Buying your first ever property, be it a home or a rental, is as exciting as it is intimidating. Chances are this is the biggest financial commitment you’ve
ever had to make. Feeling anxious is part of the process but that doesn’t mean your nerves should get to you. Before you dive into the world of property,
familiarise yourself with these commonly used terms courtesy of our good friends at Duncan King Law will give you a good head start:Â
| Agreement: | The written contract for the sale and purchase of a property. Its full title is âAgreement for Sale and Purchaseâ. The Agreement is a binding document: once signed by are bound by its conditions. |
| Auction | Potential buyers bid against each other to buy a property at a public sale, Auction sales are always unconditional and usually a 10% deposit is required on the fall of the hammer. |
| Body Corporate | Used in relation to apartment blocks, the body corporate is the ownersâ group that supervises the building maintenance, collects and pays the insurance premiums, runs the block, supervises the use of common areas etc |
| Caveat | A warning notice registered against the title to the land that another party may have an interest or right on that property will prevent title to the land being transferred to anyone else. |
| Caveat Emptor | A Latin phrase meaning âLet the Buyer Bewareâ. |
| Certificate of Title | An electronic document showing legal ownership of a block of land or an interest in land. Also known as a âCTâ or simply âtitleâ. |
| Chattel | An item of moveable property, such as carpets, curtains, stove, etc... |

