I’m thinking of building on a vacant block – what do I need to know?

Raine and Horne Murraylands’ Michael Cox offers his advice.

I’m thinking of building on a vacant block – what do I need to know?
Michael Cox and the team at Raine and Horne Murraylands can help you through the process of finding a vacant lot and building a new home. Photo: Raine and Horne Murraylands.

This sponsored story is brought to you by Raine and Horne Murraylands.

You’ve looked around the Murraylands’ property market, but haven’t found anything that really excites you – you’d rather build your own place.

Now what?

Building your dream home, or a home of any kind, is a complicated process.

There are a few things you might not realise if you haven’t built in the past five or 10 years, too.

Michael Cox, senior property consultant at Raine and Horne Murraylands, can offer you a few tips.

Vacant land is scarce at the moment

First things first: before building a house, you need a block of land to put it on.

Unfortunately for buyers, the spike in demand for Murraylands real estate since 2020 has made ready-to-build allotments harder and harder to find.

Lots in recent subdivisions like Hindmarsh Estate, Narooma Rise and Newbridge have often sold within weeks of being released, though space is still available in areas such as Swanport Village.

You might need to come in with a serious offer to secure the block you love.

“It’s not as easy as it once was,” Michael says.

“There’s some (land) projected to come down the pipeline this calendar year, but as it sits right now, it’s very hard to come and buy something,

“What is coming on, though, is resale of older allotments here and there.”

That brings us to an important question...

Do you want to build in a new subdivision, or on an established block?

Newer and older neighbourhoods will each have a different feel – that is a matter for your personal taste.

But there are practical differences between buying an allotment in a planned subdivision and buying an established block, too.

In a new development, you may have to wait a little longer for infrastructure to be built before you are able to proceed with a build.

There may be encumbrances upon the land: rules about what style of house you can and can’t construct, perhaps around materials, colours or landscaping styles.

“They’re generally quite user-friendly, but for people who prefer a more unique style or have a certain thought process, maybe that’s not the location for you,” Michael says.

There may also be rules about how quickly you have to build, or have your front garden finished: perhaps within 12 or 18 months.

What services are available, and what features do you want?

Location is almost everything, but not quite.

Of course you’ll want to find a block of land in the town where you want to live, and ideally within range of the shops, schools or other places you visit in your day-to-day life.

You might like to live on a quiet street, to find a spot with a view, or to be in a walkable neighbourhood.

But you’ll also need to ask yourself:

  • Would you be willing to build on a sloped block?
  • Will your property need a septic system, adding to the cost of the build?
  • You might only need two bedrooms, but would it be worth adding a third to increase your home’s resale value?

“It all depends on the purpose of what you’re building and whether it’s an investment, a dream home, a starter home or a retirement home,” Michael says.

“Lean on the professionals in the industry for advice on the things in the design that might be important to you.”

Timelines aren’t what they used to be

Let’s say you’ve found a block of land in a location you like, and you’ve got an idea about what you’d like to do with it.

Now it’s time to think about the build – another area in which things have changed a bit since pre-COVID days.

It used to be fairly common for people to buy a block of land and sit on it for a number of years while they saved to build a house.

Once you had a plan drawn up, you would hire a builder and, within six months or so, you could move into your new home.

Again, the current level of demand means that’s not so common any more.

It may be two years or more before a builder will be able to get started on your house, as they may already have a number of other jobs queued up.

“The days of buying a block of land, sitting on it, taking five years, then doing something with it (are gone),” Michael says.

His advice?

Start talking with your real estate agent as early as possible so you can find the best option.

If you plan to live in the home you are building, an agent can also help you plan the transition from your current property to your new one.

Building has its benefits

We know this has all sounded a bit cautious, but let’s be clear: there are still big advantages to building your own home.

You can design a property that will have all the features you could want, sized and laid out to suit you and your family, and at a cost that fits your budget.

Anyone who has not previously owned a home can access the same government support as first home buyers, including a $15,000 first home owner grant, zero stamp duty and other concessions.

Even if you’ve been a homeowner before, you’ll still pay less stamp duty on a block of land than you would on an established home.

Building a new home might not be cheaper than buying an older one any more, but it’s still a very appealing option.


Advertising to more than 20,000 highly engaged locals can do wonders for your business. Call Murray Bridge News’ Jane Intini on 0418 835 768 or email jane@murraybridge.news.

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