There are options you can consider when building a home, but it all begins with the land. The steps to buying land are similar to the steps for buying an existing property.
On this page
You will need to:
- organise your finances
- find a property
- engage a conveyancer or solicitor
- inspect the property
- attend the auction or make an offer
- complete a contract of sale
- go through any cooling off period, and the settlement
- pay the remaining balance for the land.
Before you buy
When you’re looking for land, consider how the block and its position will affect the type of house you want to build.
Consider:
- the geology of the land - slope, soil stability, any contamination
- the area
- flood restrictions
- bushfire prone areas
- easements
- site access for building equipment
- development applications and approvals
- significant trees that can't be cut down.
House and land packages
Most house and land packages are available within residential developments. You buy the land and select the house design at the same time.
Many designs offered in these packages are created with the land, orientation and location in mind. Usually, they will already have the relevant approvals to build.
Land releases
Current residential developments introduced by the government include:
- Blair Athol
- Bowden Urban Village
- Dock One at Port Adelaide
- Felixstow
- Fletcher's Slip at Port Adelaide
- Glenside
- Lightsview at Northgate
- Morphettville
- Playford Alive in Adelaide's north
- The Square at Woodville West
- Vista at Seaford Heights
Buy now, build later
If you don’t intend to build straight way, make sure that you know about any conditions in the contract that require you to build within a certain time.
Annual service fees for land will need to be paid even if construction hasn't begun. These include council rates and water and sewerage fees.
Contact the local council and SA Water for more information on fees.
Cooling off
In many cases you are entitled to a cooling off period of two clear business days but there are some exceptions – eg you buy the land at auction or on the same day as the auction.
The cooling off period begins from either the date you signed the contract of sale or received a copy of the vendor's statement - What is included on a vendor's statement - whichever is later. This gives you time to change your mind without being held legally responsible.
If you do decide to withdraw within the cooling off period you must complete and sign a cooling off notice.
The vendor’s statement (form 1) also outlines your:
- cooling off rights
- the exceptions that apply
- how to deliver the cooling off notice to the vendor or their agent.
Related information
On this site
Calculate property transfer fees
Other websites
- First home buyer – Revenue SA
- Property owner or buyer - Revenue SA
- Building, extending and renovating a home (PDF 5.2MB) - Consumer and Business Services
