From land purchase to new home: What Victorian homebuyers need to know
Securing a block in a new estate is only the first step. Here’s what happens between signing a land contract and starting construction, and how choosing a builder early can help.
For Victorians buying land in a new residential estate, securing a block doesn’t necessarily mean construction can begin straight away.
Many buyers commit to a homesite months before an estate is completed, and construction depends on the registration of individual land titles and the settlement process that follows. Understanding each stage can help buyers plan their finances, their timeline and their choice of builder well before the land is ready.
When can you start building on land in a new estate?
In Victoria, a new lot receives its own certificate of title once the developer’s plan of subdivision is registered with Land Use Victoria. This establishes the block as a separate legal parcel, allowing the purchaser to settle and become the registered owner.
Until that point, buyers have usually paid a deposit but can’t build. Land contracts typically require settlement within a set period after the buyer is notified that titles have been registered, so it’s worth checking the contract for that timeframe, as well as any sunset date by which the developer must register the plan.
Settlement is also when most of the costs arrive. Stamp duty is generally payable at land settlement, although first home buyers may be eligible for exemptions or concessions. Buyers who need finance for the land will also need their loan in place by then, and lenders assess borrowing capacity when the loan is drawn, not when the contract was signed.
That timing matters in the current environment. The Reserve Bank has raised the cash rate to 4.85 per cent, its highest level since 2008, which means buyers who purchased land some time ago may find their borrowing position has changed by the time their block titles.
What happens once your land titles?
Holding titled land means buyers can move straight into the steps that lead to construction.
Once the land has settled, the builder can carry out site assessments, including soil testing and a site survey, to establish ground conditions and confirm associated construction costs, such as the slab design required for the block.
From there, the home’s design is finalised. In most new estates, the design also needs to be approved by the developer against the estate’s design guidelines, which cover elements such as facades, setbacks and fencing, before a building permit can be issued. Building this step into the timeline early can help avoid delays.
With approvals in place, construction finance can be finalised. Construction loans are generally paid out in stages as the build progresses, rather than as a single lump sum.
Why choosing a builder early can help
Because so much of the process depends on timing, many buyers choose their builder well before their land is ready.
Doing so allows the home design to be selected, priced and refined while titles are still being registered, so the build can progress once the land settles. It can also help buyers understand their total land and construction costs earlier, which is useful when arranging finance.
Some builders offer price holds that lock in the cost of the home for a set period. Simonds Homes, for example, offers a 12-month price hold on homes in its Elite, Elevate and Emerge ranges, which can give buyers certainty over the cost of their home while they wait for their block to title. Simonds also offers a fixed price guarantee and a guaranteed site start, alongside a Lifetime Structural Guarantee for the original homeowner. Eligibility criteria and terms and conditions apply.
What savings are available for Victorian buyers?
For buyers already holding titled land, or with blocks expected to title by 31 March 2027, Simonds’ Titled Land Advantage campaign offers savings of up to $40,000 off the advertised base price of selected single and double-storey home designs, available for a limited time until [date].
The savings apply to the base price of selected designs across five of the builder’s ranges, which cover different budgets and levels of specification. Elite offers larger designs and higher-specification inclusions, while Inspirations focuses on design flexibility and choice. Elevate combines contemporary styling with practical layouts, Emerge simplifies the selection process through curated finishes, and Aspirations offers more accessible designs focused on everyday functionality.
The largest saving is $40,000 on selected double-storey Elite designs. Savings across the other ranges are:
Inspirations: $26,000 off single-storey homes or $28,000 off double-storey homes
Elevate: $25,000 off single-storey homes or $27,000 off double-storey homes
Emerge: $21,500 off single-storey homes or $26,000 off double-storey homes
Aspirations: $14,000 off single-storey homes or $16,000 off double-storey homes
To secure the offer, buyers pay a $500 initial fee by 15 November 2026. Sales acceptance, sales documents and the building contract then follow within set 14-day timeframes.
About Simonds Homes
Founded by Gary Simonds in 1949, Simonds Homes is one of Australia’s leading residential builders, helping Australians achieve home ownership for more than 75 years. Operating across Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia, Simonds creates homes for every stage of life, from first homes to growing family homes and knockdown rebuilds. With a focus on quality, affordability and thoughtful design, Simonds remains committed to making home ownership more accessible and giving customers confidence throughout their building journey.
Home designs by Simonds Homes in Victoria
Joel Robinson
Joel Robinson is the Editor in Chief at iBuildNew, where he leads the editorial team and oversees the country's most comprehensive news coverage dedicated to the new home building industry. With more than a decade of experience in residential real estate journalism, Joel brings deep insight into Australia's evolving home building and construction landscape.
