEXA.
It’s reassuring to work with a conveyancer who is thorough, responsive, and genuinely on top of the details.
I would confidently recommend Complete Conveyancing to anyone buying or selling property and would gladly engage them again in the future.
