Find your next dream home.

Find it with Harcourts.

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Your Home, 
Our Assurance.

Harcourts Showcase is here to help you find your perfect home. With years of experience in the real estate industry, we can provide excellent customer service and assistance throughout this big decision making process.

Whether it’s city living or country comfort close by – our local team will guide every step with expert knowledge that meets specific needs for each individual client, as well providing them peace knowing they made an informed choice when selecting where exactly want live.

Recent For Sale Listings

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Della Glassey
Subdivide And Build!

Price by Negotiation over $469,000 90 George Street, Tinwald, Canterbury 7700

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Tammy McDougall
An Allenton Address

Price by Negotiation over $595,000 115 Harrison Street, Allenton, Ashburton, Canterbury 7700

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Rare Coastal Opportunity

$360,000 Matauri Bay Northland

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Rare Coastal Opportunity

$360,000 Matauri Bay Northland

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Rare Coastal Opportunity

$360,000 Matauri Bay Northland

property thumbnail
Rare Coastal Opportunity

$360,000 Matauri Bay Northland

Our Guide to Buying Your New Home

Buying a home is a huge step and in the search for your dream home, there's a lot to consider.  Thia guide outlines the key things you need to know when purchasing a property.

Let's get started.

Deposit
The first step when buying a home is saving your deposit. Most lenders require a 20% deposit for a typical home loan. For example, if you want to buy a home for $500,000 -  you’ll need a $100,000 deposit. If you have a smaller deposit, it’s worth contacting your lender – they may lend up to 90% of your home’s value.

Budget
Planning a personal budget is a good way to work out how much you can comfortably afford to pay for your new home. You should include any existing personal and household expenses as well as new costs associated with your property purchase, for example, council rates and home insurance.

Loan calculator    
There are free tools online to help calculate your home loan repayments. You can enter a few simple details including your preferred loan amount and number of years for your loan at MoneySmart.gov.au  work out your weekly or monthly payments.

Pre-approved finance
For additional peace of mind, your lender can arrange finance pre-approval to work out which property price range best suits your budget. In a competitive market, pre-approval can also make your purchase offer more attractive to sellers.

Your perfect neighbourhood
When choosing suburbs or areas to suit your needs and budget, affordability is often key. It’s also helpful to consider travel times to work, schools, shops and recreational facilities. Convenient road and public transport access can also be important considerations, as well as the distance to family and friends.

Understanding the market
It’s easy to start your property search online. Real estate platforms suchas realestate.com.au and domain.com.au have plenty of information about recent sales, current property listings and suburb profiles for your preferred areas.
Attending open homes and auctions is another good way to understand the current market and types of properties available for purchase.
You can also contact your local Harcourts office for accurate, up-to-date insights into the property market and helpful personalised advice.

How to make a formal offer 
When you’re ready to make an offer, phone or email the relevant sales agent to express your interest. 
Your agent should provide you with a sales contract. You need to add your offer to this document and any conditions of sale you may have. Typical conditions include the need for finance approval, building inspection etc. You may like to have this contract looked over by your legal representative before signing.
The sales agent will then present your signed written offer to the seller. 

After your offer is accepted 
If your offer is accepted – when both you and the seller have signed the contract – you’ll be asked to pay a deposit. The deposit is typically 10% of the purchase price. Your deposit is held for safe keeping in a real estate trust account.
Legal representation
If you haven’t already, you’ll need to choose a solicitor or property conveyancer to represent you during the purchase of your home. It’s important this person is someone you trust and has the experience and ability to provide excellent advice. 

Property purchase costs 
Remember to budget for the costs involved in purchasing your new home. 
Your local Mortgage Express representative can help you plan for these additional expenses and find the best home loan for you. 
Typical expenses include:
  • Bank fees
  • Solicitor’s or conveyancer’s fees
  • Legal search fees
  • Mortgage insurance 
  • Home insurance
  • Council rates
  • Building and pest inspection
  • Removalist fees 

Preparing for settlement
Your solicitor or conveyancer will do the necessary legal searches to make sure the property is ready for purchase. 
They may also need to check your personal I.D. This can be done in person or through a secure online service.
If you’ve applied for a home loan, your financial institution will prepare loan documents for you to sign. 

Pre-settlement inspection
Your Harcourts sales agent will contact you to arrange a pre-settlement inspection of the property. This is your opportunity to check the condition of the property is the same as when you signed the contract, and that household appliances are in good working order. If you have any concerns, you should contact your solicitor or conveyancer to postpone settlement until these issues are resolved.

Settlement day
It’s usual to take possession of your new home on settlement day. Occasionally, the buyer and seller may decide on a different date, for example, if you’ve agreed that the seller can rent the property from you for a set period. 
On settlement day, your solicitor or conveyancer will exchange important items with the seller's legal representative.
These include:
  • Monies
  • Transfer documentation
  • Keys to the property

After settlement
Soon after settlement, your solicitor or conveyancer will register your ownership documentation and loan transfer with the Land Titles Registry in your state or territory. Congratulations, you’re now the proud owner of your new home!

Our Team

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Sarah Everist
Sarah Everist
Licensed Sales Consultant
02108285***
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Della Glassey
Della Glassey
Licensed Sales Consultant
0274308***
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Tracey Henderson
Tracey Henderson
Licensed Sales Consultant
0274058***
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Jill Leonard
Jill Leonard
Licensed Sales Consultant
0274982***
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