Should I Buy Land First or Choose a House and Land Package?

If you’re planning to build a new home in Perth, one of the first big decisions you’ll face is whether to buy land first and build later or to go with a house and land package. Both options can lead you to your dream home, but the right choice depends on your budget, lifestyle, timeline, and how much involvement you want in the building process. We understand that the path to homeownership looks different for everyone. To help you make the right decision, we’ve broken down the key differences between buying land first and choosing a house and land package.

Buying Land First

When you buy land first, you have full control over the location, block size, and timing of your build. You can purchase in an area you love, and when you’re ready, choose a builder and a home design that fits your needs and the land’s characteristics.

Pros of Buying Land First:

Greater flexibility: You choose the suburb, street, and block that works best for your lifestyle, whether it’s close to schools, work, or the beach.
Tailored home design: You can customise your home to fit the block’s shape, orientation, and slope. This can be ideal if you have a unique vision or specific design preferences.
Staged financial commitment: Buying land first gives you time to sort out your finances before committing to the build. It can make budgeting a bit easier.

Cons of Buying Land First:

More decision-making: You’ll need to coordinate with real estate agents, surveyors, builders, and local councils, which can get a bit overwhelming.
Risk of mismatch: If you buy land without understanding what kind of home can be built on it, you might face extra design costs or construction limitations later.
Longer timeframes: You might have to wait longer before you can move in, especially if you buy land in an estate that isn’t titled yet.

House and Land Packages

A house and land package bundles a home design and a block of land in one convenient offer. At Aveling Homes, we work with trusted land developers across Perth to secure well-located blocks, then design homes to perfectly match each site, making the whole process much smoother for you.

Pros of House and Land Packages:

Simplified process: You don’t need to worry about matching a house to a block. Everything is already designed to fit.
Faster approvals: Because the home is pre-matched to the block, building approvals are often quicker, helping you get into your home sooner.
Budget-friendly: Many packages come with fixed pricing, standard inclusions, and minimal surprises. You can clearly see what’s included and plan your finances accordingly.
Great for first homebuyers: If you’re eligible for government grants or concessions, house and land packages often qualify.

Cons of House and Land Packages:

Less design flexibility: While you can often personalise finishes and upgrades, the layout is usually predetermined to fit the land.
Location options may be limited: Most packages are available in new developments, which may be further from established suburbs or city centres.
Inclusions vary: Not all packages are created equal, some may seem affordable upfront but lack essentials like landscaping or fencing, so it’s important to read the fine print.

Things to Consider Before Deciding

Regardless of which path you choose, there are a few key factors to consider before signing on the dotted line:

Lifestyle needs: Do you have a preferred suburb or need to be close to work, schools, or family?

Timeline: Are you in a rush to move in, or do you have time to wait for the perfect block or custom design?

Budget: Can you manage separate land and build contracts, or would an all-in-one package with clear pricing suit you better?

Level of involvement: Do you enjoy planning and managing projects, or would you prefer a more hands-off, guided experience?

Why Not Both?

Here’s the good news, you don’t always have to choose one or the other right away. At Aveling Homes, whether you already own land, are shopping for it, or are interested in one of our houses and land packages. You can come to us with a block you love, and we’ll work with you to find a design that fits. Or you can choose one of our expertly matched house and land packages, where everything has been planned to offer the best use of space, orientation, and value.