With first home buyers looking for more reliable and attainable ways to get into the market, choosing between an existing property or building new is a major decision.
Buying an older property is often seen as the simplest option, especially for many first home buyers, but in reality, that’s not always true.
“Established homes can feel like the safer or more straightforward option, but there are often trade-offs that aren’t obvious upfront,” says Stephanie Mackenzie, Head of Sales at Stockland.
For example, unexpected maintenance and renovations can make purchasing an existing home more unpredictable than buyers might think at first glance, meaning there may be hidden costs further along in their ownership journey.
For buyers looking for more upfront certainty, as well as more control and transparency during the process, a new home is becoming an increasingly appealing option.
“Building new gives buyers more certainty around what they’re paying for and what they’re getting, and it can be a more strategic and future-focused pathway into home ownership,” says Shaun Patterson, Chief of Sales and Marketing at Simonds Homes.
New homes have become an appealing option, especially for first home buyers. Picture: Simonds Homes.
4 reasons first home buyers are choosing to build brand-new
While the obvious benefit of a new home is the high degree of personalisation that comes with building from scratch, there’s much more that’s appealing to first home buyers.
Here are four reasons why buyers are opting to make their first home a new one.
1. Access to government grants
With new homes in the spotlight at both a federal and state level, there are more incentives than ever to build new, especially for first home buyers.
“Depending on the state, first home buyers may be eligible for grants, stamp duty concessions, or schemes that are specifically geared toward new builds,” says Ms Mackenzie.
“These programs can make a meaningful difference to upfront costs and help buyers get into the market sooner.”
New South Wales, for example, offers a $10,000 First Home Owner (New Homes) Grant for newly built homes, while Victoria has a program that allows for significant stamp duty savings on new homes valued up to $750,000.
At a national level, the Help to Buy shared equity scheme means that the Australian Government will contribute up to 40% towards the purchase price of a new home - compared to the up to 30% contribution available for an existing home.
Some first home buyer grants and initiatives specifically incentivise building a new home. Picture: Simonds Homes.
2. Built to modern standards
Building a new home means it’s designed and constructed to meet today’s stringent Australian building standards, reducing the risk of unexpected issues down the track.
New homes are built according to the National Construction Code (NCC), which sets minimum requirements for structural integrity and fire safety, standards that many existing homes weren’t built to meet.
As a result, buyers are less likely to face costly repairs or upgrades after they move in, such as outdated wiring or sub‑standard insulation.
“Peace of mind matters, especially for first home buyers. Knowing your home is backed by modern construction standards and warranties can remove a lot of uncertainty,” says Mr Patterson.
“For example, at Simonds we protect our customers with a Lifetime Structural Guarantee for that added peace of mind.”
Knowing that a new home is built to modern standards and with the latest guarantees can help buyers feel more secure. Picture: Simonds Homes.
3. Energy efficient from the ground up
Ms Mackenzie adds that sustainability is often overlooked as a key advantage when purchasing a new home.
“Energy efficiency is another factor that’s often underestimated,” she says.
“Older homes typically aren’t built to current energy-efficient standards, so running costs can be higher over time.”
Modern homes are specifically built to newer energy-efficient standards, meaning that they don’t need costly conversions or updates to make them perform better, and homeowners can save money on their energy bills in the long run.
The National Construction Code (NCC), for example, requires all new homes to meet a minimum 7-star NatHERS rating, meaning that with elements like better insulation, smarter orientation and improved glazing, a home will have more stable indoor temperatures year-round as temperatures rise.
This all adds up to lower energy bill costs with a Climate Council report finding that living in a 7-star, all-electric house in any capital city in Australia would save homeowners an average of $450 per year in heating and cooling costs, compared to the previous 6-star standard.
New masterplanned communities like those created by Stockland can also integrate practical sustainability measures like solar power, EV charging and batteries, making it even easier for buyers to make their new homes more efficient.
New homes in masterplanned communities like Stockland Cloverton located in Kalkallo, VIC are built to modern energy efficient standards.
4. Floorplans made for today’s lifestyles
From the sunken conversation pits of the 1950s to even older closed-off kitchens, there are plenty of floorplan features in established properties that can make a home look dated.
But, in a more practical sense, the layout of many existing homes can also be incompatible with how buyers want to live today.
With working from home more common, children living at home well into early adulthood, and Australians holding onto their homes longer than ever, the ways buyers use their homes have changed.
“Buyers should consider whether an older home truly fits their lifestyle, or whether they’re adapting to a layout that was designed for a different era,” says Mr Patterson.
“Today’s homeowners are asking for flexibility, with spaces to work, entertain and grow and modern home designs are built to support exactly that.”
New homes are designed to better fit how modern homeowners actually use their homes. Picture: Simonds Homes.
Why masterplanned communities are changing how we buy
Beyond the homes themselves, building new also allows buyers to be more deliberate about the kind of community they’re moving into.
For first home buyers looking to make the most of their budget, the neighbourhood and what it offers can be just as important as the home itself.
“Homebuyers today aren’t just choosing a house, they’re asking what kind of community they want to be part of,” says Mr Patterson.
Choosing to build in a masterplanned community means buyers can have modern, energy-efficient homes, while also buying into a suburb that’s been carefully planned with their future needs in mind.
Communities, like Stockland's The Gables located in Gables, NSW, allow buyers to move into modern, expertly designed neighbourhoods.
Developers like Stockland take a considered approach to community design, thinking about how residents will interact with local amenity over time.
“At Stockland, we take a very holistic approach to how communities are designed,” says Ms Mackenzie.
“It starts with the fundamentals — planning for schools, childcare, retail centres and transport upfront, so there is a clear roadmap for how the community will grow and evolve overtime.”
Community design then focuses on lifestyle and liveability, with green spaces, parks, walkways and cycling paths, playgrounds and community hubs, all playing a role in how people live and connect.
“Ultimately, it’s about creating places that feel easy to live in - where careful planning gives people confidence in not just what’s there today, but what’s to come,” says Ms Mackenzie.
It’s this combination of certainty, contemporary design and thoughtfully planned communities that’s driving a growing number of buyers to choose new homes as their pathway into the market.
Custom Call to ActionWant to know more about Stockland communities?
Discover where buyers are finding their new homes.
Learn more
English (US) · 