What Is a House and Land Package in Queensland? A Plain English Guide

In Queensland, most new homes outside the inner suburbs are bought as a house and land package. You are not shopping for a block and a builder separately. You are looking at one address and one price that covers both the land and the home that will be built on it.

This guide explains what sits inside that price, how the contracts work, and the questions worth asking before you sign anything.

What a house and land package includes

A package usually brings together:

• The block of land, either already titled or due to register in a future stage
• A fixed price building contract with the builder who owns that package
• The home design, including the facade, floor plan and specifications
• Site works such as cut and fill, retaining and connection of services, as far as the builder has allowed
• Council and developer approval fees for the build

Some packages also include fencing, a driveway, landscaping or blinds. Many do not, so it is worth reading the inclusion list closely rather than assuming.

How the money works

Most packages are two contracts, one for the land and one for the build. A single contract package exists too, where one party sells you both.

That matters for two reasons. The deposit is usually paid in stages, first on the land and then with the builder. Stamp duty is generally assessed on the land component, because the home is yet to be built. A finance specialist can confirm how that applies to your situation.

Progress payments are made as the build reaches each stage, so your loan is drawn down over the life of the project rather than all at once. Our finance page explains how we work through that timing with you.

Why buyers choose a package

• One price, set before you build, so the budget is known from the start
• A new home with a builder's structural warranty rather than someone else's renovation
• Nothing to fix on day one, which suits busy households
• A choice of designs and facades to suit the block
• Room to add value in estates where land is still being released

What to check before you commit

• When the land registers. Your building contract can only start after settlement of the land.
• Whether site costs are fixed or provisional. A sloping block or deep fill can change the number.
• The estate covenants, which can dictate roof colour, fencing and even landscaping.
• What the inclusion list leaves out, and what those items will cost you later.
• Whether finance is pre-approved before the land settles, and how the Sorted Mortgages team wants the timing structured.

Frequently asked questions

Is a house and land package cheaper than buying established?

It is not automatically cheaper, but it is more predictable. You are paying today's land price for a home built to current standards, with no renovation surprises.

Can I use my own builder?

Occasionally. Some developers allow it, though most packages are tied to a builder's contract. If you already have a builder, tell us early and we will look for land only options.

How long does a house and land package take?

From land settlement, the build commonly takes six to twelve months depending on the design and approvals. The wait before that depends on when the land registers, which can be many months in a new release.

What deposit do I need?

Deposits are paid in stages rather than in one hit. For the detail, read our guide to deposits on a house and land package.

Where to go next

You can see what is available right now on the packages page, filtered by suburb, budget or package type. If you would rather talk the numbers through first, send us an enquiry and we will line up the right package and the right finance conversation together.