A land loan (or a vacant land loan) is a home loan where borrowers will seek financing from a lender to purchase a block of land. The intent with seeking a land loan is to eventually build a house on the block of land one day without it being determined in a specified amount of time. Therefore unlike most home loans which are used to fund the purchase of a land + property package, a land loan is purely to gain ownership in a block of land.
A construction loan, or builder loan, is a type of home loan where the funds are drawn down as your property is being built in progress payments. The main difference between a construction loan and a vacant land loan is the timeframe to build the property. During the time of taking out a construction loan, the lender will usually set a maximum time limit for you to completely draw down on your loan for when construction is completed. Whereas you are not obligated to build on your vacant land once taking out a vacant land loan.
Another difference between these two home loan types is a construction loan will involve determining the full amount of funds you will receive to purchase the land and build your home, whereas a land loan will only involve the funds needed to purchase the land.
The interest rates for vacant land loans are generally higher than the rates on typical home loans. This is due to land loans having a higher risk associated with them to lenders. As land prices tend to fluctuate more frequently than existing homes, and vacant land will generally take longer to sell than an existing home, lenders are more likely to take a more conservative approach when providing a loan to only buy land.
Get a free home loan quote today for an estimate of what you could borrow including the costs and fees involved or speak to your local Mortgage Choice expert today to understand what interest rates would be available to you.
A house and land package can come in two varieties. One option - a ‘turnkey’ solution - typically offers a newly built home on a particular lot of land, whereas the other option provides you with the flexibility to buy the vacant land first, then build a home from a set range of builders and designs.
The benefit of a house and land package is that it gives you the opportunity to personalise your home to your taste. As you’ll be purchasing both the house and land from the same vendor, the process can be more streamlined than purchasing land separately than engaging a builder to start construction.
Another main benefit that makes house and land packages an affordable option is the savings you can get on stamp duty. When buying a house and land package, as long as construction has not started on your new home, the stamp duty calculated will only be on the value of the vacant land you buy. You can calculate how much your stamp duty could be using our calculator here.
While a house and land package can be an exciting and affordable choice, there are some drawbacks and hidden costs to watch out for. When looking at display homes for inspiration, it's important to remember that some features, such as landscaping, can come at an extra cost. To avoid any hidden costs in your house and land package, you can ask your builder for a detailed breakdown in the price you’re being quoted.
If you’re looking to invest in property, a house and land package can be a suitable option with many benefits for investors. One of the main benefits is that a new home will generally have fewer maintenance issues and tenant requests than an existing home. However, if an issue was to arise then it may be covered as most new homes will come with a warranty period.
Building a brand new home or completing major renovations on an existing property are some of the most exciting projects we can undertake as home owners.
If you’re a first home buyer and are looking to purchase land to build your home on, you may be able to purchase a modest home with a deposit as little as a 5% under the Government’s First Home Loan Deposit Scheme (New Homes) Guarantee. If you purchase a house and land package or land and a separate contract to build a home, you may be eligible to apply for one of the 10,000 places in this scheme. However, it is important to understand that you must start building within 6 months of entering the contract, finish building within 24 months and move into the property within 6 months of the occupancy certificate being issued.
Read more on the 5% deposit scheme here or speak to your local Mortgage Choice broker to understand if you’ll meet all eligibility requirements today!
It’s also important to note that paying for a home involves more than the deposit. During the purchase process, extra costs may arise and home buyers will need to factor these into their budget. Extra costs may include pest and building, legal fees and more.
Additionally, if you intend to purchase land to build your first home on, you may be eligible to apply for the First home owner grant and even receive government concessions on your stamp duty.
