In this guide(9 sections)
Whether you're buying your first home in Armstrong Creek, a weatherboard in Newtown, or a beach house in Ocean Grove or Torquay, a Geelong-region purchase moves quickly and the paperwork can be surprisingly involved. Between the contract, the Section 32 and the settlement date, it's easy to feel out of your depth — and that's exactly what we're here for. The good news: you don't need a local office, and you don't have to work it out alone. We do the careful legal work, explain everything in plain English, and keep you informed the whole way, so you can focus on the move rather than the fine print.
At a glance — conveyancing in Geelong, the Bellarine and the Surf Coast
| Our fee | $660–$990 fixed, depending on the work involved — confirmed in writing before any work starts |
| Free consultation | Yes — 30 minutes to talk through your purchase or sale, no obligation |
| Free contract & Section 32 review | Yes — send it before you sign or bid |
| Disbursements | Charged at cost, no markup |
| Stamp duty | Statutory, paid separately to the State Revenue Office |
| Local council | City of Greater Geelong; Surf Coast Shire; Borough of Queenscliffe |
| How it works | Phone, email and video; documents signed electronically; settlement online through PEXA |
| Who reviews your matter | Elisa Rothschild BA/LLB — a senior lawyer, not a paralegal |
| Standard settlement | 30, 60 or 90 days, as agreed in your contract |
Do I need a local conveyancer in Geelong?
No — conveyancing in Victoria works the same way statewide and is done electronically, so a Melbourne-based lawyer can handle a Geelong purchase or sale just as well as a local one. Contracts and Section 32 statements are exchanged by email, documents are signed electronically, searches are ordered online, and settlement happens through PEXA on the agreed day without anyone attending in person. What really matters is that the person handling your matter actually reads the contract and Section 32 and explains them to you — and at Fogarty Oliver Rothschild, that's Elisa, every time.
The first 30 minutes are free, with no obligation. Book a free consultation → · or speak to Eliana, our assistant, any time on 03 4328 5084 — she'll get your matter to Elisa quickly.
What's the property market like in Geelong, the Bellarine and the Surf Coast?
The Geelong region is really three markets. Central Geelong and the established suburbs — Newtown, Belmont, Highton, Hamlyn Heights — are mostly older houses, with apartments around the waterfront. The growth areas — Armstrong Creek, Charlemont, Lara and Mount Duneed — are dominated by new estates and house-and-land packages. And the coast — the Bellarine towns of Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads and Portarlington, and Torquay and Jan Juc on the Surf Coast — includes holiday homes, investment properties and coastal blocks with their own planning controls.
What should I check before buying in Geelong?
Every purchase is different, but these are the things we look at most closely for Geelong properties:
New estates and house-and-land packages. Many Armstrong Creek, Charlemont and Lara purchases are of land in a plan of subdivision that hasn't been registered yet. we check the sunset date, what happens if the developer can't deliver the title, and the estate's building covenants and design guidelines before you sign — and make sure the land contract and the building contract fit together.
Coastal and bushfire planning controls. Coastal properties on the Bellarine and Surf Coast can be affected by coastal hazard, vegetation protection and bushfire management overlays, which can limit what you build or extend. we read the planning certificate and Section 32 for these and explain what they mean in practice.
Holiday homes and short-stay letting. If you're buying to rent out as a holiday home, check any owners corporation rules and local requirements first. we'll flag anything in the documents that could get in the way of your plans.
Not sure what's in your contract? That's exactly what the free contract review is for. Send it through →
What goes wrong without a proper contract review?
Most problems we see could have been caught before signing. A few common ones:
- The special levy nobody mentioned. An owners corporation has already voted for major repairs, and the new owner inherits a large bill. It's usually visible in the owners corporation certificate — if someone reads it.
- The land that wasn't ready. A buyer signs for a lot in a new estate expecting to build next year, but the plan of subdivision isn't registered and the sunset date gives the developer room to delay — or end the contract.
- The extension without a permit. Building work done without a permit, or owner-builder work without the right paperwork, becomes the buyer's problem after settlement.
- The planning overlay that changed the plan. A bushfire, heritage or vegetation overlay limits the renovation or extension the buyer had in mind.
None of these mean you shouldn't buy. They mean you should know before you sign.
What if I'm selling in Geelong?
If you're selling, the Section 32 vendor statement has to be right before your property goes to market — if something is missing or wrong, a buyer may be able to end the contract. We prepare the Section 32 and contract, order the searches and certificates, and work with your agent so the campaign isn't held up.
What happens when you call us about a Geelong property?
The first 30 minutes are free. Here's how it actually works:
- You call or send an enquiry through the contact form or email. Your details and a brief outline of the matter come straight to Elisa.
- Elisa returns your call personally — usually the same day.
- The free 30-minute consultation covers what you're buying or selling, where you're up to, what's worrying you, and anything urgent (an auction this weekend, a cooling-off period running, a contract about to be signed).
- A free first review of the contract and Section 32 if you're buying — ideally before you sign or bid.
- Your fixed fee in writing before any work begins.
- We handle the rest — the lender, the other side, searches, PEXA and settlement — and you'll always know where things are up to.
Book a free 30-minute consultation → · or speak to Eliana, our assistant, any time on 03 4328 5084 — she'll get your matter to Elisa quickly.
Frequently asked questions
How much does conveyancing cost in Geelong?
Our conveyancing fee is $660–$990 fixed, depending on the work involved, confirmed in writing after a free 30-minute consultation and before any work starts. Searches and certificates are charged at cost with no markup, and stamp duty is paid separately to the State Revenue Office.
Do you need to be based in Geelong to do my conveyancing?
No. Conveyancing in Victoria is done electronically through PEXA, and searches and documents are handled online, so we act for Geelong-region buyers and sellers by phone, email and video. Settlement happens electronically on the day — nobody needs to attend in person.
Can you review my contract before I sign?
Yes. Send us the contract and Section 32 and Elisa will do a free first review, so you know about anything concerning before you commit. If you're buying at auction, the earlier you send it, the better.
What is a Section 32?
A Section 32 vendor statement is the document the seller must give you before you sign, setting out key information about the property — title, planning controls, owners corporation details, building permits and more. It's where most problems are found, which is why it's worth having a lawyer read it.
Will I deal with a paralegal or the lawyer?
The lawyer. Elisa Rothschild BA/LLB reviews your contract and Section 32 herself and is your point of contact from the first call to settlement.
Ready to discuss your Geelong property?
The first 30 minutes are free, and Elisa will review your contract and Section 32 for free before you sign.
📧 info@fogartyoliverandrothschild.com.au
🌐 Book a free 30-minute consultation online →
📍 84 Chapel Street, St Kilda VIC 3182 — serving Geelong, the Bellarine and the Surf Coast by phone, email and video.
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm. After-hours for auction weeks.
Written and reviewed by Elisa Rothschild BA/LLB — Principal Lawyer, Fogarty Oliver Rothschild. Admitted to legal practice in Victoria. Conveyancing and property law in Melbourne since 2012. Last reviewed 6 October 2026.
This page is general information about Victorian conveyancing, not legal advice for your specific transaction. For advice on your matter, book a free 30-minute consultation.