Fletcher Lawyers

16/03/2026

Last week Andrew and Alira attended the Property Council of Australia - Hunter Outlook lunch at NEX. The panel discussion provided a fantastic insight into the current trends and growth opportunities in the Newcastle property market.

22/01/2026

2026 is looking to be a very exciting year here at Fletcher Lawyers. Kalinda Alderson is back from maternity leave, which means we boast two Accredited Specialists in Property Law.
If you are looking for tailored legal advice in relation to your property or commercial law matter please reach out.
We look forward to continuing to work alongside our fantastic referral partners, clients and advisors in 2026.

08/12/2025

Fletcher Lawyers will be closing for the Christmas break on 19 December 2025 & reopening on 5 January 2026.

We would like to wish all of our clients, referrers, colleagues, friends & family a very merry Christmas. We can’t wait to work with you all again in 2026!

05/11/2025

Fletcher Lawyers are thrilled to announce that as of 1 November 2025, Alira Muchiri is an Accredited Specialist in Property Law!

30/10/2025

Changes to the NSW First Home Buyers 5% Deposit Scheme

As of 1 October 2025, the Australian Government’s 5% Deposit Scheme was expanded with the aim of assisting more first home buyers to be able to purchase homes.

The scheme has undergone several major changes that has broadened eligibility and relaxed prior constraints. Some of the key changes are:

No annual place limits: Previously the scheme had a cap on the number of places available each financial year. From 1 Oct 2025, places are unlimited.

No income caps: Previously there were income limits to access the scheme. As of the change, those income thresholds have been removed.

Higher property price caps: The maximum value of properties eligible under the scheme has been raised to reflect current market conditions. In NSW, for example:

For capital city & regional centres (Sydney, Illawarra, Newcastle & Lake Macquarie): the cap moved from $900,000 to $1,500,000.
For “other” areas of NSW: the cap moved from $750,000 to $800,000.

Simplification / consolidation: The separate “Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee” is folded into the main scheme, simplifying access in regional areas.

Minimum deposit remains 5%: You still must have saved at least 5% of the property value (but less than 20% saved, as the scheme is designed for those below the usual 20% deposit threshold) which most banks will require a borrower to have, to avoid paying lenders mortgage insurance.

Here at Fletcher Lawyers our property lawyers can guide you through eligibility for the 5% deposit scheme, contract reviews, and the conveyancing process from start to finish.

24/08/2025

🙌🏼 ⚽️

🌟 Sponsor Shoutout 🌟
A big thank you to Fletcher Lawyers for their support as a club sponsor of Nelson Bay FC 💛🖤
We appreciate your contribution to our football community!

16/05/2025

Jackie Olsen - Practice Manager
Having only ever worked in law, Jackie has extensive administration and management experience cultivated over years in the profession. Jackie is your best first point of contact

16/05/2025

Elke Wallace-Smith - Lawyer
Elke’s background in finance and commerce together with her refined research skills make her a valuable asset to our team.

16/05/2025

Josie Clifford - Senior Associate
Josie's approachability and client rapport compliment her commercial and property law understanding, to ensure transactions are completed accurately, within time and in the client’s best interests.

16/05/2025

Alira Muchiri- Partner
Alira is a property and commercial lawyer who provides strategic, clear and reliable legal advice to corporate and individual clients over a range of industries.