Find a place to rent or buy
Start researching your new home now, but pace it right: rentals move fast and can't be secured months out, while buying rewards an early start. Tenancy rules are set by state, not nationally.
Get my personalised moving timelineYour address unlocks almost everything else on this checklist -- your removalist quote, school catchment, and utility connections all depend on it. Tenancy law is set by each state and territory, not nationally, so check your destination's own tenancy authority. Renters: listings are often advertised relatively close to their available date. Buyers: there's no real "too early" to start, and stamp duty applies in every state.
See the full guide below for what to have ready for inspections and applications, the high-level shape of buying in Australia, and how to spot a rental scam.