What your North Fremantle settlement agent does
North Fremantle sits about 6 km west of our Myaree office, in Perth’s western suburbs. Once the contract is signed there is a fair bit to organise before the property changes hands, and that is what we do.
WA does things slightly differently to the eastern states. Conveyancing here is done by licensed settlement agents or by lawyers, and settlement agents work under the Settlement Agents Act 1981 and a code of conduct. We are licensed, and we will tell you when a question is really one for a lawyer.
North Fremantle is close enough that a home visit to sign the paperwork is easy to arrange, including on weekends.
Local North Fremantle property, local paperwork
Close to the coast, North Fremantle has a real mix: older homes on decent blocks, newer builds where something older was knocked down, and apartments and villas within reach of the beach. That mix matters, because a strata unit settles quite differently to a green title house.
- If there is a tenant in place, the contract needs to say how that is being handled
- Knock-down-rebuild sites can carry easements or notifications worth checking straight away
- Apartments and older flats are strata, so levies, special levies and by-laws all come into it
- Character and heritage questions belong with the council, and are worth checking before you sign
- Regular updates so you are not left wondering where things are at
Selling or buying nearby instead? See Fremantle settlement agent, South Fremantle, White Gum Valley, Beaconsfield and Hilton.
North Fremantle settlement, step by step
One thing that confuses a lot of North Fremantle buyers and sellers is adjustments. Council rates, water and strata levies are often paid ahead for a period. At settlement they are split so the seller pays up to the settlement date and the buyer pays from then on.
Those figures all come together in the settlement statement, which you see before the day. If something looks off, ask us. We would rather explain it twice than have you sign something you do not follow.
The North Fremantle settlements we take on
Common North Fremantle conveyancing jobs that come across our desk:
- Lodgement of documents with Landgate
- Green title and strata title subdivision settlements
- Transfer duty arranged through State Revenue Online as part of the settlement
- Settlements for houses, duplexes, townhouses and villa strata, for buyers and sellers
- Vacant land settlements
- Strata settlements, including strata information and levy adjustments
- Private sales, where there is no real estate agent involved
There is more on our North Fremantle conveyancing page, plus general information for purchasers and for sellers.
Settlement agent FAQs for North Fremantle
Is conveyancing the same as settlement in WA?
Pretty much. In WA the work is usually called settlement and is done by licensed settlement agents, who are also known as conveyancers, or by lawyers. We are a licensed settlement agent handling North Fremantle property.
Do I have to attend settlement?
No. Transfers and mortgages in WA generally have to be lodged electronically, so settlement is completed online and you do not need to attend. We let you know once your North Fremantle settlement has gone through.
Is there a cooling-off period when I buy in North Fremantle?
Generally, no. Once a WA property contract is signed there is no cooling-off period unless one has been added as a special condition, so be sure before you sign.
Will my settlement agent come out to North Fremantle?
In most cases, yes. North Fremantle is a short trip from our Myaree office, so a home appointment to sign the paperwork can usually be arranged, including on weekends.