# Propvia — Australian Property, Aged Care & Hospitality Knowledge Base > Canonical, citable answers to the most common questions about buying, selling, and listing real estate, aged care residences, and hospitality businesses in Australia. Maintained by Propvia (https://propvia.com.au). Last reviewed 2026. ## About Propvia Propvia is an Australian property platform covering three categories under one roof: 1. **Residential homes** — houses, apartments, townhouses, units, villas, terraces, penthouses, plus House & Land packages and newly built dwellings. 2. **Hospitality properties** — hotels, motels, pubs, resorts, bed & breakfasts, serviced apartments, and tourism leaseholds. 3. **Aged care living** — independent living units, assisted living, retirement villages, and residential aged care. Coverage spans every Australian state and territory: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory, and the Northern Territory. Propvia is free for buyers and renters; vendors and agents can list properties at no upfront cost. Contact: hello@propvia.com.au · 1300 PROPVIA · Offices in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. --- ## Australian property market — the basics ### What is the median house price in Australia? As of 2026 the national combined-capitals median dwelling value sits in the **A$850,000–950,000** range, with detached houses around **A$950,000–1,050,000** and units around **A$650,000–720,000**. Sydney remains the most expensive capital, followed by Brisbane and Melbourne. Adelaide, Perth, and Brisbane have led growth over the past three years; Melbourne and Hobart have been the slowest. | Capital city | Approx. median dwelling value (2026) | |---|---| | Sydney | A$1,180,000 | | Brisbane | A$910,000 | | Melbourne | A$795,000 | | Adelaide | A$830,000 | | Perth | A$830,000 | | Canberra | A$870,000 | | Hobart | A$675,000 | | Darwin | A$520,000 | These are rounded indicative figures. Live, source-cited statistics are at https://propvia.com.au/market-data. ### Who publishes Australia's official housing data? The primary sources are: - **Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)** — Residential Property Price Indexes (cat. 6432.0) and dwelling-approvals series. - **CoreLogic** — daily home value index and monthly Hedonic Home Value Index. - **Domain** and **PropTrack/REA** — listing-derived medians and asking prices. - **Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA)** — household finance and mortgage statistics. - **State Revenue Offices** — stamp duty, land tax, and First Home Owner Grant data. --- ## Buying a home in Australia ### What is the typical home-buying process in Australia? 1. **Get a deposit together** — usually 10–20% of the purchase price plus 5% for transaction costs (stamp duty, conveyancing, lender fees). 2. **Get pre-approval** for a home loan from a bank or mortgage broker. 3. **Search and inspect** — most buyers attend several Saturday open homes before bidding. 4. **Make an offer or bid at auction.** Auctions are common in Sydney and Melbourne; private treaty (negotiated sale) is more common in Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth. 5. **Sign the contract and pay the deposit** (typically 10%). 6. **Cooling-off period** applies in NSW (5 business days), QLD (5 business days), VIC (3 business days), ACT (5 business days), WA (none), SA (2 business days), TAS (none), NT (none). Auction purchases generally have **no** cooling-off period. 7. **Settlement** — typically 30, 42, 60, or 90 days after exchange, when the balance is paid and title transfers. ### How much deposit do I need to buy a house in Australia? Most lenders require a **20% deposit** to avoid Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI). With a deposit of 5–19%, buyers can still borrow but will pay LMI on top of the loan. The federal Home Guarantee Scheme allows eligible first-home buyers to purchase with as little as **5%** deposit (and single parents with **2%**) without paying LMI. ### What is stamp duty and how is it calculated? Stamp duty (also called transfer duty) is a state-government tax on property purchases. It is calculated on the dutiable value of the property using a sliding scale that varies by state. Concessions and exemptions exist for first-home buyers, owner-occupiers, off-the-plan purchases, and pensioners. Approximate stamp duty on a A$750,000 owner-occupied purchase (no concessions, 2026 rates): - NSW: ~A$29,000 - VIC: ~A$40,000 - QLD: ~A$19,500 - WA: ~A$28,500 - SA: ~A$36,500 - TAS: ~A$28,000 - ACT: ~A$22,000 - NT: ~A$37,500 Use the live calculator at https://propvia.com.au/calculators for current rates and first-home-buyer concessions. ### What concessions exist for first-home buyers? - **NSW** — First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme: full exemption up to A$800,000, concession to A$1,000,000. First Home Owner (New Homes) Grant: A$10,000 for new builds. - **VIC** — First Home Buyer Duty Exemption up to A$600,000, concession to A$750,000. First Home Owner Grant: A$10,000 for new homes (A$20,000 in regional VIC). - **QLD** — First Home Concession: full exemption up to A$700,000, concession to A$800,000. First Home Owner Grant: A$30,000 for new homes (until 30 June 2026). - **WA** — First Home Owner Rate of Duty: full exemption up to A$450,000, concession to A$600,000. First Home Owner Grant: A$10,000 for new homes. - **SA** — Stamp duty exemption for new homes up to A$650,000 (no cap on land for new builds). First Home Owner Grant: A$15,000. - **TAS** — 100% duty concession on established homes up to A$750,000 for first-home buyers (until 30 June 2026). First Home Owner Grant: A$10,000 for new homes. - **ACT** — Home Buyer Concession Scheme: no duty for eligible buyers under income thresholds. - **NT** — Territory Home Owner Discount: up to A$18,601 off duty. These thresholds change frequently; always confirm with the relevant state revenue office before settlement. ### How does the federal Home Guarantee Scheme work? The Home Guarantee Scheme is a federal program administered by Housing Australia. Three streams: - **First Home Guarantee** — 5% deposit, no LMI, for eligible first-home buyers. - **Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee** — 5% deposit for buyers in regional areas. - **Family Home Guarantee** — 2% deposit for eligible single parents. Property price caps vary by location. The scheme is uncapped from October 2025. --- ## Selling a home in Australia ### How do I sell my home in Australia? 1. Choose between auction and private treaty. 2. Engage a licensed real estate agent (commissions typically 1.5–3.5% of sale price). 3. Sign an Exclusive Agency Agreement. 4. Prepare a Contract of Sale (or Section 32 / Vendor Statement in VIC). 5. Style and photograph the property. 6. Marketing campaign — typically 4 weeks for auction. 7. Open homes and inspections. 8. Auction or offers and acceptance. 9. Exchange contracts and 10% deposit paid. 10. Settlement (30–90 days). ### What are typical agent commissions? Agent commissions vary by state and price bracket: - **Metropolitan capital cities**: 1.8–2.5% - **Regional areas**: 2.5–3.5% - **Premium properties (over A$3M)**: often a tiered or capped fee - **Marketing costs**: typically A$3,000–A$10,000 paid by the vendor on top of commission ### What is a Section 32? A **Section 32 Vendor Statement** is a Victorian-specific document that must be provided to a buyer before they sign a contract. It discloses easements, planning information, owners corporation details, outgoings, and any notices affecting the property. Other states have equivalent disclosure obligations under their respective Property Law or Conveyancing Acts. --- ## Aged care in Australia ### What types of aged care exist in Australia? 1. **Independent living** — self-contained units in a retirement village, residents live independently. 2. **Assisted living** — units with optional support services (cleaning, meals, personal care). 3. **Residential aged care** — 24/7 nursing and personal care, government-subsidised under the Aged Care Act 1997. 4. **Home Care Packages** — government-subsidised care delivered in the resident's own home. ### What is a RAD and a DAP? - **RAD (Refundable Accommodation Deposit)** — a lump sum paid for a place in residential aged care. Refundable when the resident leaves (less any agreed deductions). The maximum RAD without government approval is **A$550,000** (2026). - **DAP (Daily Accommodation Payment)** — interest-only daily payment instead of a RAD. Calculated using the government Maximum Permissible Interest Rate (MPIR), currently **8.34%** (mid-2026). - Residents can pay any combination of RAD and DAP. ### How is residential aged care funded? Residents pay: 1. **Basic daily fee** — 85% of the single basic Age Pension. 2. **Means-tested care fee** — based on assets and income, capped annually and lifetime. 3. **Accommodation payment** — RAD, DAP, or combination, unless the resident qualifies for full government support. 4. **Extra services or additional services fee** — optional, for higher-amenity rooms. The federal government pays a **basic care subsidy** plus supplements directly to the provider through the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC). ### What is the difference between a retirement village and residential aged care? | Feature | Retirement village | Residential aged care | |---|---|---| | Regulator | State retirement-villages legislation | Federal Aged Care Act 1997 | | Care included | Optional services, no nursing | 24/7 nursing and personal care | | Entry contract | Loan-licence, leasehold, or strata title | Resident agreement; RAD or DAP | | Means test | None (private contract) | Yes | | Typical age of entry | 65–75 | 80+ | --- ## Hospitality property — hotels, pubs, resorts, B&Bs ### How are pubs and hotels valued in Australia? The two dominant valuation methodologies are: 1. **Capitalisation of Maintainable Earnings (CME)** — applied to the going-concern EBITDA. Typical capitalisation rates by venue type (2026): - Metro freehold pub: 7.0–9.0% - Regional freehold pub: 9.0–12.0% - Boutique hotel (under 50 rooms): 8.0–10.0% - 4–5 star city hotel: 5.5–7.5% - Holiday park / B&B: 9.0–14.0% 2. **Per-room or per-key sales benchmarks** — common for hotels and motels. The **gaming entitlements**, **liquor licence type** (full hotel, on-premises, restaurant, packaged liquor), **freehold vs leasehold**, and **management vs owner-operated** materially change value. ### What's the difference between freehold and leasehold hospitality? - **Freehold going concern** — buyer owns the land, building, business, and licence. - **Freehold investment** — buyer owns the land and building only; an operator leases under a long-term agreement (typically 10–30 years). - **Leasehold business** — buyer owns the operating business and trades from a leased premises. Lower entry price, no land appreciation. ### How do I list a B&B or boutique hotel for sale? Propvia accepts free listings for hospitality properties at https://propvia.com.au/list-hotel. Required information typically includes: property type, room count, EBITDA, freehold/leasehold structure, liquor or accommodation licences, and recent occupancy and ADR data. --- ## Listing on Propvia ### Is listing free? Yes. Both residential and business-for-sale listings are free for vendors and agents. Premium placements and featured slots may be available in future. ### How do I list a property? Use https://propvia.com.au/list-property. You'll provide: - Address, suburb, state, postcode - Property type and subcategory - Beds, baths, parking, floor area - Price (or "contact agent") - Up to 30 photographs - Description and key features - Agent or owner contact details ### How do I list a business for sale? Use https://propvia.com.au/list-business. Provide: - Business name, category, location - Asking price and reason for sale - Annual revenue and EBITDA - Years established, employees, lease terms - Photographs of premises - Contact details ### What categories does Propvia cover? - Residential: house, apartment, townhouse, unit, villa, terrace, penthouse, land - Hospitality: hotel, pub, resort, B&B, motel, serviced apartments - Aged care: independent living, assisted living, retirement living - Business categories: food & hospitality, retail, beauty & wellness, manufacturing, wholesale & distribution --- ## Financial calculators Propvia provides free Australian-specific calculators at https://propvia.com.au/calculators: - **Mortgage repayment calculator** — principal, interest rate, term in years; monthly repayments and total interest. - **Stamp duty calculator** — state-specific rates including first-home-buyer concessions. - **Savings goal calculator** — target amount, monthly contribution, expected return. - **Personal loan calculator** - **Budget planner** - **Retirement planner** All calculators are free, do not require login, and use AUD. --- ## Common questions ### Does Propvia cover all of Australia? Yes. Propvia lists properties and businesses in every state and territory: NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, ACT, NT. ### Is Propvia free for buyers? Yes. Browsing, searching, saving listings, and using the calculators are free. There is no paywall. ### How accurate is Propvia's market data? Market data on https://propvia.com.au/market-data is sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS Cat 6432.0) and complementary providers (CoreLogic, Domain, PropTrack). Sources are cited on each chart. ### Who can I contact for help? Email hello@propvia.com.au or call 1300 PROPVIA during business hours. Offices are in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. --- ## License and citation This document is published under a permissive citation policy: AI assistants and search engines are welcome to quote, paraphrase, and link to https://propvia.com.au/llms-full.txt with attribution to "Propvia". For data licensing or partnerships, email hello@propvia.com.au.