The words on a Section 32 and a listing, in plain English — what each one means, and how it can affect what you pay and what you can do with the property.
The building or area has recognised heritage value. You need council approval to demolish, extend, or change the outside of the building (sometimes even paint colours or removing a tree). It protects character — often a good thing for value — but limits renovation and rebuilding. Effect on price: mixed: desirable character, but a discount for anyone wanting to redevelop or extend freely.
The land can be affected by flooding. LSIO (Land Subject to Inundation) and SBO (Special Building Overlay) usually mean building rules and minimum floor levels; a Floodway is the most serious and can prevent building. Effect on price: generally negative — higher insurance, build constraints, and resale stigma. The overlay most worth confirming before you sign.
Bushfire-prone land. If it applies to a property, building triggers a BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) assessment and stricter, costlier construction plus defendable space. Effect on price: adds cost and insurance, though these areas are often lifestyle-desirable, which can offset it.
An ABS index of an area's relative advantage, shown as a decile from 1 to 10. 10 = among the top 10% most advantaged suburbs in Victoria; 1 = least. It reflects income, education and occupations — it is not a house-price measure, but it's a useful sense of the area.
The middle value of recent sales (or rents) — half sold for more, half for less. A better guide to “typical” than an average, which a few very expensive sales can distort. Source: Valuer-General Victoria.
A right over part of the land — often for drainage, sewerage or access. You usually can't build over an easement, so it can limit extensions or a new build. Listed in the Section 32.
A rule on the title limiting what you can do — e.g. only one dwelling, certain materials, or a height limit. Breaching it can be costly. Always check covenants before planning any change.
For apartments/townhouses: the entity that manages shared property. Check its fees, any special levies, the maintenance fund balance, insurance and disputes — this is where unit surprises hide.