Moving to Queensland

A “house and land package” is when the developer (North Harbour) who is selling the land, asks a builder (one of our Display Village builders) to provide an example of one of their designs which would fit on a particular block. The developer and builder then package the house design and the land together into a House and Land Package. For more information check out our House and Land package information video.

To learn more about our Display Village, click here.

So, you’ve looked around for house and land packages in the Moreton Bay region and you’re interested in building a new home at North Harbour. What happens next?

The ideal timeline is as follows:

Step 1: Visit the North Harbour Sales Office and Display Village and review our available land for purchase. Once you have chosen your block (on its own or as part of a house and land package) we will hold it for 48 hours without deposit. After two days we will call you to confirm that you wish to proceed. If you want to go ahead, we will ask you for some further details (full names of buyers and your solicitor) to enable us to prepare the contract. An appointment is made to sign the offer to purchase in the following week when all parties are available. After the buyer/s have completed the offer to purchase, it is then signed by the Developer (North Harbour) and sent to our solicitor. At this point the $5000 deposit is payable.

Things to note in Step 1: North Harbour as the developer sells the land (block). Once you have chosen your block you then need to choose the style of house you would like to put on there – you can do this by choosing one of our pre-approved house and land packages and building with one of our Display Village builders or you are free to choose a different builder. BUT any home you choose must adhere to the North Harbour design guidelines and must be suitable for your block. Click here to view the Design Guidelines.Double-check what you can and can’t have on the block you choose. Viewing house and land packages will give you a clear idea of what type of house you can put on your preferred block.

Step 2: The purchaser has 28 days to secure finance. You will need to speak to a mortgage advisor or your chosen bank to secure finance. If finance is declined, the $5,000 deposit is fully refundable. $5,000 is held in Trust with our solicitor until settlement – which will occur 28 days after registration.

Step 3: Registration normally takes place 4 – 6 months after the release of a new stage Registration can be delayed due to inclement weather affecting the civil works and is also subject to council approval timelines. Once registration is through council, it can then go to titles office to register. Once registered, we will call the buyer to inform them of registration and they will also receive notification from their solicitor and a settlement date.

Things to note in step 3: This step is outside the control of the developer as it is subject to council approval timelines. It can be subject to delays – we do our best to mitigate any delays but it is not always possible.

Step 4: Once settled, your builder can start building your new home. Things to remember: Contact Opticomm to get your broadband set up so you can join North Harbour’s fibre optic network and get access to Australia’s Fastest Broadband, your builder will organise for your gas to be connected to our reticulated gas system.

First home buyers in Queensland are eligible for a grant to help them build their first property (this must be brand new, not an established home).

The First Home Owner’s Grant is a $15,000 one-off financial grant only available to those buying their first home in Australia who meet all the eligibility criteria aimed at helping First Home Owner’s get onto the property ladder. Eligible recipients must be:

• at least 18 years old and an Australian Citizen or permanent resident
• purchasing a brand-new property under $750,000
• receiving the grant for the first time

For a full list of the terms and conditions please visit the website here and to find out if you are eligible and more details on what the grant involves check our first home buyers guide here.

The First Home Loan Deposit Scheme is a Government-backed initiative to help Australians get into their first home sooner. Basically, to avoid First Home Buyers having to pay for lenders insurance, under the Scheme, part of an eligible first home buyer’s home loan from a participating lender will be guaranteed by the National Finance, Housing and Investment Corporation. This is aimed at enabling first home buyers to purchase a home with a deposit of as little as 5 per cent (lender’s criteria apply). To find out more about the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme and to see if you are eligible, click here.