Settlement is when the money changes hands and the property becomes the buyer’s. Most of the cost for a buyer is transfer duty, but there are smaller fees and adjustments on both sides. Your settlement agent sets them all out on a settlement statement before the day.
What a buyer usually pays
- Transfer duty (stamp duty), worked out on the price or value. First home buyers may pay less or none. See our WA stamp duty guide.
- Landgate transfer registration fee, based on the price. $355.10 on a $650,000 purchase.
- Landgate mortgage registration fee if you are borrowing: $225.10.
- Electronic lodgement fees, usually passed on by your settlement agent.
- Searches such as title, council, water and strata searches.
- Adjustments for council rates, water and strata levies.
- Your settlement agent’s fee and disbursements.
- Lender costs such as application or valuation fees, which vary by lender.
What a seller usually pays
- Mortgage discharge. Landgate charges $225.10 to register the discharge, and your lender may charge its own discharge fee. On a fixed rate, ask about break costs early.
- Electronic lodgement fees for the seller’s side.
- Adjustments where the buyer has paid for, or you have prepaid, part of a period.
- Real estate agent commission and marketing, usually paid from the sale proceeds at settlement.
- Your settlement agent’s fee and disbursements.
Landgate fees from 1 July 2026
Landgate updates its fees every 1 July. The ones most people see are:
| Landgate fee (2026–27) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer of land, up to $85,000 | $225.10 |
| Transfer of land, $500,001 to $600,000 | $335.10 |
| Transfer of land, $600,001 to $700,000 | $355.10 |
| Transfer of land, $900,001 to $1,000,000 | $415.10 |
| Register a mortgage | $225.10 |
| Discharge a mortgage | $225.10 |
| Copy of a Certificate of Title (title search) | $33.90 |
Landgate fees don’t attract GST.
Electronic settlement and PEXA
Most settlements in WA are now electronic, usually through PEXA. Both sides’ representatives and the banks work in one online workspace, and the money moves and the documents are lodged with Landgate at the same moment.
PEXA charges a fee for each document in the workspace. As a guide, a transfer is roughly $140 to $150, with smaller fees for a mortgage or discharge. Fees are reviewed every year, and your settlement agent usually includes them in their disbursements.
Adjustments: rates, water and strata
Council rates, water charges and strata levies are often paid ahead for a period. At settlement they are shared out, so the seller pays up to the settlement date and the buyer pays from then on.
If the seller has already paid the year’s council rates, the buyer reimburses the rest of the year. If something is unpaid, the seller’s share comes off what they receive. Depending on the contract, other costs may also be adjusted.
Settlement agent fees
Licensed settlement agents in WA set their own fees, so they vary. Ask for a written quote that shows the professional fee separately from disbursements, which are the searches and third-party fees passed on to you. Our guide What does a settlement agent do? explains what is included.
A worked example: a $650,000 home in Perth
Estimates only, for one buyer taking out one loan on a contract signed in 2026–27:
| Cost | Not a first home buyer | First home buyer |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer duty | $24,890 | $8,075 |
| Landgate transfer fee | $355.10 | $355.10 |
| Landgate mortgage fee | $225.10 | $225.10 |
| Government costs | $25,470.20 | $8,655.20 |
| Settlement agent fee, searches and PEXA | As quoted | As quoted |
Rates, water and strata adjustments and any lender fees come on top, and depend on the property and the settlement date.
When each cost is paid
- When you sign: the deposit, held in trust.
- Before or at settlement: searches and transfer duty, usually paid through your settlement agent.
- At settlement: Landgate and PEXA fees, adjustments, the balance of the price, and the seller’s loan payout.
- After settlement: any final account from your settlement agent not already deducted.
Common questions
Do all WA settlements go through PEXA?
Not all, but most settlements in WA are now electronic, usually through PEXA. Your settlement agent will tell you how yours will be handled.
Who pays stamp duty, the buyer or the seller?
In WA the buyer pays transfer duty. It is usually paid through the buyer’s settlement agent at or around settlement.
Why am I paying the seller back for council rates?
If the seller has paid rates for a period that runs past settlement, you reimburse the days after you take ownership. If rates are unpaid, the adjustment goes the other way.
Will my bank charge me when I sell and pay off my loan?
Often, yes. There is a Landgate discharge fee of $225.10, and your lender may charge its own discharge fee. Fixed-rate loans can also have break costs, so ask your lender early.
General information only, written on 11 October 2026. It doesn't take your personal circumstances into account. Rates, grants, tax rules and concessions change, so speak with us before making a decision.
