Building a new home is a bigger financial decision than ever for Aussies. In fact, the cost of building a house in Australia has risen about 42% between March 2021 and March 2026, according to the ABS...

Guides

News

The red and green flags of choosing a home builder

Building a new home is a bigger financial decision than ever for Aussies. In fact, the cost of building a house in Australia has risen about 42% between March 2021 and March 2026, according to the ABS Producer Price IndexSo, how do so many Aussies end up on A Current Affair with a half-built home?According to iBuildNew general manager Jake Taylor, Australians are walking into one of the largest financial decisions of their lives with too little context about who they are signing with, falling into the common traps that leave families locked into dodgy deals. Mr Taylor said the signals of a quality builder were easier to read than most buyers realised.“A good builder isn’t hard to identify if you know what to look for, and most of the signals show up before you’ve signed anything,” Mr Taylor said, noting that the most important work is done early in the process. “The buyers who navigate this well aren’t necessarily more experienced – they’ve just done the work upfront,” he said.“They’ve compared builders before walking into a display suite, understood what’s included and what isn’t, and asked the right questions before signing anything.”<h2>Red flags to look out for</h2>For Mr Taylor, the most common red flag is pressure – the kind that compresses a buyer's decision window before they have had a proper look at the contract.“A legitimate builder doesn’t need you to commit before you’ve had time to read the contract properly,” he said. “If there’s urgency to lock in a deposit before documentation is complete, that’s worth paying attention to.”Pricing is the next thing Mr Taylor flagged, saying it was the most common factor luring Aussies into misaligned expectations.With cost pressures hitting the construction industry hard in recent years, Mr Taylor said a quote sitting well below the rest of the market was rarely the win it looked like.“A price that sits well below everyone else’s doesn’t mean you’ve found a bargain – in the current cost environment, that gap has to come from somewhere,” he said. “A quote that’s $30,000 to $50,000 below the rest of the market is hard to ignore when you’re managing a tight budget,” he said. “The problem is that in a fixed-price contract environment, a builder who has underquoted has to recover that margin somewhere.”“It usually shows up later, through variations, substituted inclusions, or a build that drags on well past its contracted completion date.”Mr Taylor also said Aussies should be realistic about the display home experience. “A polished showroom doesn’t tell you anything about the builder’s financial position or what a standard build actually looks like,” he said. “Most of what you see in a display is an upgrade.”<h2>Green flags of a quality builder</h2>On the flip side, Mr Taylor said there were several telltale signs of a builder worth your time.These show up in how the builder communicates before any contract is signed.“A quality builder will offer a fixed-price contract with a detailed inclusions schedule, be straightforward about their build timeline, and put key milestones in writing,” Mr Taylor said. “If they’re vague on specifics before you’ve signed, that won’t change after.”Mr Taylor added that every builder in Australia needs to be registered with their state authority, such as the Victorian Building Authority or NSW Fair Trading.“Check it yourself rather than taking their word for it,” he said.Membership of an industry body such as the Housing Industry Association (HIA) or Master Builders Australia adds accountability.<img src="https://urban-project-bucket-production.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/98e039d5-a00d-4030-a6b6-4834fb2c4b52-Jake_-_Growth_Loop_11_.png">New housing in Rockbank, VIC. Image: Shutterstock<h2>What buyers should do first</h2>Mr Taylor said research should begin well before any sales conversation.“The good news is that most of what you need to make a confident decision is publicly available – it just requires knowing where to look,” he said.This includes state building authority records, ASIC's insolvency register and editorial coverage of how individual builders are operating in current market conditions.Platforms such as iBuildNew provide a useful starting point for getting across the market before entering any sales conversation, with builder profiles as well as articles and video interviews with builders across the country.“This gives you a genuine sense of how different builders operate and how they’re navigating current market conditions,” Mr Taylor said.“The builders delivering great outcomes for buyers exist in every state and at every price point.“The challenge has always been finding them.”

For most people building a new home, the process rarely moves as fast as they'd like.Between finalising designs, waiting on permits, and finding a site start date that isn't six months out, the timeli...

5AB Homes

5AB Homes, VIC

5AB Homes' Portfolio Xpress Range takes aim at one of building's biggest pain points: time

For most people building a new home, the process rarely moves as fast as they'd like.Between finalising designs, waiting on permits, and finding a site start date that isn't six months out, the timeline from decision to keys can stretch well beyond what buyers are told upfront.Melbourne-based builder 5AB Homes has structured its Portfolio Xpress Range specifically around that problem.<h2>What is the Portfolio Xpress Range?</h2>The Portfolio Xpress Range is 5AB Homes' cost-effective building range, designed for buyers who want a clear, fixed process without the open-ended timelines that can come with fully custom builds.The range offers both single and double storey homes across a range of lot widths, from 8.5 metre frontages through to wider configurations, with designs spanning roughly 13 to 27 squares. Available designs include the Logan, Glendale, Clifton and Oakwood in single storey, and the Sadon and Seabrook among the double storey options.[smartcode_home_builder:default home_builder_id=1 home_design_image_fid=12602]Kitchens come with reconstituted stone benchtops, soft-close cabinetry, a 600 mm gas cooktop, built-in oven, rangehood and dishwasher. Bathrooms include tiled shower bases, stone benchtops and dual-flush toilets. Flooring is laminate in living areas with carpet or laminate available for bedrooms, and porcelain tiles throughout wet areas. The build also includes ducted gas heating, a heat pump hot water system, double-glazed windows to the front facade, LED lighting, and insulation to a seven-star energy rating.All projects come with a builder's warranty covering the home and its major systems, plus a 90-day maintenance period post-handover.<h2>How long does it take?</h2>The Portfolio Xpress Range is built on a three-stage delivery framework:<ul><li>contract within one week of choosing a design,</li><li>site start within eight weeks,</li><li>and completion within 20 weeks.</li></ul>End-to-end, that puts a finished home at under seven months from the point of signing, a timeframe that compares favourably to the 12 to 18 months buyers can typically expect across the broader industry.Throughout the build, clients can track progress via the Buildertrend app.[smartcode_home_builder:default home_builder_id=1 home_design_image_fid=12603]<h2>Who is this range for?</h2>For buyers with titled land already in hand, the proposition is straightforward. Every week between land settlement and a slab going down is a week of holding costs, council rates, land loan interest, and in many cases ongoing rent. A compressed pre-site and construction window has a direct effect on that exposure.The range is also relevant for first home buyers working against grant deadlines, or anyone who has encountered extended waitlists with other builders and wants a more defined timeline from the outset.5AB operates across Melbourne's north and west growth corridors, Craigieburn, Truganina, Tarneit, Wollert, Sunbury and surrounds, as well as regional Victoria including Ballarat and Geelong, and more recently South Australia.The builder also builds fully custom homes, knockdown rebuilds, and split-level builds for sloping blocks, a broad offering that matters in a state as topographically varied as Victoria."Our sole objective is to make house-building journeys happy, memorable and hassle-free," 5AB Homes says.[smartcode_home_builder_cta:default home_builder_id=1]

A green-focused residential enclave on one of Point Cook's last undeveloped sites is entering the market, with Melbourne developer SIVASLI unveiling Palmier, a new masterplanned community on Saltwater...

Palmier

SIVASLI unveils Palmier on rare remaining Point Cook development parcel

A green-focused residential enclave on one of Point Cook's last undeveloped sites is entering the market, with Melbourne developer SIVASLI unveiling Palmier, a new masterplanned community on Saltwater Promenade.Palmier will comprise 123 residences across a boutique neighbourhood designed around walkability, landscaping, and family-oriented living.The launch comes as opportunities for new housing in Point Cook become increasingly limited. Having undergone significant growth over the past two decades, much of the suburb's residential land has now been developed, making remaining infill and greenfield opportunities comparatively rare.Rather than centring the community around conventional streetscapes, the masterplan has been shaped by landscaped pathways, pedestrian-friendly mews, and generous planting, creating what SIVASLI describes as a green sanctuary within an established urban setting.The design seeks to balance contemporary architecture with low-maintenance living, while maintaining strong connections to outdoor spaces and communal areas. Extensive landscaping will be integrated throughout the development, providing a network of green spaces that link homes to the broader neighbourhood.Palmier is positioned at 120 Saltwater Promenade, within the Saltwater precinct of Point Cook. Residents will have access to nearby schools, retail centres, parks, and community facilities, reflecting the area's evolution into one of Melbourne's most established masterplanned communities.<img src="https://urban-project-bucket-production.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/298653e1-0045-435e-b9e7-33bf26293612-Screenshot_2026-06-18_at_10.56.01_AM.png">The project's location places it within walking and short driving distance of Saltwater P-9 College, local sporting reserves, shopping amenities, and the wider network of open spaces that have underpinned Point Cook's growth over the past decade.The location also benefits from access to major transport connections, including Point Cook Road, the Princes Freeway, and nearby Williams Landing Station, providing connectivity to Melbourne's CBD and surrounding employment hubs.SIVASLI says the community has been designed to deliver long-term value through a combination of contemporary housing, established amenity, and carefully considered public realm outcomes.Construction will be delivered by VESTBUILD, with SIVASLI and its delivery partners now progressing the next phase of the project following its market debut.Palmier adds to a growing pipeline of residential communities across Melbourne's west, a region that continues to experience sustained population growth and ongoing investment in education, recreation, and transport infrastructure.[smartcode_land_estate_cta:default land_estate_id=676]

Frasers Property Australia has significantly expanded its residential development pipeline, acquiring the Gold Coast's SkyRidge masterplanned community and a separate mixed-use development site in Gee...

Simonds Homes

Simonds Homes, QLD

Clarendon Homes

Clarendon Homes, QLD

Burbank Homes

Burbank Homes, QLD

GJ Gardner Homes

GJ Gardner Homes, QLD

SkyRidge

Frasers add 3,800 land lots to growing residential portfolio with Gold Coast and Geelong acquisitions

Frasers Property Australia has significantly expanded its residential development pipeline, acquiring the Gold Coast's SkyRidge masterplanned community and a separate mixed-use development site in Geelong that together add around 3,800 homes to its future supply.The larger of the two acquisitions is SkyRidge, a 334-hectare masterplanned community in Worongary on the Gold Coast, where Frasers has acquired the freehold land and development rights for approximately $170 million.The transaction follows an expressions of interest campaign run by Ray White Special Projects and B&amp;S Land last year and gives Frasers control of one of the Gold Coast's most significant remaining broadacre residential opportunities.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.ibuildnew.com.au/land-estate/skyridge-167-169-hinkler-drive-worongary-qld-4213">SkyRidge</a> already holds approval for 3,500 homes and is currently the only active masterplanned community being delivered within the Gold Coast local government area. Frasers plans to develop around 3,000 homes alongside a neighbourhood shopping centre over the next 14 years.<img src="https://urban-project-bucket-production.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/7399075d-8ef1-4a6f-b049-55585214e3ab-Screenshot_2026-06-18_at_8.18.51_AM.png">The acquisition comes at a time when housing supply remains constrained across South East Queensland, particularly on the Gold Coast where opportunities for large-scale greenfield development have become increasingly scarce.In addition to the homes, SkyRidge will ultimately deliver 75 hectares of parkland, conservation areas, a three-kilometre ecological corridor, more than 16 kilometres of walking and cycling trails, and a future neighbourhood retail centre.Frasers' immediate focus will be delivering the 203 lots already under construction, with settlements expected from late 2026 through to mid-2027, while progressing approvals for future stages.Located seven kilometres from Robina Town Centre and nine kilometres from Broadbeach, the community has attracted strong demand since its initial launch and is positioned to become one of the Gold Coast's largest new residential precincts over the next decade.Some of Australia's best builders, including Metricon, Brighton Homes, Plantation Homes, Coral Homes, Clarendon Homes, Simonds, GJ Gardner, and Burbank, can all deliver homes at SkyRidge.The Gold Coast acquisition was accompanied by a second purchase in Geelong, where Frasers has secured a 60-hectare site with existing planning approval for more than 720 homes.The Victorian project, located near Armstrong Creek and the Surf Coast corridor, will be developed over the next five years and include a community facility, neighbourhood activity centre, local park and open space.The acquisitions follow a series of major asset sales by Frasers Property, including the $400 million divestment of Eastern Creek Quarter in Sydney, the sale of Burwood Brickworks in Melbourne for $107.25 million, and the recent handover of its $285 million Build-to-Rent project, WeAreLiving Brunswick.Frasers Property Australia Chief Executive Officer Cameron Leggatt said the transactions reflected the group's strategy of recycling capital from completed assets into new residential development opportunities.“The successful execution of the sales of the WeAreLiving Brunswick Build-to-Rent project, Eastern Creek Quarter and Burwood Brickworks has enabled us to recycle capital into these new opportunities,” says Leggatt.Combined, the two projects add approximately 3,800 homes to Frasers Property's national residential pipeline and further strengthen its presence across two of Australia's fastest-growing housing markets.Emily Wood, Executive General Manager Development, says the company remains on the lookout for further opportunities to grow its residential development pipeline.“This is a transformative year for the company as we focus on new acquisitions, allowing opportunities for our community-building and placemaking expertise to come to the fore.”[smartcode_land_estate_cta:default land_estate_id=677]

Three masterplanned communities in the same town is a reasonable measure of confidence in a place. Lanser's latest in Mount Barker, Clover Wood, is now selling its fifth Delamere release, 12 allotment...

Simonds Homes, SA

HomeSolution by Metricon

HomeSolution by Metricon, SA

Burbank Homes, SA

Sarah Homes

Sarah Homes, SA

Rivergum Homes

Rivergum Homes, SA

Clover Wood

Delamere precinct reaches fifth release at Clover Wood, Lanser's newest Mount Barker community

Three masterplanned communities in the same town is a reasonable measure of confidence in a place. Lanser's latest in Mount Barker, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.ibuildnew.com.au/land-estate/clover-wood-53-martin-road-mount-barker-sa-5251">Clover Wood</a>, is now selling its fifth Delamere release, 12 allotments with titles expected in July 2026.The release sits within the Delamere precinct, the latest in a series of releases across Clover Wood's two neighbourhoods. Frontages across the release range from 10 metres to 21 metres, with depths of up to 38 metres offering generous rear yard potential, larger entertaining areas, and flexibility across a wide variety of home designs. Three allotments within the release also benefit from reserve views, adding a sense of openness and connection to the surrounding landscape.Construction on Stage 1 is already underway, with asphalt laid and the streetscape beginning to take shape.<h2>About Clover Wood</h2>Clover Wood is Lanser's third masterplanned community in Mount Barker, following the same team's work on the award-winning Aston Hills and Clover Park neighbourhoods. The estate sits just across the road from Clover Park and is planned as a boutique residential address, currently set to deliver up to 400 properties at 53 Martin Road, approximately five minutes from Mount Barker's town centre and 35 minutes from the Adelaide CBD.The community has been designed around the natural character of the Adelaide Hills, with tree-lined streets, landscaped reserves, and walking trails forming the backbone of the public realm. A network of pedestrian connections links into the neighbouring Clover Park community, including access to the local dog park. Pocket parks have been integrated around existing trees, and open space throughout the estate reflects Lanser's focus on outdoor-oriented, family-friendly living.Education infrastructure is a notable feature of the immediate area. Clover Wood is within a ten-minute drive of a selection of schools, including King's Baptist Grammar School. Construction has also commenced on a new Montessori early learning centre at adjacent Clover Park, delivered by Amiga Montessori. Once complete, the purpose-built facility will serve families in both the Clover Park and Clover Wood communities, as well as the broader Mount Barker region.<h2>Builders in Mount Barker</h2>A range of builders are currently active in and around Mount Barker, offering house and land packages within Clover Wood and new home options across the broader South Australian market.<h3>Simonds Homes</h3>Simonds Homes has more than 75 years of building experience across Australia and operates across South Australia with a range of home designs suited to different lot sizes, budgets, and life stages.The builder offers three inclusion tiers, Emerge, Elevate, and Elite, giving buyers the ability to calibrate their specification level from an accessible entry point through to a higher-finish product.[smartcode_home_builder:default home_builder_id=30 home_design_image_fid=1879]Simonds provides fixed-price contracts, guaranteed site starts, and a lifetime structural guarantee, and is active with house and land packages within Clover Wood and across Adelaide's growth areas.The builder also offers knockdown rebuild in South Australia, managed from site assessment through to construction under a fixed price guarantee.<h3>Metricon</h3>Metricon has delivered more than 65,000 homes across Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and South Australia, and has been ranked Australia's number one home builder in the HIA Housing Top 100 for ten consecutive years.The builder operates in South Australia with house and land packages at Clover Wood, and a range of single-storey, double-storey, and open plan designs customisable across floorplan, facade, and inclusions.[smartcode_home_builder:default home_builder_id=115 home_design_image_fid=5809]Metricon's HomeSolution offering is specifically aimed at first home buyers, providing simplified house and land packages with pre-configured inclusions and streamlined build timelines.All Metricon homes go through a six-stage independent quality assurance process, and the builder backs eligible builds with a lifetime structural guarantee.<h3>Burbank Homes</h3>Burbank Homes is a family-owned and operated builder founded in 1983, now active across Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales, and South Australia, with more than 20,000 homes delivered nationally.The company is part of the broader Burbank Group of Companies, which encompasses licensed plumbing and electrical businesses, land development, and other complementary services, an integrated structure that the builder says allows it to maintain quality control and competitive pricing across its product.[smartcode_home_builder:default home_builder_id=61 home_design_image_fid=3210]Burbank offers house and land packages in Clover Wood and across South Australia, spanning a range of architecturally designed single and double-storey homes tailored to individual family needs.The builder's Edge Selection Studio allows buyers to personalise finishes, fixtures, and colour schemes as part of the design process.<h3>Sarah Homes</h3>Sarah Homes has been building homes across South Australia since 1961 and positions itself as a lifestyle-focused builder suited to buyers who value light, space, and site-sensitive design.The builder's range includes more than 50 designs across single and double-storey configurations, with a strong emphasis on solar orientation, generous glazing, and layouts that work with the natural environment, particularly relevant in a Hills setting like Mount Barker.[smartcode_home_builder:default home_builder_id=185 home_builder_image_fid=3593]Sarah Homes offers buyers the flexibility to modify floorplans, alter elevations, and customise fit-out and specification options, and is active across metro and regional South Australia.The builder is part of the Longridge Group and holds a 25-year structural guarantee.<h3>Rivergum Homes</h3>Established in 1994 and headquartered in Mile End South, Rivergum Homes is South Australia's largest and most experienced medium-density home builder.With more than 30 years in the South Australian building industry, the company combines residential home building with land development, offering buyers and developer partners an integrated approach to housing delivery.[smartcode_home_builder:default home_builder_id=152 home_builder_image_fid=10606]Rivergum's design philosophy centres on what it describes as "clever" building, reducing waste, maximising convenience through design, and delivering homes that reflect how South Australians live today.The builder is active across the South Australian market and maintains a focus on value, quality, and customer experience throughout the build process.<h2>Bottom line</h2>The Adelaide Hills corridor continues to attract families seeking more space, a quieter pace of life, and proximity to quality education, while retaining practical access to the city for employment and services.For buyers navigating a market where land supply in established Hills addresses is often constrained, boutique releases like Delamere Release 5 represent a relatively rare entry point into the area.With titles expected in July 2026, a range of lot configurations including reserve-view allotments, and a community already taking physical shape on the ground, buyers looking to secure land in the Adelaide Hills have a clear and time-sensitive opportunity.The diversity of builders active in the Mount Barker region, from national volume builders to locally focused South Australian specialists, means buyers can approach their build from multiple angles, whether the priority is pricing certainty, design flexibility, lifestyle orientation, or proximity to local knowledge.[smartcode_land_estate_cta:default land_estate_id=258]

“New home sales in the month of April increased by 4.9 per cent despite rising interest rates and domestic and global uncertainty,” stated HIA Chief Economist Tim Reardon. The HIA New Home Sales repor...

Confidence in new housing market remains

For many Australians, property investment can feel out of reach. It is often seen as something that requires years of saving, complex calculations, or specialist market knowledge. In practice, a well-...

How strategic property investment can help you grow wealth and buy the home you truly want

Rising land values and limited housing supply in established suburbs are forcing many buyers to reconsider how they secure a new home. Instead of choosing between renovating an ageing property or relo...

Knockdown rebuild or buying new: which path suits today’s home buyers?

Financing a new home build works differently from purchasing an established property. Instead of a single loan settlement, construction projects usually involve staged payments, land purchases and len...

A buyer’s guide to financing a new home build

The promise of building new is flexibility. Floorplans look adaptable, façades come in multiple styles, and display homes are presented as a starting point rather than a fixed template. But once you m...

Customising Your Plan: What builders will (and won’t) let you change before construction starts

Electric vehicle uptake is no longer a fringe consideration for homebuyers. For many, the question isn’t whether they’ll own an EV, but whether their next home will support one properly. In new estate...

EV Readiness: What it really takes to install a fast charger in a new home or apartment

Energy-efficient upgrades are no longer niche additions. Solar panels, double-glazing and upgraded insulation have moved from “nice to have” to expected in many new estates. But for buyers planning to...

Sustainability without the price tag: Will solar and double-glazing pay off in five years?

YourLand Developments has officially marked the start of construction on Acclaim, its 1080-lot masterplanned community in Donnybrook, with a sod-turning ceremony held today on site alongside Lauren Ka...

Acclaim

YourLand breaks ground on $800m Acclaim community, unlocking major new infrastructure for Donnybrook

Pelican Waters has announced the release of the final stage of land within its Nautical Edge precinct, marking one of the last remaining residential land opportunities in the masterplanned community....

Final Nautical Edge land released at Pelican Waters

Stage 3 is now selling at Kaylana Estate in Tarneit, with the boutique land community entering its next phase of delivery as available stock in Stages 1 and 2 continues to tighten.For buyers consideri...

Ridgewater Homes

Ridgewater Homes, VIC

Simonds Homes, VIC

Home Group

Home Group, VIC

Kaylana Estate

Kaylana Estate launches Stage 3 with $10,000 deposit offer on Stage 2 lots, Tarneit

Cedar Woods has released Habitat, a limited collection of just seven oversized lots within its Ellendale masterplanned community in Upper Kedron, bringing a rare premium land opportunity to one of Bri...

Hallmark Homes

Hallmark Homes, QLD

Plantation Homes

Plantation Homes, QLD

Designer by Metricon

Designer by Metricon, QLD

HomeSolution by Metricon, QLD

Ellendale

Cedar Woods launches Habitat Release at Ellendale, Upper Kedron, premium lots from $960,000

Frasers Property is offering savings of up to $30,000 through a limited-time Build Now Bundle on titled and near-titled lots at Mambourin Green in Wyndham Vale, with land priced from $304,000 and hous...

Mambourin Green

Frasers Property offers up to $30K savings with Build Now Bundle on ready-to-build land at Mambourin Green, Wyndham Vale

Frasers Property is offering a limited-time $25,000 rebate on selected lots at The Grove in Tarneit, as the developer looks to accelerate buyer activity at one of Melbourne's most established waterfro...

The Grove

Frasers Property offers $25k land rebate on selected lots at The Grove in Tarneit

Melbourne developer-builder Kincaid has completed its first prefabricated terrace project at Stockland’s Highlands estate, delivering architecturally designed homes in just three months and setting a ...

Kincaid

Kincaid, VIC

Kincaid completes prefab homes in just three months, slashing build times by up to 85 per cent

The latest property news for Australian home buyers. Get updates on land rebates, new estate masterplans, builder reviews, and expert tips to help you navigate the new home market.

New Home Market News, Land Releases & Expert Advice | iBuildNew

Stay ahead of the market with the latest updates on land rebates, new estate launches, and home builder news across Australia. From expert market analysis to masterplanned community reviews, get the insights you need to build with confidence.

Latest Property News, Land Releases & Expert Advice

The red and green flags of choosing a home builder

Guides

Editor's Picks

Guides

New homes, land & house packages

News

Latest Property News, Land Releases & Expert Advice

The red and green flags of choosing a home builder

Guides

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Guides

New homes, land & house packages

News