By Jason Given - 2026-08-14 - 6 min read
Most first home buyers budget for the deposit but are genuinely surprised by the costs that sit on top. The deposit gets all the attention - the government schemes talk about it, the bank calculators focus on it, your parents ask about it - but the costs beyond the deposit are what catch people off guard.
These additional costs can total $8,000 to $15,000 or more depending on the property price, how much deposit you have, and which grants you qualify for. That is real money, and it needs to be in your savings before settlement day.
Knowing them upfront prevents last-minute scrambling and helps you plan properly. Every dollar accounted for early is one less surprise at the finish line.
Here is every cost you will encounter when buying your first home in Adelaide, with the current price ranges for each.
Conveyancing covers the legal transfer of property ownership. Your conveyancer handles the contract review, title searches, settlement coordination, and the formal transfer of ownership into your name. This is not optional - you need either a conveyancer or solicitor for every property purchase in South Australia.
When to engage one: before you make an offer. You want your conveyancer to review the contract before you sign, not after. Lendology works with trusted conveyancers in Adelaide and can recommend one who understands first home buyer transactions.
A building and pest inspection covers the structural assessment of the property, termite checks, moisture testing, and roof inspection. It identifies problems that are not visible during a standard open inspection - structural cracks, rising damp, active termite damage, faulty wiring, and roofing issues.
When to book: during the cooling-off period or as a condition of contract. Combined building and pest inspections are cheaper than booking them separately - typically $400 to $600 combined versus $600 to $800 if you use separate inspectors. This is essential for older Adelaide properties, particularly in suburbs with known termite activity.
First home buyers in South Australia pay no stamp duty on properties under $650,000. Between $650,001 and $700,000, a reduced rate applies. Above $700,000, full stamp duty rates apply - on a $750,000 property, stamp duty is approximately $30,000.
If you are buying under $650,000, this is one cost you can cross off entirely. If you are buying above that threshold, stamp duty becomes the single largest settlement cost and needs to be factored into your budget from the start. Use Lendology's stamp duty calculator to get your exact figure.
Some lenders charge upfront application or establishment fees, while many waive these fees entirely to win your business. The range is anywhere from $0 to $600 depending on the lender. Lendology identifies lenders with zero application fees where possible - there is no reason to pay a fee if a competitive lender will waive it.
These are government fees for searching the property title and registering the transfer of ownership. They are paid through your conveyancer at settlement and are a standard cost on every property transaction. There is no way to avoid them, but they are relatively small.
Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) only applies if your deposit is less than 20% and you are not using the First Home Guarantee. On a $600,000 property with a 10% deposit, LMI is approximately $8,000 to $12,000. It protects the lender - not you - but you pay for it.
The good news: LMI can be added to the loan (capitalised) rather than paid upfront, so it does not need to come out of your savings. And if you qualify for the First Home Guarantee, LMI is eliminated entirely. Use Lendology's LMI calculator to estimate your cost.
Professional removalists in Adelaide typically charge $500 to $1,500 for a standard house move, depending on the volume and distance. DIY truck hire runs $150 to $400. On top of the actual move, budget for end-of-lease cleaning, utility connections, and mail redirection - these smaller costs add up quickly.
Here is what a realistic first home purchase looks like when you use the First Home Guarantee:
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Deposit (5% with FHG) | $30,000 |
| Stamp duty | $0 (FHB concession) |
| Conveyancing | $2,000 |
| Building and pest inspection | $550 |
| Loan fees | $0 |
| LMI | $0 (First Home Guarantee) |
| Title registration | $300 |
| Moving | $800 |
| Total | Approximately $33,650 |
This is a realistic figure for a first home buyer using the First Home Guarantee. Without the guarantee, add approximately $8,000 to $12,000 for LMI.
As a first home buyer in Adelaide, budget approximately $8,000 to $15,000 on top of your deposit for settlement costs. This includes conveyancing ($1,500-$2,500), building and pest inspection ($400-$800), loan application fees ($0-$600), title search and registration ($200-$400), and moving costs ($500-$2,000). Stamp duty may be zero if your property is under $650,000.
First home buyers in SA pay no stamp duty on properties under $650,000. Between $650,000 and $700,000, a reduced rate applies. Above $700,000, full stamp duty rates apply. On a $750,000 property, stamp duty is approximately $30,000 - a significant cost that should be factored into your budget early.
Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring property ownership. In SA, you need either a conveyancer or solicitor to handle the contract review, title searches, settlement coordination, and property transfer. Costs range from $1,500 to $2,500. Do not skip this - it protects you from hidden issues with the property title.
You can avoid LMI by using the First Home Guarantee (5% deposit, no insurance). You can avoid stamp duty by purchasing under $650,000. Some lenders waive application fees for first home buyers. And Lendology's service is free to you - the lender pays our fee at settlement.
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