Melbourne Property and Construction Lawyers
We act on all kinds of residential and commercial property matters – from buying, selling, conveyancing and off-the-plan purchases to commercial leases, building contracts and property disputes, including disputes with owners corporations. Our clients include individual and family investors, developers, lenders, architects, engineers, surveyors, real estate agents, not-for-profits and businesses of every size.
We regularly act for overseas buyers and cross-border families buying in Melbourne, and work in Mandarin, Cantonese and English.
Our property and construction law services
Commercial leases
Chua Tan Associates has helped many clients deal with various leasing and licensing issues.
Architecture and Engineering
Our practical experience in the construction industry means that our lawyers understand not only the legal aspects of construction, but also the practical issues of the construction industry.
Real-estate sales and transfers
Whether you are planning to buy a house, or sell a commercial property in Melbourne CBD, our experienced conveyancing lawyers can ensure the property settlement process is smooth.
Loan Advice
Depending on your existing mortgage, we can give you loan advice.
Off-the-plan property sales
We can represent both buyers and sellers developers in uncompleted property transactions. We understand the law not only in relation to the sale and purchase of uncompleted flats, but our solicitors also have extensive knowledge of the property industry.
Real Estate Litigation
We have extensive experience in dealing with a wide range of complex property litigation cases and have appeared for our clients on numerous occasions before the VCAT, Supreme Court, County Court and Magistrates Court.
Led by Tan Chua, our property team has long acted for Melbourne's Chinese community on property, construction and commercial property matters.
Our legal team is committed to provide our clients with quality and consistent services.
We work to your settlement and contract deadlines, explain our fees up front, and look after every step for you.
Our core services include:
- Explanation and advice before signing a purchase contract
- Purchase and sale of commercial building, office building, retail shops and shopping centre
- Purchase and sale of residential property including “off-the-plan” contract of sale of real estate
- Obtaining Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) approval for Acquisition of property or land by foreigners
- Finance transactions
- Residential developments & land subdivisions
- Retail developments and subdivisions
- Industrial developments and subdivisions
- Body corporate advice and agreements
- Joint ventures and developments agreements
- Preparing tender and expressions of interest
- Stamp duty advice
- Joint venture arrangement
- Construction contract advice
- Preparing mortgage document for private lender
Buying property in Melbourne from overseas
If you live overseas or hold a temporary visa, there are some important points to consider before buying in Australia:
- Foreign persons generally need Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) approval before buying residential property, or a contract that is conditional on approval
- From 1 April 2025 to 30 June 2029, foreign persons generally cannot buy established homes, although new dwellings and off-the-plan properties are usually still available
- Victoria charges foreign purchasers additional stamp duty, and an absentee owner land tax surcharge may apply while you own the property
- We review the contract and the vendor's statement (Section 32) before you sign, and check finance, the settlement date and any special conditions
- We can arrange remote signing, identity verification and powers of attorney, and handle settlement for you
Frequently asked questions
Yes, with restrictions. Foreign persons can generally buy new dwellings or off-the-plan properties with prior FIRB approval, but from 1 April 2025 to 30 June 2029 they generally cannot buy established homes. We can assess your position before you sign.
Usually, yes. Temporary visa holders generally need FIRB approval to buy residential property and must comply with its conditions. Australian citizens, permanent residents and some spouses may not need it.
We review the contract and the vendor's statement (Section 32), including title, mortgages, planning restrictions, owners corporation fees, special conditions and settlement arrangements, and explain the risks to you.
In Victoria, private sales of residential property generally have a three business day cooling-off period. It does not apply to auction sales or contracts signed within three days before or after an auction, and a small amount may be forfeited if you withdraw.
Yes. We can arrange remote signing, identity verification and a power of attorney, and complete settlement through the electronic settlement platform.
Related articles
Section 32 Vendor Statements in Victoria: What to Check Before You Sign
The Section 32 vendor statement is the property's legally required ‘disclosure document’. Checking it item by item before you sign can help you avoid the hardest problems later on.
Parents Helping a Child Buy a Home in Australia: Gift, Loan, Trust or Joint Title?
Helping your child buy in Melbourne? How gifts and loans are treated on separation, BFAs, FIRB approval, foreign purchaser duty and first home buyer rules.
Inheriting Australian Property as an Overseas Beneficiary: Tax, Duty, Land Tax and FIRB
No inheritance tax in Australia, but overseas beneficiaries may face CGT on sale, 15% withholding, Victorian land tax surcharges and FIRB rules.
How to deal with cases involving the online myVCAT and RDRV portal
How to deal with cases in
Client Reviews
Clear legal advice with practical commercial sense
Book online to meet our property lawyers at our Melbourne CBD office or by video.
Clients in Indonesia · 印尼客户
Living in Indonesia and buying, selling or owning property in Melbourne? See our pages for families and businesses in Indonesia.
身在印度尼西亚，在墨尔本买卖或持有房产？请参阅我们为印度尼西亚家庭和企业设立的专页。
Australian lawyers for Indonesian families · Pengacara Australia untuk keluarga Indonesia · 印尼华人澳洲法律服务
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