Your own backyard: First-home buyer-friendly houses for under $700k
Australian home buyers face tough conditions, with affordability more important than ever. But does a conservative budget rule out houses?
With migration increasing at pace and rental and housing affordability hitting their worst levels in at least 17 years, according to PropTrack data, there’s been a push to build a swathe of new homes across Australia to meet the Government’s 1.2 million Housing Accord Target.
One way to swiftly create supply is by building medium- and high-density apartment developments across the major capital cities. But what are the options for budget-conscious buyers who still yearn for their own backyard?
“There are some clear trends whereby purchasers of new house and land are targeting smaller houses, this is likely due to construction price escalations leading to buyers having to rationalise on size to fit their budget,” explained PropTrack director of economic research, Cameron Kusher.
Affordable houses are a possibility in the current market, but the desirability of their location will depend on how much space you’re willing to live with.
Stockland Aura’s Sunshine Coast community is in hot demand, with coastal home designs at a sub-$700,000 price point.
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Townhouses are a great solution for those on a budget who want to remain within city limits. House and land is a little trickier, but there are developers offering excellent options in outer-ring areas or new masterplanned communities with infrastructure such as childcare, primary schools, supermarkets and transport links.
Buyers of new builds can utilise both stamp duty and off-the-plan concessions, as well as First Home Owner Grants (FHOG), to stretch the budget further.
In Queensland, for example, the FHOG is $30,000 when buying or building new. But concessions vary by state. In Victoria, there are eligibility price caps, where houses priced between $600,001 and $750,000 can receive the first home buyer duty concession. The state also offers an off-the-plan duty concession.
Here are some options for townhomes and house and land packages for those with a budget around $700,000, still within city fringes or in desirable regional locations.
Victoria
St Leonards, Bellarine Peninsula
Metricon’s St Leonards Seaside development has house and land options from $739,448 in this pretty coastal peninsula, meaning you’ll need to take advantage of using duty concessions and the FHOG (but Metricon is also currently offering a $30,000 rebate).
If a sea change is what you’re after, Metricon’s Bellarine Peninsula development is an option if you can secure concessions, with the home design boasting a 7-star energy rating.
The single-level four-bed home design includes a kitchen with walk-in pantry, a study nook and 7-star energy rating complete with double glazed windows.
Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula region has a colourful art and culture scene, great surf beaches, mountainous national parks, and a picturesque wine region, complete with 40 cellar doors.
Clyde North, Melbourne
Mirvac’s Smiths Lane development is in Melbourne’s burgeoning outer ring suburb of Clyde North, an area quickly becoming renowned for its excellent new schools. The Clyde Rail Link, future town centre and major sporting grounds are also proposed, as the Clyde and Clyde North communities are expected to reach in excess of 157,000 by 2041.
An artist’s impression of Mirvac’s townhome development, Smiths Lane, where each home will be within 200 metres of parkland or green open space. The fast-developing area is in outer Melbourne with proposed future metro links.
Smiths Lane offers three- and four-bedroom architecturally-design townhouses between $650,000 and $725,000, where each home will be within 200 metres of parkland or green open space. The family-minded curated new community is currently offering additional rebates and partner builder deals.
Cranbourne South, Melbourne
Brompton is Wolfdene’s flagship community, now housing over 3,000 residents. Their latest release starts with two-bed townhomes from $560,000, three-bed options from $595,000 and four-bedroom homes from $660,000. The clever three-level design of the residences allow for third or fourth bedrooms without expanding the lot size, keeping prices affordable.
This flagship project from Wolfdene offers an array of affordable two- to four-bedroom townhome designs with nature integrated throughout, including 10kms of interconnected cycling and walking trails.
The community has been designed with nature at its core, with about seventeen hectares of open space, parks and wetlands, and more than 10kms of interconnected cycling and walking trails. The project is set for completion by September 2027.
Williams Landing, Melbourne
Only 35 minutes to Melbourne’s CBD, Williams Landing is a premium, masterplanned development from Cedar Woods. The site promises a new ‘centre of the west’, featuring a 50-hectare town centre encompassing retail and speciality shops, restaurants, child care facilities, parks and wetlands, commercial offices and more.
Artist’s impression of the interiors in an upgrade package at William’s Landing, part of a 50-hectare town centre transforming Melbourne’s west.
There’s rail connection, but for those who prefer a scenic commute, the 24km Federation Bike Trail links Williams Landing to the CBD.
Two-, three- and four-bedroom townhomes are on offer, starting from $705,000, with the totality of Williams Landing (including the town centre) due for completion by 2032.
Wollert, Melbourne
Also from developer Cedar Woods, Mason Quarter is located within the fast-growing new suburb of Wollert, 25km north of Melbourne’s CBD. The masterplanned community will integrate the natural environment with the convenience of retail, dining, schools, and transport options – creating a place designed for healthy, connected living, inside and out.
Mason Quarter’s community design focuses on nature, with townhomes starting from as little as $470,000 and house and land from $650,000, just 25kms north of Melbourne’s CBD.
Due for completion in 2029, homes are available in the estate for affordable prices, with townhomes from $470,000 and house and land packages starting from $650,000. You can currently secure a home with a $10,000 deposit.
Truganina and Tarneit, Melbourne
Stockland is developing two communities west of Melbourne’s CBD worth noting for their connection, convenience and price point: Grandview, in Truganina, 28km west of Melbourne’s CBD; and Wattle Park, in Tarneit, 33km west of the CBD. Both masterplanned communites are offering house and land packages starting from $617,000, and currently allowing a $10,000 deposit.
One options of interiors of Stockland’s designs for Wattle Park in Tarneit.
Grandview is a new community with city views at the front, mountains to the back and access to 50 hectares of natural reserve at your fingertips. Wattle Park is found bordering the tranquil Werribee River in Melbourne’s flourishing western corridor, with green space, and easy access to education and public transport.
Queensland
Nirimba, Sunshine Coast
Nirimba is a flourishing area of development on the Sunshine Coast, 15 minutes’ inland from Pelican Waters and Caloundra, while providing easy access to the M1 to Brisbane or Noosa. Its location means you secure a coastal lifestyle with a hinterland backdrop. Stockland Aura is offering house and land packages from $675,000, but townhomes are also available at a lower price point.
Stockland Aura is an in-demand community with stylish house designs that perfectly distil its Sunshine Coast location.
Stockland Aura is one of the area’s most in-demand masterplanned communities. Its village-style design offers residents over 20 parks, playgrounds, sports grounds, dog parks, cycleways and a skate and scooter plaza, with more green and community spaces planned.
The grounds are also already equipped with two primary schools, a high school and childcare centres. The Baringa shopping precinct is complete with health and wellness offerings, an IGA Marketplace, Tavern and Aura has kicked off a weekly and monthly Farmer’s Market.
Redbank Plains, West Brisbane
Nestled in a peaceful pocket of Redbank Plains in West Brisbane, near Ipswich, Eden’s Crossing is a Brighton Homes community spanning 150 hectares, with over a third of the estate dedicated to lush green open spaces inclusive of parks, playgrounds and walking tracks. Upon completion, Eden’s Crossing will be home to over 1,200 families, creating a vibrant and close-knit neighbourhood.
Over 1/3 of Eden’s Crossing is open green space, which includes parks, playgrounds and walking tracks.
House and land packages are available for four-bed, two-bath homes at $683,500. Brighton Homes is also currently offering additional cash-back offers on particular packages.
Redland Bay, South Brisbane
If you can stretch the budget slightly or nab yourself a concession or two, you could secure yourself house and land in the lovely Redland Bay area. Lendlease’s Shoreline community has an option or two from $749,000, as well as land for sale.
Redland Bay, southeast of Brisbane, isn’t out of reach if clever buyers can utilise FHOG or concessions.
The exciting waterfront community is a blend of natural beauty and modern convenience. The masterplanned community enjoys walking tracks and cycleways that weave through bushland, leading you to the sparkling bay. Soak up the sun at the beautiful Sandy Cove foreshore or the cafes and restaurants planned for the community, while the kids are in the future on-site primary school and childcare centre.
Park Ridge, Logan/South Brisbane
Just 35 minutes’ drive south of Brisbane’s CBD and 45 minutes’ drive to the Gold Coast, Ausbuild’s Somserset Park Ridge is a centrally-located exclusive new estate catering to growing families. The site offers a strong sense of community, through the close-knit school communities and social atmosphere of the local sporting clubs, cafés and restaurants.
Somerset Park Ridge, between the Gold Coast and Brisbane, is strong on community connection with house and land prices starting from $689,000.
This up-and-coming neighbourhood from Ausbuild offering house and land packages starting from $689,000, with a fixed build time to alleviate any worry.
Flagstone, Logan
Building family homes since 1949, Simonds has house and land packages available in the Logan region between Brisbane and the Gold Coast for affordable prices, like $649,000 for the Lilywood design.
The Flagstone development where you can build a house in a masterplanned community with Simonds home from $649,000.
There are multiple estates where you can build with Simonds, but one major community to consider is Flagstone, designed with vision and purpose in the Greater Flagstone Priority Development Area. The location blends urban planning with the natural beauty of South-East Queensland, only a short drive from Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
South Australia
Tonsley, Adelaide
From award-winning developer Peet, Tonsley Village is an 11-hectare residential precinct within the 62-hectare Tonsley Innovation District. It’s a village pushing boundaries that residents get to call home – for example, the whole of Tonsley’s electrical infrastructure has been designed to run off an independent embedded network including 16,000 solar panels located on the MAB and TAFE SA roofs.
Innovation is the name of the game at Tonsley Village, with these Torrens Title state-of-the-art townhomes located within the Tonsley Innovation District, starting from $560,000.
The range of Torrens-titled homes are fixed price and turn-key, and start from $560,000. Location-wise, the progressive neighbourhood sits 20 minutes from the city, 10 minutes from the beach, 25 minutes from McLaren Vale and 5 minutes from Westfield Marion, Flinders Medical Centre, and Flinders University (with rail links).
Woodville, Adelaide
Another offering from Peet, community-minded Woodville Rd is only 8kms from Adelaide’s CBD and will offer a total of 172 architecturally designed two- to four-bedroom Torrens Titled terrace homes starting from $675,000, as well as one- and two-bedroom apartments.
Peet is also developing Woodville Rd in St Clair, with architecturally designed two- to four-bedroom Torrens Titled terrace homes no more than 200m from green spaces, starting from $675,000.
Located opposite St Clair Recreation Centre, playground, and skate park, the site will include more than 30% open space when complete, with every home located within 200m of a high-quality landscaped park.