When it comes to property transactions, the formal and legal part of the process is the exchanging of contracts. This outlines the terms and conditions agreed upon by the buyer and seller in a binding written contract.
In modern times this involves several parties and documents such as agents, lenders, solicitors, conveyancers, deposits, title deeds, council certificates and leases just to name a few.
Ever wondered how property was traded prior to all of this? Here’s a look at some of the more primitive ways it was handled in various cultures and times across history.
Saxon (England)
A clump of earth, twig, or key from the land was handed from seller to buyer in front of witnesses. This was considered legally binding before written deeds became common in medieval England.
Horse and Oath (Scandinavia / Viking Age)
Land was transferred with a public oath on sacred objects, sometimes involving ceremonial items like a sword, ring, or horsehair. The ritual held religious and social weight, making disputes less likely.
Barter with Objects of Value
Property was exchanged for items like cattle, tools, jewellery, or even food. No written record was needed — the trade itself was the proof. Among early Celtic, African, or Native American communities, land was sometimes “bought” with beads, blankets, or livestock.
Oral Contracts with Witnesses (Global)
An agreement was spoken in front of community elders or chieftains. Community memory and reputation ensured compliance — often more effective than early paper systems.
Fire and Stone Ceremony (Scotland)
During Highland transactions, a ceremony was held on the land using fire and a symbolic stone passed between the parties. Signifying the buyer’s new dominion over the land and the people who lived on it.
Tattoo or Scarification (Tribal Cultures)
In some tribal societies, a permanent physical mark on the body of the buyer signified the land transfer. This literal “mark of ownership” linked the person to the land.
Sandals as Legal Symbolism — Ancient Israel (circa 1000 BCE)
In ancient Hebrew culture, the exchange or removal of a sandal was a formal, legally recognized act to confirm a transaction.
On that note, If you are doing the rounds at open homes tomorrow looking to secure a property, why not ask the agent “Would the vendor not prefer to swap some Crocs for their Reeboks?”
Newcastle Region Market Stats Week Ending 18th July, 2025
- How many FOR SALE in Newcastle Region? 1499
- How many UNDER OFFER or UNDER CONTRACT? 144
- How many Auctions LISTED? 105
- How many Auctions THIS WEEK? 16
- How many SALES in the last week? 92
- Current CASH Rate: 3.85%
- Current INFLATION rate: 2.1%
- NSW Auction Results available this week: 738
- NSW Clearance rate (sold prior, at or same day
- after auction): 65%
- NSW Sold Prior to Auction: 29%
- NSW Passed in at Auction: 15%
- NSW Withdrawn or Converted to Private Treaty Sales: 20%
- Murdoch Property Clearance Rate at Auction: 90%
- Murdoch Property Average Days On Market: 33
* Why track NSW stats? This can provide key indicators of market confidence on a local level & influence the strategy when it comes to buying or selling your next property. Also, I like to nerd out on this stuff!
Being in the regional areas of Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, we often follow trends from capital cities. Source: https://www.realestate.com.au/ https://www.domain.com.au/ https://www.rba.gov.au/ https://www.cotality.com/au
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Amazing agent! . Luke is extremely professional and knowledgeable. He takes his work very seriously. We knew we were in good hands and could trust and rely upon him throughout the process to achieve a wonderful outcome for us selling our loved family property. We cannot recommend Luke enough!!
Luke is humble, kind and a skilled negotiator. We have found him to be a standout human in an industry that's not highly regarded. It can be difficult to know who to trust - we can trust Luke and Murdoch Property - he's not flashy & genuinely cares.
Highly recommended. Luke's approach to selling is friendly yet very professional, consistent, prompt and thorough in his communication. He made the process so much easier than we imagined and provided much needed support and advice that helped achieve the sale. His Newcastle market knowledge was outstanding and communicated in an easy to understand manner. Back office support from Diana was also greatly appreciated. I highly recommend Luke and his team to anyone seeking to sell their home.
Calm, Professional and Trustworthy from Start to Finish. Selling our property was a significant decision, and I am so grateful I had Luke Murdoch guiding me through the process. What I appreciated most about Luke was his calm and steady nature. No matter what was happening, he remained approachable, level-headed, and reassuring. He took the time to explain things clearly, answered my questions honestly, and never made me feel like I was a bother. Luke is incredibly knowledgeable, but what sets him apart is the way he combines that knowledge with genuine care for his clients. He was always accessible, kept me informed throughout the sale, and regularly went above and beyond what I expected from a real estate agent. Selling a home can be stressful, but Luke's professionalism, patience, and even temperament made the whole experience feel much easier. He's not only an excellent agent but also an all-round good guy who genuinely wants the best outcome for the people he works with. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Luke to anyone looking to sell their property.
Luke was fantastic throughout the entire process of purchasing our home. His communication was excellent from start to finish, always keeping us informed and happy to answer any questions we had. He was honest, professional, and genuinely easy to deal with, which made the whole experience much less stressful. What stood out most was his integrity and straightforward approach. We always felt like we were getting honest advice, and he went above and beyond to ensure everything ran smoothly. I would highly recommend Luke to anyone looking to buy or sell a property. A great real estate agent and an all-round good bloke.
“5 STARS” are just not enough …! We hadn’t sold or purchased a property in over 25 years - so the prospect of selling was daunting. From the start however, Luke made the process extremely streamline - explained the process, and what to expect. Luke has a very fine tuned selling process which saw our investment property - photographed, on the website and open houses within 2 weeks we had ample offers to make a decision after this short period - which was based On Luke following up all offers ensuring they had finance etc approved. We had a tenant who had just moved out of this property - and Luke was extremely patient and informative of his processing the sale of our property to the tenant. this ensured a very smooth transition to selling the property vacant.
Can’t recommend Luke enough his manner and professionalism filled me with confidence.. he made it a stress free sale
An easy experience from start to finish . Luke is straight forward, professional and a great communicator. His knowledge of the Newcastle market is extensive and good to to have when you are making big decisions. I bought and sold simultaneously with Luke and the process was smooth and hassle-free.