Navigating Zoning Laws and Clear Title Procedures
A simplified overview of the legalities involved in securing land and property, and where buyers most often get caught out.
This is general guidance, not legal advice for your particular purchase. Instruct a qualified attorney-at-law before signing anything.
The deed and the chain behind it
Ask for the current deed and every previous deed in the chain. A clear deed means outright ownership with no mortgage, caveat or dispute registered against it. Be especially careful with land held under a permit or grant, where the state restricts who may buy and when.
The survey plan
It should be recent, prepared by a licensed surveyor, and it should match what you see when you walk the boundaries. Mismatched extents between deed and plan are the single most common problem we find on site visits.
Street line and building line
These certificates, from the local authority, show whether part of the land is reserved for road widening and how far back you must build. For roadside commercial plots they can change the value of the purchase entirely.
Buying as a non-citizen
Restrictions apply to freehold purchases by non-citizens and by companies with significant foreign shareholding. Long leases are a common route. Take specific advice before transferring any money.
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