chris and farideh

Hi guys,

we dont know which option to go for, its fun to think to buy land then you can build on it, to the design you want your house to be, but i think the land in most desirable area has already been built.
I dont know if most lands are in the suburbs are close to transport, schools, doctors, etc. or is it far away from every thing.
or should we just go and buy house and be close to everything we are use it.
would be grateful if you can tell us what is the advantages or disadvantage buying a land, or buying house.

farideh

thebears

Hi Farideh,

We are moving to Melbourne. And are also considering the same decision. We are using a local buying agent to locate a house and plot suitable for us to build on at a later stage say in 3 to 5 years.

What we are paying a premium for is the location - but the positive aspects of building later on an existing site are the utlities are already in - the surrounding area will already be established.

We already also have taken on a local Architect who is of the opinion spend 4 years designing and planning and 6 months building not the other way around.

eintracht

We are moving to Melbourne and recently, on our reckie, bought a piece of land and designed a house that is currently being built. We spent weeks looking around other houses but in the end decided that if we wanted a house that was 100% right for us we needed to build our own. All the ready built houses were nice but everyone needed us to compromise exactly what we wanted.

Hutch

We looked into it. Did the sums. Didn't make sense where we're moving to (South Coast, NSW). Where we'll be, all the good plots have gone and you're basically looking at smallish sub-divisions. Makes more sense for us to renovate and/or extend.

thebears

Where in Melbourne did you end up buying? Can I ask what costs of building you have been quoted so far? and how big a property you are building? Sorry for being nosy but are doing the same thing - looking at a property in vicinity of 500smtres over 3 levels.

eintracht

We've bought an 880sq metre plot in Sunbury. We've designed a 3 bed single story house with Home Theatre, study, games room and have a "turn the key" price of $430,000. Size of the house is:
House 30.57sq
Alfresco 2.76sq
Garage 4.50sq
Porch 0.52sq

thebears

sounds great. Did you get a local architect or use a local building firm with existing selection of designs?

I think I recall Sunbury on a trip out too Geelong or remember a turnoff near the airport .

eintracht

We started off talking to the big companies like Metricon, Henleys etc. but soon realised they were too inflexible and had so many added extras the price they quoted you could add 50% on to that. So we found an area that was selling plots of land in Sunbury. A lot of these plots had been bought by local builders and we spoke to several of them. They will show you plenty of houses they have built and we used one of those plans for a starting point and just made all the changes we wanted - no limitations. They then quoted us a "turn the key" price and we managed to get them to knock $10k off that. They also gave us a list of several houses they had already built and we went and knocked on doors and people were kind enough to show us round.
If you want more info PM me.
Yes, Sunbury is about 10km's from the airport. Close enough to the city to get in easily and far enough away not to be part of the rat race.

BadgeIsBack

You can buy acreage out that way and feel you are out in the bush. It is quite reasonable.

My mate stood out there on his new 60 acres of land and said to his wife. 'Just hear that silence!".

Seconds later a plane inbound for Tullamarine flew low over them. He had no idea they were on the flightpath.

ozzieeagle

An Architecht would say they though wouldn't they

Most Aussies buy established houses, and wait for New Migrants to come in and build their very expensive dream. With the Aussies picking up bargains 18 months after new builders have decided their new venture has disappointed them and frustrated them beyond belief.


Only exception to this, is inner city properties, where Aussies will knock down an old house to build either townhouses or an individual built house to suit the location.

So 26 years in this country tells me to tell you no don't do it. Unless you've got 700,000-800,000 to spend in the inner city, which will almost certainly make you a cool Million.

eintracht

Well he must have bought a fair distance from Sunbury because Sunbury is not on the Melbourne airport flight path.

Teliko21

We are building a 4 bedroom single storey with double garage, games room, study. Currently around $215000 and we are building on a 5 acre plot past Sunbury a little way.