How to Buy Property in Queensland. The Full Process for 2026

Buying a property in Queensland follows a standardised path. The REIQ standard contract dominates residential sales. A new statutory seller disclosure regime begins on 1 August 2026 and represents the biggest change to Queensland conveyancing in a generation.

This guide walks through the Queensland process step by step. It covers the REIQ contract, the cooling-off window, the solicitor role (Queensland is a solicitor-only state), inspections, deposit and settlement mechanics and the Queensland quirks worth knowing. AgentBridge publishes this guide as general information for buyers. It does not replace personalised legal or financial advice.

The Queensland Property Purchase in Brief

A Queensland purchase begins with the REIQ Contract for Houses and Residential Land or the REIQ Contract for Residential Lots in a Community Titles Scheme. Contract signs with a deposit and a 5 business day cooling-off period begins. A solicitor handles searches, the seller disclosure document, requisitions and settlement. Settlement is commonly 30 days from contract.

Element	Queensland 2026 Position
Cooling-off period	5 business days from contract date
Standard contract	REIQ Contract (Houses and Residential Land or Community Titles)
Conveyancer or solicitor	Solicitor only (no licensed conveyancer profession in QLD)
Deposit	Typically 10%, often split as initial $1,000 then balance
Settlement period	Commonly 30 days

The Contract. What Document Is Used in Queensland

Queensland's standard documents are the REIQ Contract for Houses and Residential Land (for free-standing houses and vacant land) and the REIQ Contract for Residential Lots in a Community Titles Scheme (for apartments and townhouses). These contracts are issued jointly by the Real Estate Institute of Queensland and the Queensland Law Society.

The contract carries warning statements and prescribed cooling-off notices on its face. Special conditions are commonly added for finance, building and pest inspections. These conditions are subject-to clauses that allow the buyer to terminate if the condition is not satisfied.

Queensland is moving to a new seller disclosure regime from 1 August 2026. Sellers will need to give buyers a prescribed disclosure statement and approved disclosure documents before the buyer signs. Non-compliance gives the buyer rights to terminate at any time before settlement.

Cooling-Off. How It Works in Queensland

Queensland gives residential buyers a 5 business day cooling-off period that starts on the day the buyer receives a copy of the signed contract. The buyer can rescind during this window. A 0.25% termination penalty applies to the purchase price.

Cooling-off does not apply to auction purchases, to property bought through a contract that includes the auction conditions, or to property bought within 2 clear business days of a publicly advertised auction. Off-the-plan purchases attract the standard 5 business day window unless varied by contract.

A buyer can waive or shorten the cooling-off period in writing. This is uncommon outside competitive private treaty negotiations. Buyers should weigh the trade-off before signing a waiver and take advice from their solicitor.

The Conveyancer or Solicitor Role

Queensland is a solicitor-only conveyancing state. Licensed conveyancers do not exist as a separate profession. Buyers must engage a Queensland-admitted solicitor or law firm to handle the legal work between contract and settlement.

Typical scope includes reviewing the REIQ contract before signing, advising on the cooling-off window and special conditions, ordering title searches and council searches, calculating settlement adjustments, dealing with the bank or broker, attending PEXA settlement and registering the transfer with Titles Queensland.

Fees in 2026 range broadly from $1,200 to $2,500 for a standard purchase, plus disbursements. Buyers should ask for a written quote that separates professional fees from search disbursements. Complex purchases such as community titles, trusts and SMSF transactions sit at the higher end.

Inspections. Building, Pest, Strata

Queensland's REIQ contract has dedicated subject-to clauses for building and pest inspections. These conditions give the buyer the right to terminate or negotiate if a satisfactory report cannot be obtained. Combined building and pest inspections cost $400 to $800 in metropolitan markets.

For community titles property (apartments, townhouses and similar) a body corporate search is recommended. This reviews the body corporate's financial reserves, levies, sinking fund, disputes and pending capital works. Standard cost is $250 to $450 per report.

Climate-specific risks deserve close attention in Queensland. Termites are common across the state. Cyclone exposure affects insurance and building requirements above the Tropic of Capricorn. Flood mapping and overland flow paths matter for South East Queensland properties post-2022.

Deposit. Finance Approval and Settlement Timeline

The standard deposit on a Queensland contract is 10% of the purchase price. Many contracts split the deposit: an initial $1,000 holding deposit on signing, with the balance payable within a fixed number of days. The full deposit is held in trust by the agent until settlement.

Finance approval is the buyer's responsibility. The REIQ contract includes an optional finance clause that gives a finance approval date. If finance is not approved by that date, the buyer can terminate. Buyers without unconditional approval should speak to a licensed broker or adviser before signing.

Settlement is the day legal ownership transfers. Standard settlement in Queensland is 30 days from contract. Electronic settlement via PEXA is now the default. The buyer's bank releases funds, the vendor's bank discharges any existing mortgage and the transfer is registered with Titles Queensland.

State-Specific Quirks Worth Knowing

The seller disclosure regime starting 1 August 2026 is the most important change. Sellers must provide a Form 2 Disclosure Statement and the prescribed disclosure documents before the buyer signs. Buyers who sign without receiving these documents have a right to terminate any time before settlement.

Queensland's stamp duty (formally transfer duty) has a strong first home concession threshold and a home concession for owner-occupiers. The $30,000 First Home Owner Grant for new builds is in place subject to its extension provisions. Buyers should check the current threshold settings with the Queensland Revenue Office.

Body corporate (community titles) regulation in Queensland is governed by the Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997. Disclosure of body corporate matters is captured in the REIQ Community Titles Contract. Buyers of apartments and townhouses should read this section carefully.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a solicitor to buy property in Queensland? Yes. Queensland is a solicitor-only state for property conveyancing. Licensed conveyancers do not exist as a separate profession. A Queensland-admitted solicitor or law firm handles the legal work.

How long is the cooling-off period in Queensland? Five business days from the day the buyer receives a copy of the signed contract. A 0.25% termination penalty applies on rescission. Cooling-off does not apply to auction purchases.

What changes on 1 August 2026 for Queensland buyers? A new statutory seller disclosure regime begins. Sellers must give buyers a Form 2 Disclosure Statement and prescribed disclosure documents before the buyer signs. Non-compliance gives the buyer rights to terminate.

What is the standard settlement period in Queensland? Settlement is negotiable but 30 days from contract is the standard for established homes. Off-the-plan settlement happens on practical completion. Vacant land and house-and-land contracts may have longer or staged settlement.

Can I include a finance condition in my Queensland contract? Yes. The REIQ contract has a standard finance clause. The buyer nominates a finance approval date and can terminate if approval is not obtained by that date. At auction the contract is unconditional.

Related Resources

• Australian Stamp Duty Explained State by State
• Cooling-Off Periods State by State for Australian Buyers
• Queensland Transfer Duty Explained. Rates Concessions and How to Calculate It
• Queensland First Home Concession and Grants for 2026

About AgentBridge

AgentBridge is a property distribution business that connects sellers and developers with a national network of 80+ buyers agents. Every engagement includes national distribution, a professional property brief, desktop valuation guidance and negotiation facilitation. This guide is published as general information for buyers and does not constitute personalised legal or financial advice.

Last reviewed: 22 May 2026.