Hi all.

I've noticed that the idea of buying land and having a builder place a house on it seems very popular in place alike Perth, however, just wondered if anyone had any experience of this in Melbourne?

This is done in every corner of Australia

LOL!

As Amazulu says, it goes on everywhere - and has done for generations. It's not a new idea peculiar to WA.

That's the reason just about every house in every street in Australia is different to all the other houses in the street. People bought the land and then put the house they wanted on it. In our street the land was originally sold in 1908, and every house in it is completely different (and around 100 years old now) - so it's being going on for a long time.

Hi.

Thanks for your replies. We feel the new builds are the best value for money option for us so we wanted to check whether this was limited to certain areas. I know some areas may provide a grant towards the cost of a new build so that may help also.

Thanks

Do you live in Australia yet?

It's not just about the house, it's the location. New builds are almost entirely in new estates, which have a very different ambience from established areas. Some people like the estates, some don't.

One of the reasons that new builds are the best "value for money option" is that they are built on less desirable land, in less desirable locations.

BB

There are also usually far away from shops and schools.

I agree. I would checkout the location carefully beforehand especially for commuting times etc...

That is true for what are advertised as "House and land packages" where a developer has bought up some old farmland, subdivided it and is selling off the house blocks: you then select a house plan from his portfolio and he builds it on the block.

However there is nothing to stop you buying a block of land anywhere you can find one (even on such an estate) and then selecting your own builder to build the house for you. Usually more expensive as there will be costs associated with service connections, council approvals, etc which are all included in the developer's price, but you end up with the house you want where you want it.

Look round for an old dilapidated house on a good block in the area you want - places like that often go for the value of the land alone. Then knock down the house and build the one you want! Around where I live (suburb of 1940-1950 houses) there have been many of these done in the past few years as the original owners die off.

If however your budget is limited then you will be stuck with the "new estate" option.

OOOOOOOR ,you could take the shit box of a house with no sea view have it lifted a level or two by said biulder .... this will cost around $ 85000 .....now it has a sea view and its worth a bomb.... sell this and clear the mortgage.....
Lots to think about..... i can put you in touch with two guys that do this for a living.

We bought a crappy old dilapidated house 4 years ago in an old established Melbourne suburb. Knocked the hovel down last year and this week we moved into our lovely spacious home.

Sadly we are the only block around here which does not have 4 townhouses squashed upon it.