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Three ways to buy.
This is where things get really exciting. You're ready to buy your first home and you need to get that deal done. Here's what you need to know.
Ways to buy.
1. Bidding at auction
In a buoyant market, auctions are often the preferred way to sell. Potential buyers bid against each other until only one bidder is left. If the bid meets the "reserve" price (the price at which the vendor is prepared to sell the property), the house is sold.
When you buy at auction, you're making an unconditional offer. This means once you sign the agreement, you're legally bound to buy the property for the agreed amount, on the agreed date. For this reason, it pays to take legal advice before you take part in any auction.
You'll need to arrange full approval for any home loan and do all the property checks beforehand because once you are a successful bidder, the purchase is unconditional.
2. Offer and negotiation
You make an offer through the real estate agent. The seller may accept your offer straight away but it's likely that you'll enter into a negotiation process, where the seller makes a "counter-offer" - a price they are willing to accept. In this situation you may not be the only one who has put in an offer.
Your offer can be "conditional" where you can put in conditions that let you check the place out before you're fully committed or give you extra time to sort out your home loan. Or it can be "unconditional" where you and the seller simply need to agree on the price.
Negotiations can take hours or weeks. Make sure the final price is one you believe is fair and can afford.
3. Tender or set date of sale
With a tender or set date of sale method, you make a written bid for the property. It needs to be your best and final offer as everyone else who's interested in the property will put in their offer at the same time. You're unlikely to get a chance to negotiate with this form of sale.
The seller may accept the highest offer or decide to negotiate with the person whose offer they like best. Or they could reject the offers.
If your offer is accepted, you're committed to buying the property and have a set amount of time to meet all the sale conditions.
Featured rates.
* Minimum 20% equity, plus salary credit to a Westpac transaction account. Not available with any other Westpac home loan offers, or promotions or package discounts. Loans for business or Investment purposes excluded.
Lending criteria, terms and conditions, apply to home loans.
For home loans with less than 20% equity, a low equity margin may apply, see low equity margins explained for more details on how this is applied.
Interest rates are subject to change without notice.
If you don’t pay amounts when they’re due, your home loan account may exceed its limit and the interest rate applied to the over limit amount will be your annual interest rate plus an additional 5% p.a.
Speak to a Home Loan Expert.
Meet with an expert
Our Home Loan Experts can come to you, at a time and place that suits you best.
Apply online.
Existing customers can apply for a home loan via Westpac One® online banking.
Things you should know.
Westpac's home loan lending criteria, terms and conditions apply. A low equity margin may apply.
Interest rates are subject to change without notice.