Buying budget
Upfront buying costs calculator
Estimate the cash needed for deposit, duty, checks, legal costs, lender fees, and moving costs before settlement.
Buying budget estimate
Estimate the cash needed before settlement.
Add deposit, duty, lender costs, checks, conveyancing, and moving costs so the purchase budget is less likely to surprise you.
Short explanation
Understanding upfront buying costs
The property price is only one part of the purchase budget. Upfront costs can affect deposit, LVR, lender choice, and whether there is enough cash left after settlement.
What upfront buying costs include
Upfront buying costs usually include deposit, transfer duty, conveyancing, building and pest checks, lender fees, mortgage registration, transfer registration, moving costs, and sometimes lenders mortgage insurance.
Settlement adjustments, insurance, body corporate records, strata reports, or urgent repairs can add further costs depending on the property.
Deposit, LVR, and cash needed
A larger deposit can reduce LVR, but cash also needs to cover duty and other purchase costs. A borrower with a 10% deposit may still need more than 10% of the property price in available funds.
If upfront costs reduce the available deposit, it may affect lender choice, mortgage insurance, or approval conditions.
First-home buyer costs
First-home buyers may be eligible for grants or concessions, but eligibility changes by state and can depend on property value, property type, contract date, and residency requirements.
Treat grants and concessions as something to verify before relying on a reduced cash requirement.
Want the full explanation? Read: First home buyers
Estimate basisHow this upfront costs estimate works
This page follows the calculator-plus-guide pattern: show the estimate, explain each input, then route the buyer to broker and conveyancer checks before relying on the number.
- The calculator combines deposit, estimated transfer duty, registration, conveyancing, building and pest checks, lender fees, moving costs, cash available, and any entered LMI figure.
- It estimates LVR and a cash buffer or shortfall after the entered upfront costs.
- It does not confirm grant eligibility, concessions, lender approval, exact legal costs, insurance, settlement adjustments, or final government charges.
- A broker can test deposit, LVR, loan amount, LMI, and repayment impact while a conveyancer confirms legal and settlement figures.
Frequently asked questions
Upfront buying costs calculator FAQ
How much cash do I need to buy a home?
A starting estimate is deposit plus transfer duty, legal costs, inspections, lender fees, registrations, moving costs, and any mortgage insurance. The exact amount depends on property, state, lender, and buyer circumstances.
Are upfront costs included in the home loan?
Some costs may be funded indirectly depending on deposit and LVR, but buyers usually need enough available cash to cover deposit and settlement costs.
What is lenders mortgage insurance?
LMI is insurance that can apply when borrowing above certain LVR levels. It protects the lender, not the borrower, and can affect upfront or capitalised costs.
Should I include moving costs in the calculator?
Yes. They are not lender costs, but they still affect cash available after settlement and should be part of the budget.
Can a broker help with upfront costs?
A broker can help model deposit, LVR, lender fees, LMI, loan options, and repayment impact, while a conveyancer confirms legal and settlement figures.
Before you make an offer
A calculator gives you a starting number.
Check the full cash position, not just the purchase price.
Treat the cost estimate as a planning figure. State duty rules, concessions, inspections, legal costs, lender fees and cash left after settlement still need to be checked.
- Confirm cash neededInclude deposit, duty, legal costs, inspections, lender fees, LMI, and settlement adjustments.
- Protect the bufferAvoid using every dollar at settlement if you still need moving, furniture, repairs, or emergency funds.
- Speak with a brokerA broker can compare deposit, LVR, loan options, and whether the budget fits lender policy.
This calculator provides a general estimate only. It is not approval, credit advice, legal advice, tax advice, or a loan recommendation. Actual costs depend on state duty rules, grants, lender fees, LMI, settlement adjustments, insurance, legal costs, borrower circumstances, and verification.