Legal fees and upfront costs
Buying a first home costs more than the deposit. There are legal fees, LIM and building report costs, title searches, insurance and the small registration charges nobody mentions. We charge a fixed fee so the legal part is known from day one, and the calculator below puts the whole picture in one number.
What it is
Your upfront costs are everything you pay before and at settlement that is not the price of the house: our fixed legal fee, disbursements like title searches and LINZ registration, the LIM report from council, a building inspection, a valuation if the bank wants one, and your first insurance premium. Most of these are paid before you know whether the deal will go ahead.
Why it matters
Due diligence costs money even when you walk away. A buyer who looks at three properties seriously before buying can spend a meaningful amount on reports for the first two. Knowing that in advance lets you budget for it and make better decisions about when to spend.
How we handle it
We quote a fixed fee at the start and tell you what is and is not included. If a matter needs extra work, such as a trust, a company, or an urgent turnaround, we tell you before we do it. The Upfront Costs calculator shows the full cash picture so there are no surprises at settlement.
Common traps
- Comparing law firms on the headline fee without checking what is excluded.
- Forgetting the LIM and building report when working out how much cash you need before settlement.
- Not budgeting for rates and insurance adjustments on the settlement statement.
Not sure how this applies to you?
A free 15-minute call with a property lawyer who only works with first home buyers.