{"id":9451,"date":"2024-10-03T21:17:52","date_gmt":"2024-10-03T21:17:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/?page_id=9451"},"modified":"2024-10-03T21:17:54","modified_gmt":"2024-10-03T21:17:54","slug":"cut-house-settlement-costs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/cut-house-settlement-costs","title":{"rendered":"6 Smart Ways To Cut House Settlement Costs"},"content":{"rendered":"\t<div class=\"c-block-table-of-contents nw-table-of-contents wp-block-table-of-contents \">\n\t\t<div class=\"c-block-table-of-contents__table-wrapper c-block-table-of-contents--scrollable\">\n\t\t\t<h2 id=\"jump-to\"  class=\"c-block-table-of-contents__title\">Jump to<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<ul class=\"c-block-table-of-contents__links\">\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"c-block-table-of-contents__link\"><a href=\"#1-negotiate-fees-with-your-lender\">1. Negotiate fees with your lender<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-block-table-of-contents__link\"><a href=\"#2-cut-conveyancing-costs\">2. Cut conveyancing costs<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-block-table-of-contents__link\"><a href=\"#3-negotiate-your-real-estate-agents-fee\">3. Negotiate your real estate agent\u2019s fee<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-block-table-of-contents__link\"><a href=\"#4-lower-your-marketing-and-advertising-costs\">4. Lower your marketing and advertising costs\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-block-table-of-contents__link\"><a href=\"#5-consider-a-simultaneous-settlement\">5. Consider a simultaneous settlement<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-block-table-of-contents__link\"><a href=\"#6-adjust-the-length-of-the-settlement\">6. Adjust the length of the settlement<\/a><\/li>\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"c-block-table-of-contents__show-more--wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"c-block-table-of-contents__show-more\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<label class=\"show-more-label\" for=\"c-block-table-of-contents__show-more\">Show more<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t<label class=\"hide-more-label\" for=\"c-block-table-of-contents__show-more\">Show less<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Fees and charges may be unavoidable in the homebuying process, but finding ways to reduce or eliminate house <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/property-settlement\">settlement<\/a> costs can save you a lot in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"1-negotiate-fees-with-your-lender\"  class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Negotiate fees with your lender<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Before <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/settlement-day\">settlement day<\/a>, you\u2019ve already covered major expenses \u2014&nbsp;you\u2019ve handed over a deposit and paid <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/what-is-stamp-duty-on-a-house\">stamp duty<\/a>. But there are plenty of fees to anticipate, including:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"\">\n<li class=\"\">application and processing fees (if buying)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">establishment (or settlement) fees<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">valuation fees<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">loan payout fees (if selling).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Most <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/home-loan-lenders\">lenders<\/a>, especially banks, often charge fees for setting up and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/how-to-get-a-home-loan\">applying for loans<\/a>. Since you&#8217;ll be paying enormous amounts of interest over the loan term, you shouldn\u2019t be afraid to negotiate these fees. You have the leverage to request a fee waiver or reduction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Additionally, lenders may require a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/what-is-a-property-valuation\">property valuation<\/a> using their own valuer, which you, of course, have to foot the bill for. Valuation fees can cost hundreds of dollars, while loan application fees and establishment fees may be up to $1,000 each. These amounts may seem small compared to the property price, but every bit you can save in fees will make a big difference if you throw them at your loan\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/understanding-principal-and-interest-for-a-home-loan\">principal<\/a> at the outset of your mortgage.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">If you\u2019re working with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/questions-to-ask-mortgage-broker\">mortgage broker<\/a>, ask them to find a loan with minimal fees. Be cautious with obscure mortgage products offered by smaller, niche lenders, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/what-are-low-doc-home-loans\">low-doc loans<\/a>, which tend to have higher costs due to their higher risk profile.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">For sellers, there may be a loan payout fee, also known as an early payout fee, depending on the terms of your mortgage. You should be able to negotiate that fee, especially if you intend to take out another mortgage with the same lender for your next property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><strong>\u00bb MORE: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/how-to-negotiate-home-loan-interest-rate\">Can I negotiate my home loan\u2019s interest rate?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"2-cut-conveyancing-costs\"  class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Cut conveyancing costs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Solicitors can charge up to $2,0000 for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/what-is-conveyancing\">conveyancing on a residential property<\/a>. These costs can climb even higher for larger, more expensive homes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">If you&#8217;re lucky enough to have a family member or friend who is a solicitor, you can get them to do the conveyancing for mates rates, which may be half what they would typically charge.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">If you don&#8217;t know a solicitor personally, ask friends, family or colleagues because you&#8217;re bound to know someone who does. While tapping your social circle, ask anyone who recently went through the buying or selling process if they can provide trusted referrals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">You can also shop online for competitive rates. Make sure to research their reputation by reading client reviews or asking for referrals from recent buyers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><strong>\u00bb MORE: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/costs-of-buying-a-house\">Costs to know when buying a house<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"3-negotiate-your-real-estate-agent%e2%80%99s-fee\"  class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Negotiate your real estate agent\u2019s fee<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/what-is-a-real-estate-agent\">Real estate agents<\/a> usually charge a commission based on the sale price of your property, typically anywhere from 1.5% to 4%. The median commission is in the 2-2.5% price range, meaning that for a $500,000 sale, you can expect to pay around $10,000 to $12,500 in fees.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Once again, don\u2019t hesitate to negotiate. Many agents are willing to lower their commission, especially in a competitive market. You can also shop online for a cheaper agent but don\u2019t sacrifice too much for quality. A lower commission may not always mean better value, especially if it results in a lower sale price.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">In many cases, it\u2019s worth paying a standard or even higher commission to ensure you get the best sale price. For example, if an agent\u2019s higher commission leads to a better marketing strategy and stronger negotiation, the higher sale price may more than cover the extra fees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-lightest-blue-background-color has-background is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"\"><strong><strong>\ud83e\udd13 Nerdy Tip<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Before negotiating, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/questions-to-ask-a-real-estate-agent\">ask your real estate agent<\/a> about their experience, track record, and marketing plan to understand the value they bring to the table to make sure these are house settlement costs worth cutting.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"4-lower-your-marketing-and-advertising-costs%c2%a0\"  class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Lower your marketing and advertising costs\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Effective marketing is vital for getting the best price for your property, but it doesn\u2019t have to break the bank.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Your real estate agent should be on top of the best places to advertise so you get the most bang for your buck. However, their strategy will likely involve advertising in the glossy property sections of local newspapers, which are expensive.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Discuss more affordable alternatives, like online listings or targeted digital ads, which can reach a broader audience for less. Also, researching online property forums can help you see where to get the cheapest exposure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Lowering these fees can make a big difference in your overall house settlement costs, especially since large colour print ads, even in community newspapers, can run into the thousands of dollars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"5-consider-a-simultaneous-settlement\"  class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Consider a simultaneous settlement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">If you\u2019re selling a property and buying another, a simultaneous settlement \u2014\u00a0where you settle on the old and new properties on the same day \u2014\u00a0may be worth considering. By settling on both properties at the same time, you avoid paying rent for temporary housing and can minimise moving costs, as you\u2019ll only need to move once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">However, this strategy is risky, potentially leading to financing delays and difficulties in coordinating both transactions. It\u2019s important to talk to a property professional and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/questions-to-ask-mortgage-lender\">ask your lender<\/a> to ensure a simultaneous settlement is feasible for your situation and won\u2019t cause unnecessary complications, which could lead to higher house settlement costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"6-adjust-the-length-of-the-settlement\"  class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Adjust the length of the settlement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The settlement period is the time between the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/exchange-of-contracts\">exchange of contracts<\/a> and when you finalise the sale on settlement day. While this period is typically six weeks, you can negotiate a shorter or longer time frame depending on your needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">If, for example, you\u2019re <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/rent-vs-buy\">renting<\/a> and are eager to move into your new property as quickly as possible, a shorter settlement could help you save on rent and start <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/how-to-pay-off-your-mortgage-faster\">paying down your mortgage faster<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">On the other hand, a longer settlement may be ideal if you need more time to save or get your finances in better order. An extended period can provide breathing room so you have time to secure additional funds \u2014 potentially by staying with family or friends \u2014&nbsp;before you take on mortgage repayments.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Strategies like these have been highly successful in helping people save money from their total mortgage bills. Of course, you need to do some calculations to weigh up the potential savings for each option. Talk to an expert to determine the best settlement length for your situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"nwb-authors nwb-authors__footer wp-block-nerdwallet-blocks-authors-card\">\n\t<div class=\"nwb-authors__wrapper\">\n\t\t<h4 id=\"about-the-author\"  class=\"nwb-authors__title\">\n\t\t\tAbout the Author\t\t<\/h4>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"nwb-authors__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/author\/alan-hartstein\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"nwb-authors__image\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/10\/Alan-Hartstein-portrait-100x100.jpeg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\twidth=\"120\" height=\"120\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"Alan Hartstein photo\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/author\/alan-hartstein\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Alan Hartstein<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"nwb-authors__bio\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Alan Hartstein has worked in publishing for over 25 years as a writer and editor across broadsheets, tabloids, magazines, trade publications and numerous forms of digital content. Alan was initially&hellip;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/author\/alan-hartstein\" title=\"Read more about Alan Hartstein\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Read more about Alan Hartstein and explore their articles<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t<section class=\"c-block-card-grid container\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 id=\"dive-even-deeper\"  class=\"c-block-card-grid__title\">\n\t\t\t\tDIVE EVEN DEEPER\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"c-block-card-grid-scroll column-four\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"c-block-card-grid-scroll__column\">\n<div id=\"post-9224\" class=\"c-block-card post-9224 page type-page status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry content-classification-home-loans topic-home-loan-basics cluster-home-loan-basics\">\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__inner c-block-card__inner--large\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"c-block-card__image-wrapper\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/pre-settlement-inspection\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"460\" height=\"244\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/09\/final-pre-settlement-inspection-e1726769777186-460x244.jpg\" class=\"c-block-card__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"Pre-Settlement Inspection: Your Final Check\" \/>\t<\/a><!-- .c-entry__thumbnail -->\n\t\t\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\n<h4 id=\"pre-settlement-inspection-your-final-check\"  class=\"c-block-card__title\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/pre-settlement-inspection\" rel=\"bookmark\" class=\"c-block-card__title-link\">\n\t\tPre-Settlement Inspection: Your Final Check\t<\/a>\n<\/h4>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content\">\n\t\t<p>When done properly, a final pre-settlement inspection should give you the confidence that you\u2019re getting what you paid for and that no issues are likely to arise in the future.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__authors\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline--wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/author\/alan-hartstein\" class=\"author url fn\" rel=\"author\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/10\/Alan-Hartstein-portrait-40x40.jpeg\" class=\"avatar avatar-32 photo wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>Alan Hartstein<\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><!-- .c-card__content-wrapper -->\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- #post-9224 -->\n<\/div><div class=\"c-block-card-grid-scroll__column\">\n<div id=\"post-5224\" class=\"c-block-card post-5224 page type-page status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry content-classification-home-loans topic-home-loan-basics cluster-home-loan-basics\">\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__inner c-block-card__inner--large\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"c-block-card__image-wrapper\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/mortgage-discharge-fee\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"460\" height=\"245\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/11\/GettyImages-1412934176-e1722802522798-460x245.jpg\" class=\"c-block-card__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"What is a Mortgage Discharge Fee?\" \/>\t<\/a><!-- .c-entry__thumbnail -->\n\t\t\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\n<h4 id=\"what-is-a-mortgage-discharge-fee\"  class=\"c-block-card__title\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/mortgage-discharge-fee\" rel=\"bookmark\" class=\"c-block-card__title-link\">\n\t\tWhat is a Mortgage Discharge Fee?\t<\/a>\n<\/h4>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content\">\n\t\t<p>Mortgage discharge fees are a common part of paying off a mortgage loan in Australia. However, you might be able to reduce the final cost of obtaining that coveted property title. <\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__authors\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline--wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/author\/tamara-p-rossi\" class=\"author url fn\" rel=\"author\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/10\/Tamara-P.-Rossi-40x40.jpeg\" class=\"avatar avatar-32 photo wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>Tamara P. Rossi<\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><!-- .c-card__content-wrapper -->\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- #post-5224 -->\n<\/div><div class=\"c-block-card-grid-scroll__column\">\n<div id=\"post-8463\" class=\"c-block-card post-8463 page type-page status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry content-classification-home-loans topic-rental-properties cluster-investment-property-basics\">\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__inner c-block-card__inner--large\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"c-block-card__image-wrapper\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/investment-property-costs\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"460\" height=\"245\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/08\/Costs-of-buying-an-investment-property-e1723849542727-460x245.jpg\" class=\"c-block-card__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"Costs Of Buying An Investment Property\" \/>\t<\/a><!-- .c-entry__thumbnail -->\n\t\t\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\n<h4 id=\"costs-of-buying-an-investment-property\"  class=\"c-block-card__title\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/investment-property-costs\" rel=\"bookmark\" class=\"c-block-card__title-link\">\n\t\tCosts Of Buying An Investment Property\t<\/a>\n<\/h4>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content\">\n\t\t<p>Property is an attractive investment opportunity to generate capital gain and rental income. But with these benefits come specific costs that differ from an owner-occupied property.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__authors\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline--wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/author\/aaron-bell\" class=\"author url fn\" rel=\"author\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/11\/Aaron-Bell-150x150.jpg\" class=\"avatar avatar-32 photo wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>Aaron Bell<\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><!-- .c-card__content-wrapper -->\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- #post-8463 -->\n<\/div><div class=\"c-block-card-grid-scroll__column\">\n<div id=\"post-9346\" class=\"c-block-card post-9346 page type-page status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry content-classification-home-loans topic-home-loan-basics cluster-home-loan-basics\">\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__inner c-block-card__inner--large\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"c-block-card__image-wrapper\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/what-is-a-settlement-statement\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"460\" height=\"198\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/09\/settlement-statement-e1727216224606-460x198.jpg\" class=\"c-block-card__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"What Is a Settlement Statement? Why Is It Important?\" \/>\t<\/a><!-- .c-entry__thumbnail -->\n\t\t\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\n<h4 id=\"what-is-a-settlement-statement-why-is-it-important\"  class=\"c-block-card__title\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/home-loans\/what-is-a-settlement-statement\" rel=\"bookmark\" class=\"c-block-card__title-link\">\n\t\tWhat Is a Settlement Statement? Why Is It Important?\t<\/a>\n<\/h4>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content\">\n\t\t<p>A settlement statement provides a clear breakdown of all expenditures to ensure both the buyer and seller understand their obligations on settlement day.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__authors\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline--wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/author\/alan-hartstein\" class=\"author url fn\" rel=\"author\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/10\/Alan-Hartstein-portrait-40x40.jpeg\" class=\"avatar avatar-32 photo wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>Alan Hartstein<\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><!-- .c-card__content-wrapper -->\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- #post-9346 -->\n<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover ways to lower house settlement costs \u2014 from lender fees to conveyancing and marketing expenses \u2014 when buying or selling property. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":9452,"parent":171,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/article-sidebar.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":"[]","apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":"","_nw_pros_cons_block_schema":""},"content-classification":[7],"topic":[278],"cluster":[339],"pp_author":[94],"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.1 - 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