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The Victorian Guide to Downsizing

Transitioning from a family home to a manageable, lifestyle focused property in Victoria.

Showing: First home buyer

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Chapter 1. Deciding if downsizing is the right move

The whole path, stage by stage

10 chapters written for downsizing in Victoria. Read them in order or jump to the stage you are in.

Start here

Get your bearings before anything else.

Chapter 1Deciding if downsizing is the right moveEvaluating the motivations and practicalities of moving to a smaller home.

The money

Deposit, borrowing, duty and the real cost.

Chapter 2What sale proceeds really look like after costsCalculating the net amount you will have left after selling and buying.Chapter 3Stamp duty and Victorian concessionsUnderstanding the tax implications and potential savings for Victorian downsizers.Chapter 4Downsizer superannuation contributionsExploring the federal rules for injecting home sale proceeds into your super fund.

Search and inspect

Finding the right place and checking it properly.

Chapter 5Choosing lower maintenance housingComparing apartments, townhouses, villa units and retirement living options in Victoria.Chapter 6Owners corporations and strata costsUnderstanding the financial and legal obligations of living in a shared property.Chapter 9Accessibility and future proofingDesigning and selecting a home that adapts to your needs as you age.

Offers and auctions

Negotiating and bidding without losing your head.

Chapter 7Timing the sale and the purchaseNavigating the complexities of buying and selling simultaneously in Victoria.

After you move

Living with the decision and what comes next.

Chapter 8Decluttering and moving from a long held homePractical and emotional strategies for reducing your belongings and managing the move.Chapter 10Community, location and your new lifeIntegrating into a new neighbourhood and making the most of your downsized lifestyle.

Tools that match this situation

Sale proceeds after costs

What is actually left after agent fees, marketing, the loan payout and moving.

Stamp duty and upfront costs

Victorian duty with first home concessions and foreign purchaser additional duty, plus the other costs on settlement day.

Opportunity framework

Score a suburb or a property against the things that actually matter to you.

Also free, no account needed

Readiness quiz

Fifteen questions scored for your situation.

Resource library

Official Victorian and federal sources, plus checklists.

Glossary

Every term explained in plain English.

Other situations

First home buyerBuying your first place in Victoria, from saving to settlement.Next home or upgradingSelling one home and buying another, often at the same time.InvestorBuying to rent out, with yield, growth and tax in mind.Buying land or buildingChoosing a block, picking a builder and managing a build.Relocating to VictoriaBuying in Victoria from interstate or overseas.