A First-Time Buyer’s Guide to Home & Land Packages

Stephanie Soto

Head of Sales & Marketing

Embarking on your first home purchase can feel like a big step. It helps to have a clear guide that walks you through what to expect, what’s included, and how to make informed choices. This first‑home buyer guide will simplify the journey into the world of house and land packages for first‑time buyers, giving you confidence and clarity every step of the way.

What Is a House & Land Package?

A house and land package offers a smart way to own a brand‑new home without starting from scratch. Essentially, you purchase a block of land and a newly constructed home as a single, streamlined offering. While two contracts are involved, one for the land and one for the build, you enjoy one unified price and a coordinated process.

This provides transparency around total costs, and when delivered in growth corridors or masterplanned estates, it also opens doors to smart locations and strong future potential.

What’s Included and What You Should Check

Typically, a house and land package covers not only the land and construction of the home but may also include basic landscaping, fencing, driveway works, and even turn‑key finishes in some cases.

However, inclusions can vary significantly by builder and estate. It’s vital to clarify what’s standard and what comes at an additional cost. Ask directly about alterations or upgrades like landscaping, tiling, or external finishes to ensure clarity upfront.

How to Choose the Right Builder

Your builder shapes both the quality of your home and your building experience. Here’s how to approach this important choice:

• Reputation matters. Look for genuine client feedback, past projects, and builder longevity.
• Process clarity. Opt for builders who communicate openly about timelines, milestones, and decision stages.
• Support system. Access to a mortgage broker such as our preferred broker, Mortgage Domayne, can make securing finance smoother.
• Warranties and support. Confirm structural warranty details and post‑handover care to ensure a home that remains a pleasure for years to come.

Choosing a supportive and transparent builder makes all the difference.

What to Expect Along the Journey

1. Budget and Planning

Start by establishing your budget, including land, build costs, stamp duty, legal fees, and other expenses. Remember to explore government support for first‑home buyers. The First Home Guarantee allows purchase with as little as 5 percent deposit, and schemes such as the Help to Buy offer significant shared-equity relief. In some states like Victoria, first-time buyers may also benefit from a full stamp duty exemption on new homes under a certain value, which could deliver savings in the tens of thousands.

2. Land Selection

Review proposed lots in the estate with care. Factors such as orientation, slope, drainage, and proximity to amenities can affect both daily life and long-term value. Doing council inquiries and legal checks early helps avoid surprises.

3. Design and Contract Signing

Once land is chosen, work with your builder to choose a suitable floor plan, upgrading where desired. Review the contracts, land and build, thoroughly, including cooling-off periods and contract obligations. It’s recommended that you work with a lawyer when dealing with contracts to ensure you’re getting a fair deal.

4. Securing Finance

Working closely with a mortgage broker simplifies staggered loans, especially when construction is phased. These loans often release funds in stages, during slab, framing, lock-up, and completion phases, keeping financing coordinated with building progress.

5. Construction Journey

Expect your home build to unfold in stages over several months. Your builder will guide you through progress and what’s next, which gives you both transparency and peace of mind.

6. Handover

Once your home is complete, you will go through a handover process. This includes final inspections, certification, and handover of keys, along with guidance material to help you enjoy and maintain your new home with ease.

FAQs

Do I have to pay stamp duty on both the house and the land?

In most cases, you’ll only pay stamp duty on the land portion of the contract, not the build. This is one of the major cost-saving advantages of choosing a house and land package. Keep in mind that stamp duty rules differ by state, so it’s important to check current exemptions or concessions relevant to your location. The State Revenue Office of Victoria is a reliable place to start.

What grants or schemes are available for first-home buyers?

As a first-home buyer, you may be eligible for multiple forms of assistance, including:

• First Home Guarantee: Buy with as little as 5% deposit without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance.
• First Home Owner Grant (FHOG): A one-off payment (e.g. $10,000 in Victoria for new builds).
• Help to Buy scheme: A shared-equity initiative that reduces upfront borrowing.
• Stamp duty concessions or exemptions: Available in most states for new builds under a price threshold.

You can find a detailed breakdown of current schemes on Moneysmart or your state revenue office.

How long does a house and land package take to complete?

Timelines vary, but here’s a general guide:

• Land settlement: 30–90 days
• Pre-construction phase (selections, approvals, permits): 4–8 weeks
• Build stage: Approximately 6–8 months, depending on site conditions, weather, and materials.

Choosing titled land (as opposed to untitled) can speed up the process significantly, as you won’t need to wait for land registration before beginning construction.

Can I customise my home design?

Yes, many builders offer a level of flexibility, especially during the planning and selection phases. You can usually choose between different floorplans, façades, and internal finishes. However, some house and land packages are sold as fixed designs for quicker delivery and greater cost certainty, so it’s always best to clarify this up front.

How do construction loans work with house and land packages?

Unlike a standard home loan, a construction loan is drawn down in stages, usually aligned with each building milestone (slab, frame, lock-up, fit-off, completion). This helps manage interest payments while your home is being built. Partnering with a dedicated broker like Mortgage Domayne can make navigating construction finance much easier, especially for first-home buyers.

Start Your Home Buying Journey

Stepping into homeownership for the first time is exciting, and a little daunting. A clear path helps you move forward with confidence. House and land packages offer a structured, affordable, and rewarding entry point.

As you walk this path from planning to keys-in-hand, you’ll have a fresh home built to modern standards, supported by grants and streamlined processes, and located in thriving neighbourhoods.

Explore our current house and land packages to see how your journey can begin today.