Property Lawyers in Brisbane

Buying a home in Queensland usually comes with a cooling off period. According to the Queensland Government, the standard contract gives buyers 5 business days, starting the day they receive a copy of the signed contract. Auctions have no cooling off period, and a buyer who ends a contract during cooling off may lose up to 0.25% of the purchase price.

Brisbane buyers deal with everything from older Queenslanders to new townhouses and apartments bought off the plan, and each brings its own contract issues. A property lawyer can review the contract and special conditions before you sign, then handle the steps through to settlement. Selling a home also involves contract and disclosure work that a lawyer can manage.

McInnes Wilson Lawyers
Level 23, Central Plaza, 345 Queen Street
Brisbane QLD 4000
Tel: (07) 3231 0600

McInnes Wilson Lawyers acts in residential property matters from its office in Central Plaza on Queen Street. Its team handles conveyancing for buyers and sellers, house and land packages, off the plan purchases and property buying by overseas investors, including the investment rules that may apply to them. Clients include families, real estate agents, developers and financial planners. A separate commercial real estate and projects team looks after business property work.

Bennett & Philp Lawyers
Level 5, 69 Ann Street
Brisbane QLD 4000
Tel: (07) 3001 2999

Bennett & Philp Lawyers has a property team at its Ann Street office that acts for people buying and selling homes and investment properties in Queensland. Work includes contract negotiations, conveyancing, mortgage and finance documents, due diligence, subdivisions and body corporate disputes. The team handles vacant land, off the plan packages, houses, townhouses, community title units and high rise apartments, and is led by a director the site describes as an Accredited Property Specialist.
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Thynne + Macartney
Level 32, Riverside Centre, 123 Eagle Street
Brisbane QLD 4000
Tel: (07) 3231 8888

Thynne + Macartney’s property team works from the Riverside Centre on Eagle Street and the firm’s Cairns and Toowoomba offices. It handles buying and selling property, structuring, development including strata title and off the plan projects plus leasing for landlords, tenants and property managers. Advice also covers GST and transfer duty, town planning and heritage issues plus compulsory acquisition claims in the Land Court. Clients range from developers, councils and rural producers to schools, private individuals and families.
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Attwood Marshall Lawyers
Level 6, Santos Place, 32 Turbot Street
Brisbane QLD 4000
Tel: 1800 621 071

From its Brisbane office in Santos Place, Attwood Marshall Lawyers handles conveyancing for houses, townhouses, units, investment properties, vacant land and off the plan purchases. The team reviews contracts before signing, negotiates terms, drafts special conditions and runs property searches. It can also advise on stamp duty concessions and first home owner grants, and most settlements are completed electronically through PEXA. Commercial conveyancing is listed as a separate service on its site.
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Cooper Grace Ward
Level 21, 400 George Street
Brisbane QLD 4000
Tel: (07) 3231 2444

Cooper Grace Ward’s property group concentrates on commercial work from its George Street office. It acts on the purchase and sale of commercial, retail and rural property and on commercial, industrial and retail leasing including shopping centres. Planning, development and project structuring such as joint ventures and syndicates are also covered. Other work includes construction contracts, resumption and compensation claims, easements and body corporate matters. Clients include developers, owners, investors, landlords, contractors and government bodies.
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Mullins Lawyers
Level 21, 123 Eagle Street
Brisbane City QLD 4000
Tel: (07) 3224 0222

Mullins Lawyers advises property investors, developers, funds and private owners from its Eagle Street office. Property work covers development and land subdivision, joint ventures and development agreements, leasing, building and construction plus body corporate and community management. The firm also handles hotel and pub transactions, hotel management agreements, liquor and gaming licensing plus resumptions. Conveyancing is listed as a separate service on its site.
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Cooling off and auctions

Buyers can cancel during the cooling off period by giving signed written notice to the seller or the seller’s agent before 5pm on the final day. The seller must then refund the deposit within 14 days, less any termination penalty. A buyer can also waive or shorten the period in writing.

Cooling off does not apply to a contract signed within 2 business days after an unsuccessful auction where the buyer was a registered bidder. Getting advice before auction day is often the safer path.

Costs and what to ask

Many property lawyers quote a set fee for a standard purchase or sale, with searches and other outlays charged on top. Queensland rules on costs disclosure still apply, and the Legal Services Commission says detailed written disclosure is required where costs will exceed $3,000.

Ask who will look after your file day to day and how the firm will keep you updated before settlement. For an off the plan purchase, ask the lawyer to explain the sunset date and what happens if the build runs late.

Other practice areas in Brisbane

Looking outside Brisbane? Browse property lawyers in other cities.