🏗 Buying guide
Registered vs unregistered land
What settlement actually means
What it means
Most lots sell “off the plan” before the subdivision is registered with NSW Land Registry Services — you exchange and pay a deposit, but settlement only happens once civil works finish and the plan registers. Since December 2019 your deposit must sit in a trust account for the whole contract, and a developer can’t cancel under a sunset clause without your agreement or a Supreme Court order. Registration dates shift with construction, so keep your lender and conveyancer ready to move.
Local tip — This page is general information, not financial or legal advice — confirm everything with your conveyancer, lender and the official sources before you commit.