When it comes to your building contract here are some useful pointers to help put your mind at ease.

Check your inclusion specification carefully that everything you want in your new home build is wr...

A new collection of premium homesites has entered the market at SENSES Mount Barker, with the Adelaide Hills community unveiling its Signature Release as construction continues across the broader esta...

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HomeSolution by Metricon

HomeSolution by Metricon, SA

Designer by Metricon

Designer by Metricon, SA

Simonds Homes

Simonds Homes, SA

Kookaburra Homes

Kookaburra Homes, SA

Sarah Homes

Sarah Homes, SA

Rivergum Homes

Rivergum Homes, SA

SENSES

Construction underway as SENSES Mount Barker unveils premium Signature Release

A new collection of premium homesites has entered the market at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.ibuildnew.com.au/land-estate/senses-26-fidler-lane-mount-barker-sa-5251">SENSES Mount Barker</a>, with the Adelaide Hills community unveiling its Signature Release as construction continues across the broader estate.Positioned along East Parkway Boulevard, the Signature Release comprises a limited number of larger allotments overlooking the estate's central reserve, seasonal wetland and surrounding open space. The release introduces what is expected to become one of the defining residential addresses within the 250-lot masterplanned community.The launch comes as SENSES moves from planning into delivery. Civil works are well underway, earthworks are largely complete, and infrastructure is continuing across the site. The project has already recorded strong early demand, with 75 per cent of Stage One contracted.Designed as a premium precinct within the estate, the Signature Release features larger homesites and wider frontages intended to accommodate more substantial residences. Design guidelines will require homes to incorporate a portico element, creating a cohesive streetscape along the boulevard, while architectural themes draw on earthy materials and natural textures inspired by the surrounding Adelaide Hills landscape.<h2>About SENSES</h2>The Signature Release forms part of the broader SENSES vision, a boutique community by Landcap and Toro Property Projects of around 250 lots positioned along Fidler Lane, above the quiet country lanes that edge Mount Barker's southern fringe.More than 18,000 sqm of open space is planned across the estate, an area comparable in size to Adelaide Oval, alongside around 400 newly planted trees, landscaped reserves, sensory garden parks and a central ornamental water feature.A defining element of the masterplan is its network of sensory gardens and green spaces, which have been designed to engage sight, sound, scent and movement throughout everyday life. The parks include destinations such as the Listening Garden, Perfume Garden, Nature Play area, Village Green and Picnic Grounds, connected by almost two kilometres of walking and cycling trails. Residents will also have direct access to a linear trail network linking through to Mount Barker Town Centre.The community has been planned with a focus on long-term liveability, incorporating tree-lined boulevards, quieter cul-de-sac streets, retained natural features and extensive landscaping intended to encourage outdoor recreation and neighbourly interaction. Design guidelines across the estate aim to create a cohesive streetscape character while protecting the quality of the built environment over time.Located on Wellington Road in Mount Barker's growing southern precinct, SENSES places residents within minutes of schools, healthcare services, supermarkets and sporting facilities. Nearby attractions include Laratinga Wetlands, Mount Barker Summit, Howard Vineyard and the Adelaide Hills' network of wineries, walking trails and regional food destinations, offering a blend of everyday convenience and access to the region's natural landscape.<h2>Builders in Mount Barker</h2>A selection of builders are delivering homes at SENSES or active across the broader Mount Barker and Adelaide Hills region, offering buyers a range of approaches from volume builds to highly customised homes.<h3>Metricon Homes</h3>Metricon is one of two builders offering house and land packages within SENSES. Australia's most active home builder by volume , ranked No.1 in the HIA Housing Top 100 for 10 consecutive years , Metricon operates across Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales, and South Australia, with a team of more than 1,700 building professionals.[smartcode_home_builder:default home_builder_id=11 home_builder_image_fid=825]In South Australia, Metricon's range spans HomeSolution (aimed at first home buyers entering growth areas like Mount Barker), Freedom (designed for growing families), Designer, and Signature tiers. All homes are backed by a 6-stage independent quality assurance process and a Lifetime Structural Guarantee, with selections made through Studio M, Metricon's dedicated design centre.<h3>Simonds Homes</h3>Simonds Homes is also offering house and land packages at SENSES, drawing on more than 75 years of residential building experience in Australia.[smartcode_home_builder:default home_builder_id=30 home_design_image_fid=11988]In South Australia, the company builds across Mount Barker, Adelaide, the Fleurieu Peninsula, and the Barossa Valley, with a range structured across three inclusion tiers: Emerge (entry-level), Elevate (upgraded finishes and more space), and Elite (higher specification).Simonds provides fixed-price contracts, a guaranteed site start, and a Lifetime Structural Guarantee. The builder recently completed the acquisition of Dennis Family Homes, further consolidating its position as one of Australia's most established volume builders.<h3>Kookaburra Homes</h3>Kookaburra Homes is a South Australia-based builder with over 40 years of construction experience, building across metropolitan Adelaide, the Adelaide Hills, the Fleurieu Peninsula, regional South Australia, and coastal areas.[smartcode_home_builder:default home_builder_id=181 home_builder_image_fid=3478]The builder is known for a custom design process tailored to individual sites and lifestyles, with styles spanning contemporary, coastal, country, and Hamptons.Kookaburra has been recognised as HIA Professional Medium Builder of the Year for South Australia three consecutive times , 2019, 2020, and 2021, and was awarded HIA South Australian Country Home of the Year in 2024.<h3>Sarah Homes</h3>Sarah Homes has been building homes in South Australia since 1961, bringing more than 60 years of local building experience to the market.[smartcode_home_builder:default home_builder_id=185 home_design_image_fid=8070]The builder positions its offering around space, light, and orientation, designing homes to capture natural sunlight through generous windows and considered alignment to the sun's path.With more than 50 designs available, buyers can adjust floor plans to their lifestyle requirements and choose from a range of fit-out options. The builder's contemporary designs favour open-plan living with uncluttered lines and corridors of light connecting living areas.<h3>Rivergum Homes</h3>Rivergum is South Australia's largest and most experienced medium-density home builder, operating for over 30 years with a focus on clever home and community design.[smartcode_home_builder:default home_builder_id=152 home_builder_image_fid=10637]Founded in 1994 by Managing Director Victor Said, the company has positioned itself around value, quality, and customer experience, with a stated commitment to reducing waste, saving time, and maximising aesthetics through design.Rivergum's process guides buyers from finance and house and land selection through to a structured handover and three-month aftercare program.<h2>Bottom line</h2>For buyers drawn to Mount Barker , an established regional centre with its own healthcare, education, retail, and recreational infrastructure , the boutique scale of SENSES, combined with its design controls and natural setting, positions it differently from the larger volume estates common in metropolitan growth corridors. The combination of lot-only and house and land options from builders working across a range of price points and build styles gives buyers multiple ways to enter, depending on their stage of life and budget.Construction is now well underway on site, with earthworks largely complete and Winslow Constructors active, placing the community on track for completion in late 2026.[smartcode_land_estate_cta:default land_estate_id=51]

The next chapter of Larkview is approaching, with the future Stage 6 release set to continue the rollout of the growing Mount Barker community as construction progresses across the Adelaide Hills esta...

Weeks Homes

Weeks Homes, SA

Enduro Builders

Enduro Builders, SA

Hickinbotham Homes

Hickinbotham Homes, SA

Australian Building Company

Australian Building Company, SA

Larkview

Next release on the horizon at Larkview as Mount Barker community continues to take shape

The next chapter of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.ibuildnew.com.au/land-estate/larkview-20-21-bradfield-lane-mount-barker-sa-5251">Larkview</a> is approaching, with the future Stage 6 release set to continue the rollout of the growing Mount Barker community as construction progresses across the Adelaide Hills estate.The upcoming release will follow five previous stages at Larkview, including Manna, Lomandra, Cassia, Outlook and Grevillea, which have progressively introduced new homesites within the 354-lot masterplanned community.The next release comes as physical progress continues onsite. Earlier this year, construction commenced at Larkview, with national civil contractor Winslow appointed to deliver bulk earthworks across the first four stages of the development. The initial works are expected to facilitate the delivery of the community's first 139 lots.<h2>About Larkview</h2>Developed by Jinding, Larkview is positioned on elevated land near the foothills of Mount Barker, with the estate designed around a network of green spaces, retained mature trees and future wetlands.The community's centrepiece is a 1.98-hectare central park exclusive to residents, featuring play areas, a basketball court, lawns, and shelters. An additional 1.1 hectares of pocket parks are distributed throughout the estate. All lots have been benched and retained, and the masterplan includes a future wetlands precinct alongside a woodland reserve where mature trees have been preserved in situ.Landscaped streets feature seasonal plantings designed to complement the broader natural palette of the site. The Mount Barker South Shopping Centre, anchored by Woolworths, is within walking distance, and the town centre, roughly 4 kilometres away, provides access to a broader range of retail, dining, healthcare, and community facilities. Schools accessible from the estate include Mount Barker High School, Mount Barker South Primary School, St Francis de Sales College, Cornerstone College, and Mount Barker Waldorf School, among others.Mount Barker has been one of South Australia's most consistently active residential growth areas for over a decade, driven by population growth from Adelaide, the appeal of the Hills lifestyle, and land pricing that remains more accessible than comparable suburban fringe locations closer to the CBD. At roughly 30 kilometres from Adelaide's CBD via the South Eastern Freeway, the town sits within practical commuting distance while offering a distinctly different pace of life.The estate's variety of lot sizes, from compact townhome footprints through to larger homestead lots, is designed to accommodate buyers at different stages, from first home buyers taking advantage of state and federal incentives through to families and those looking to right-size.<h2>Builders in Mount Barker</h2>Several builders active across South Australia are available to buyers seeking house and land solutions in the Mount Barker region.<h3>Weeks Homes</h3>Weeks Homes is a South Australian builder with over 30 years of experience, offering a range of architecturally designed homes across single storey, double storey, narrow block, and acreage configurations.[smartcode_home_builder:default home_builder_id=183 home_design_image_fid=8016]The builder emphasises site-specific pricing transparency, providing professionally estimated quotations rather than desk-based figures, and supports buyers through an in-house design studio and a structured building process from initial consultation through to handover.House and land packages by Weeks Homes are available in Larkview.<h3>Kookaburra Homes</h3>Kookaburra Homes has been building across South Australia since its origins in the 1980s, growing from its regional base to now service buyers across the Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu Peninsula, and Murraylands.[smartcode_home_builder:default home_builder_id=181 home_builder_image_fid=3477]The builder holds multiple HIA awards including Professional Medium Builder of the Year across three consecutive years, and was recognised with the HIA South Australian Country Home of the Year in 2024. Its approach centres on custom design and close client involvement, with designs spanning coastal, contemporary, country, and Hamptons styles.<h3>Enduro Builders</h3>Founded in 2015 and based in Hahndorf, directly within the Adelaide Hills, Enduro Builders occupies a distinct position as a custom and high-performance residential builder.[smartcode_home_builder:default home_builder_id=231 home_design_image_fid=12610]The company holds Passivhaus certification and focuses on delivering homes that are more energy-efficient, quieter, and healthier than standard residential construction. Its Benchmark Collection offers a curated range of architecturally considered designs, while its custom offering caters to buyers with specific site, design, or performance requirements.<h3>Hickinbotham Homes</h3>Hickinbotham Homes is South Australia's largest and longest-established residential builder, having delivered more than 50,000 homes since 1954 and ranked by the HIA as SA's number one builder for over two decades.[smartcode_home_builder:default home_builder_id=102 home_design_image_fid=4947]The builder's offering combines architect-designed home ranges, developed in collaboration with award-winning architect Max Pritchard, with an all-inclusive inclusions model and a guaranteed 30-week build time on approved homes.<h3>Australian Building Company</h3>Australian Building Company (ABC) operates with an explicit focus on affordability, positioning itself as a volume builder whose purpose is to make new home ownership accessible to a broader range of buyers.[smartcode_home_builder:default home_builder_id=112 home_builder_image_fid=8271]The company offers a streamlined process managed across dedicated new home advisor, customer support, and site management roles, with house and land packages available in South Australia. Its approach removes complexity from the building journey for buyers who prioritise clarity, pricing certainty, and a straightforward path to handover.<h2>Bottom line</h2>For first-home buyers, the upcoming Stage 6 release coincides with a range of government-backed incentives currently available to eligible purchasers. Buyers may qualify for a five per cent deposit, a $15,000 First Home Owner Grant, and may also be able to avoid lenders mortgage insurance and stamp duty, depending on their circumstances.The incentives provide additional support for buyers entering the market, particularly in Mount Barker where demand for new housing continues to grow alongside the region's expanding population and infrastructure investment.Located around 30 kilometres from the Adelaide CBD, Larkview forms part of Mount Barker's continued expansion, with the estate positioned close to education facilities, retail centres, healthcare services, parks and the broader Adelaide Hills wine region.

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

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]

Check your new home contract carefully -Don't get caught out!

When it comes to your building contract here are some useful pointers to help put your mind at ease. 
<ul>
<li>Check your inclusion specification carefully that everything you want in your new home build is written down in there. Simply if it is not written down in your contract it means it is not going to be included. If you made a verbal agreement with your builder it must be written in your contract.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Check that any agreements that you have with the salesperson are also written within the building contract.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Try to avoid changes after contract signing. Changes after signing are usually costly, time consuming and increase the chances of mistakes.</li>
</ul>
 Overall, make sure to understand at least the following sections of the contract: 
<ul>
<li>The contract sum - is it all correct?</li>
<li>Timeline and the construction stages</li>
<li>Progress payments</li>
<li>Termite treatment conditions</li>
<li>Documents priority list</li>
<li>Variation Order</li>
<li>Maintenance Defect Liability Period</li>
</ul>
 Lastly, it sounds obvious but always keep a copy of the contract handy to refer to throughout your build. Written By Samara Amadi With contributions from Yovita Kwok, <a href="http://www.yovi.com.au">www.yovi.com.au</a>

Check your new home contract carefully -Don't get caught out!

iBuildNew Editorial Team

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