Safety Bay Settlements

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03/09/2026

Most settlement delays are easy to avoid when a contract is reviewed carefully from the start. Here is a look at what we most commonly see - and how we address it early.

📋 The most common things we look out for in contracts:

✍️ Name accuracy. Making sure all names are correctly recorded in the contract from the outset keeps things running smoothly with lenders and government bodies throughout the process.

📄 Title details. Accurate property details in the contract mean there are no questions to resolve further down the track - everything matches and the process moves efficiently.

📅 Realistic dates. Dates for finance approval, building inspections and other conditions need to be achievable in practice. We often help buyers and sellers think through the timeline before signing so that all the key dates are workable for everyone involved.

🗣️ A shared understanding between all parties. Buyers, sellers, real estate agents and brokers all play a role in a property transaction. When everyone has a clear and consistent understanding of what has been agreed, everything flows more smoothly. Reviewing the contract early helps make sure that is the case.

💡 Why we review early

Getting across the detail of a contract at the beginning of a transaction is always easier than making changes later. It means your settlement starts on a solid foundation - and tends to run more smoothly as a result.

With 48 years of WA settlement experience and more than 20,000 settlements completed, this is something we do for our clients every single day.

Whether you are buying, selling or transferring property, if you have an upcoming settlement, we are here to help.

Get in touch via the link in our bio or give us a call.

One of the most misunderstood parts of Foreign Buyers Duty in WA is what happens in a joint purchase, where one buyer is...
01/09/2026

One of the most misunderstood parts of Foreign Buyers Duty in WA is what happens in a joint purchase, where one buyer is an Australian citizen or permanent resident and the other is a foreign person.

💡 How does it work in a joint purchase?

If any buyer is classified as a foreign person, Foreign Buyers Duty applies, but only to that person's share of the property.

So if an Australian citizen and a foreign national buy a property together as 50/50 owners, the 7% duty is calculated on the foreign buyer's share only.

📊 In practice:

An Australian permanent resident and a temporary visa holder buy a $700,000 property as equal owners. Foreign Buyers Duty at 7% applies to the foreign buyer's 50% share: 7% of $350,000 = $24,500.

That's payable on top of standard transfer duty, calculated on the full purchase price for both buyers. A meaningful cost that needs to be identified before the contract is signed.

📋 What counts as a foreign person?

Broader than most expect. Temporary visa holders, including those who've lived in Australia for years on valid work or partner visas, are generally captured.

🔑 Why this matters

It affects how much money you need at settlement. If this isn't identified before you sign your Offer and Acceptance, you may find yourself short of funds on settlement day, with few options left at that point.

At Safety Bay Settlements we identify this early. If there's any indication a foreign duty liability may apply, we raise it immediately so you and your advisers can plan correctly.

Buying your first home, upgrading, or building a portfolio? If you have a purchase or settlement coming up, we're here to help.

Get in touch via the link in our bio or give us a call.

📌 General information only, not financial, tax or legal advice. Eligibility and obligations vary by individual circumstances. Speak with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation. Safety Bay Settlements is a licensed WA settlement agent, not financial advisers or tax agents.

27/08/2026

The vast majority of settlements proceed without a hitch - and when something unexpected does come up, having an experienced team in your corner makes all the difference.

Here is how we handle the unexpected when it arises.

📋 Some situations we help clients navigate:

🏦 Lender or finance timing. Occasionally a bank needs a little more time before settlement. When this happens we step in quickly - assessing the options, communicating with all parties, and working towards the best possible outcome. Often this means requesting an extension, which we manage on your behalf.

🔨 Building inspection outcomes. If a building inspection identifies something that needs attention, we help manage the communication between buyer and seller and keep the process moving towards a resolution that works for everyone.

✍️ Document signing timing. Sometimes a buyer needs a little more time to sign their loan documents. Letting us know as soon as possible means we can work quickly to coordinate with all parties and put a solution in place.

🔑 The most helpful thing you can do

If something comes up that you think might affect your settlement - give us a call early. The sooner we know, the more easily we can work through it together. Our team is experienced, calm under pressure and focused on finding a path forward.

With 48 years of WA settlement experience and more than 20,000 settlements completed, we have navigated all sorts of situations and know how to keep things on track.

Whether you are buying, selling or transferring property, if you have an upcoming settlement, we are here to help.

Get in touch via the link in our bio or give us a call.

❓ WHAT'S ON WEDNESDAY ❓Did you know our City of Rockingham – Local Government has a variety of local events?Check out th...
26/08/2026

❓ WHAT'S ON WEDNESDAY ❓

Did you know our City of Rockingham – Local Government has a variety of local events?

Check out the calendar to find out what is happening near you!

👉 https://rockingham.wa.gov.au/events,-culture-and-tourism/events/what-s-on-calendar

From 1 July 2026, settlement agents across Australia are formally required to comply with Anti-Money Laundering obligati...
25/08/2026

From 1 July 2026, settlement agents across Australia are formally required to comply with Anti-Money Laundering obligations for the first time. Here is why Safety Bay Settlements was well placed for these changes from day one.

💡 Identity verification was just the beginning
Safety Bay Settlements has been using ScanTek for client identity verification for some time, meaning verifying who our clients are was already embedded in our process well before the formal AML requirements came into effect. The new AML framework builds on this foundation and adds a broader layer of compliance requirements.

📋 What being prepared looks like in practice
✔️ Our AML compliance program was developed and implemented ahead of the 1 July 2026 commencement date
✔️ Our team has been trained on the new requirements and what they mean for each type of transaction we handle
✔️ We partnered with EasyAML, a purpose-built WA compliance platform from the same developers as ScanTek, to manage ongoing obligations efficiently
✔️ Our onboarding and workflow processes have been updated to incorporate the new requirements seamlessly

🛡️ What this means for our clients
When you work with Safety Bay Settlements, you are working with a team that has not just ticked a compliance box, but genuinely prepared for these changes and built them properly into how we work.

You will not notice dramatic differences in the settlement experience. What you will notice is the same organised, professional and thorough approach our clients have always received, now with an additional layer of regulatory compliance behind it.

With 48 years of WA settlement experience and more than 20,000 settlements completed, staying ahead of changes in our profession is something we have always done.

Get in touch via the link in our bio or give us a call.

23/08/2026

PSST..... There's only two weeks until Father's Day!

🎁 What better gift than a Limited-Edition Rockingham Monopoly this Father's Day!

You can purchase via the link below and collect directly from our office, no postage wait-times!
👉 https://bit.ly/4r1h5KE

20/08/2026

Most property settlements proceed smoothly and on time - and a big part of that comes down to good preparation and proactive communication from the start.

Here is a helpful overview of the most common causes of delays and how we manage them.

📋 Common causes of settlement delays:

🏦 Lender timing Banks and lenders sometimes need a little more time to finalise documentation. Staying in close communication with your lender and responding to their requests promptly helps keep things moving along smoothly.

📄 Incomplete documents or conditions Every condition in a contract has a deadline. Having all documentation ready and responding promptly when we reach out keeps your settlement progressing without unnecessary hold-ups.

✍️ Paperwork that needs to be reissued Occasionally something like a signature in the wrong place on a mortgage document means new paperwork needs to be completed. These things are easy to sort when identified early - which is why we keep a close eye on every file throughout the process.

🗣️ Communication between parties When everyone involved - buyers, sellers, agents and brokers - has a clear and consistent understanding of what has been agreed, settlements run smoothly. Our team actively coordinates between all parties to keep communication clear throughout.

💡 Our approach

At Safety Bay Settlements our team is proactive from the start. We monitor every matter closely and follow up early so that any potential hold-up is identified and addressed well before it could impact your settlement date.

With 48 years of WA settlement experience and more than 20,000 settlements completed, keeping settlements on track is something we do every single day.

Whether you are buying, selling or transferring property, if you have an upcoming settlement, we are here to help.

Get in touch via the link in our bio or give us a call.

Every WA property buyer needs to plan for transfer duty - but buyers classified as foreign persons face an extra surchar...
18/08/2026

Every WA property buyer needs to plan for transfer duty - but buyers classified as foreign persons face an extra surcharge that can change the numbers significantly.

💡 What is Foreign Buyers Duty?
An additional transfer duty surcharge on certain WA property purchases where the buyer is a foreign person. It's charged on top of standard transfer duty, not instead of it. The rate is 7% of the purchase price or market value, whichever is higher.

📊 In practice:
Buying a $600,000 residential property as a foreign person? Standard transfer duty applies first (on the WA sliding scale), then Foreign Buyers Duty adds 7% of $600,000 = $42,000 on top. A significant cost that needs planning before settlement, not discovering on the day.

📋 Who counts as a foreign person?
Broader than most expect:
➡️ Foreign nationals (not citizens or permanent residents)
➡️ Temporary visa holders, even long-term ones
➡️ Foreign corporations
➡️ Trustees of certain foreign trusts

Australian citizens abroad and permanent residents are generally not captured, but rules get complex for joint purchases with one foreign and one non-foreign buyer.

🔑 Why identify this early?
This needs to be confirmed before you sign your Offer and Acceptance, not at settlement. It affects your total costs, borrowing, and financial planning. At Safety Bay Settlements, we identify this early and account for it correctly in every transaction.

Buying, upgrading or building your portfolio? If you have a purchase or settlement coming up, we're here to help. Get in touch via the link in our bio or give us a call.

📌 General information only, not financial, tax or legal advice. Speak with a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation. Safety Bay Settlements is a licensed WA settlement agent, not financial advisers or tax agents.

13/08/2026

One of the first questions clients ask us is - what do I actually need to provide?

The answer is a little different depending on whether you are a buyer or a seller - and the good news is, we guide you through all of it.

📋 The starting point for everyone:

The Offer and Acceptance contract is the document that kicks everything off. From there, we take care of collecting and organising everything else - and our Conveyancing Concierge system prompts you at every step so nothing is left to memory.

🏡 If you are a seller, here is what to have handy:

✔️ Your identity documents - for the verification of identity process
✔️ Your tax file number - needed to apply for your ATO Clearance Certificate
✔️ Your bank details - so your settlement proceeds can be correctly directed on settlement day

🏠 If you are a buyer, here is what to have ready:
✔️ Your identity documents - for the verification of identity process
✔️ Your formal finance approval - once received from your lender
✔️ Your bank details - in case a refund is owing for rates and taxes adjustments after settlement

💡 You do not need to remember all of this at once

From the moment you start your onboarding with us, we prompt you at every stage with exactly what we need and when. Everything is organised, step by step, so the process feels manageable and clear throughout.

With 48 years of WA settlement experience and more than 20,000 settlements completed, we make it easy for our clients to know exactly what is needed at every stage.

Whether you are buying, selling or transferring property, if you have an upcoming settlement, we are here to help.

Get in touch via the link in our bio or give us a call.

We know more checks and requirements can feel like more hassle. But here is why Australia's new Anti-Money Laundering la...
11/08/2026

We know more checks and requirements can feel like more hassle. But here is why Australia's new Anti-Money Laundering laws, and Safety Bay Settlements' compliance with them, are actually good news for every legitimate buyer and seller.

🏠 The reality of money laundering in Australian property
Money laundering through real estate is not a rare or theoretical problem. It is well-documented, it happens in WA, and it has real consequences for the property market and the people in it. When illegally obtained funds are laundered through property, it distorts prices, creates unfair competition for legitimate buyers, and puts the integrity of the market at risk.

📋 What these laws actually do
Australia's expanded AML laws, which now formally include settlement agents, conveyancers and property professionals from 1 July 2026, create a mandatory framework that makes it significantly harder to use property transactions to disguise illegal funds. Every client. Every transaction. Verified and checked.

🛡️ What this means for you
When you work with a fully compliant settlement agent:
✔️ You know your transaction is being handled correctly and lawfully
✔️ You have the protection of a verified, documented process
✔️ You can be confident other parties in your transaction face the same scrutiny
✔️ Your settlement agent is operating to the highest professional standard required by law

💡 Why choosing a compliant agent matters
Choosing a team that has invested in the right systems, training and compliance platform, like Safety Bay Settlements working with EasyAML, means your settlement is in the safest possible hands.

With 48 years of WA settlement experience and more than 20,000 settlements completed, staying ahead of our profession is something we have always done, and these new obligations are no different.

Get in touch via the link in our bio or give us a call.

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