What we do
We handle the whole conveyancing job for Benowa buyers and sellers: reviewing your contract before you sign, ordering the searches that matter for canal, river and established family homes, body corporate checks for units and townhouses, and electronic settlement through PEXA. Everything is explained in plain English.
You will deal with a solicitor, or an experienced paralegal working under solicitor supervision. Many people search for a conveyancer in Benowa, but in Queensland property transactions are run by lawyers, which is what you get with us.
What to check before you buy in Benowa
Canal and river frontage. Benowa runs along the Nerang River and has canal-side streets, so many homes come with a revetment wall, a jetty or a pontoon. Before you sign, we ask who owns and maintains the wall, whether the structures are approved, and how the title treats the water side of the boundary.
Flood and planning overlays. Low-lying pockets near the river and canals can sit under flood or other overlays, and the standard contract does not protect a buyer who only finds out after signing. As part of our pre-contract review we can pull the mapping and overlays for the lot, so you see them while you can still act on them.
Established homes and renovations. Benowa has a lot of older, established houses that buyers want to renovate, extend or knock down and rebuild. We look at whether past work was approved, whether anything built looks unapproved, and what that could mean for your plans or your insurance.
Units and townhouses. For a unit or townhouse we go through the body corporate records, sinking fund, levies and by-laws, so a special levy or a pet or parking rule does not surprise you after settlement.
Selling in Benowa
Since 1 August 2025, Queensland sellers must give the buyer a signed seller disclosure statement (Form 2) and prescribed certificates before the buyer signs the contract. Get it wrong and the buyer may be able to walk away. We prepare the seller disclosure package, order the searches, and check pool safety requirements if your home has a pool, which is common in Benowa, so your sale is not held up at the last minute.
Why Benowa locals choose Empire Legal
One upfront price with no surprises, a team that answers the phone, more than 3,000 five-star reviews, and solicitors who know Gold Coast property. We already look after nearby Surfers Paradise, Southport, Ashmore and Nerang, with Bundall just up the road, so we know the area well.
Serving Benowa and the central Gold Coast
Benowa sits between Surfers Paradise, Southport and Ashmore, close to the Nerang River. Most of our Gold Coast work is done electronically, so you can sign and settle without taking time off work. Our Gold Coast office is at 102b/14 Bruce Avenue, Paradise Point, open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
Know your costs before you sign. Transfer duty is usually the biggest upfront cost of buying. Run the numbers with our stamp duty calculator and see what conveyancing costs in Queensland.
Ready to get started?
Buying or selling in Benowa? See our pricing or call 07 3088 7675 - we’re here 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. We can usually turn around pre-contract advice within 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a solicitor to buy a canal or riverfront home in Benowa?
In Queensland, conveyancing is done by solicitors, or by staff working under a solicitor’s supervision. For waterfront homes that matters, because the questions about walls, pontoons and approvals are legal ones. We review the contract and raise them before the cooling-off period runs out.
Which searches matter for a Benowa house?
Usually the title search, council and rates searches, water and sewerage details, a flood and overlay check, and a look at any registered easements or building approvals. For a waterfront lot we also check how the title treats the water boundary. We tailor the list to the property.
Do I need a pool safety certificate to sell in Benowa?
If your home has a pool, Queensland requires a current pool safety certificate to sell, or the buyer must be told about the position under the contract rules. We check this early so a missing certificate does not delay your sale.
Can I sign and settle without coming into the office?
Yes. Most of our work is done electronically, with contracts signed online and settlement through PEXA, so you can buy or sell in Benowa from home or work.
