Best Brisbane Suburbs for Building – Land for Sale!

They’re not making any more land! Let’s talk about how to buy some the clever way. To help with your search, we’re going to give you a breakdown of suburbs’ price categories and land availability. You might be surprised by the most expensive areas. We will also look at Brisbane’s investor hotspots, and as a bonus, we will share our 5 tips to avoid buying a lemon block.

How to find land for sale in Brisbane

We recommend becoming an expert in your top 3 suburbs. There are plenty of tool online to assess a suburb against your requirements. Contact us for a free consultation on how to find synergy between your needs and a suburb.

Become familiar with REA, in QLD most properties are sold through realestate.com so being fluent with their platform will help you stay ahead of the game

Infill VS Greenfield Sites

Where do you want to live? you’ll be looking at one of two different kinds of blocks: Infill and Greenfield. Below are some of their strengths and weaknesses:

Infill

These lots exist between existing properties. Sometimes, these blocks have been undeveloped for many years. They often become available when old houses are knocked down.

Pros

• ✅Infill lots are closer to the city.
• ✅They are also close to amenities.
• ✅Most people only move within 5km of where they live currently. This means infill lots are often in high demand.
• ✅These lots have easy access to public transport.

Cons

• ⛔️Inner city blocks are highly sort after and can be very expensive.
• ⛔️The Brisbane city council has relaxed guidelines for smaller developments. This results in more problems with blocks (e.g. sewer pipes on site, no connection to water or electricity).
• ⛔️Blocks tend to be on uneven sites, which adds to costs.
• ⛔️Builders will charge a premium because the construction is in a densely populated area.

Greenfield

These lots look like their name suggests: They are green fields located on the outer edges of greater Brisbane. These properties are often part of big housing developments.

Pros

• ✅Greenfield sites are lot cheaper.
• ✅Easier to build a cost effective home.
• ✅All the houses in your area are new.
• ✅Greater options for land are available.

Cons

• ⛔️They are generally further away from the city.
• ⛔️Land is generally not registered, which can delay your project.
• ⛔️You may end up with a cookie cutter house.
• ⛔️You don’t have the opportunity to meet your neighbours.

Top land picks for first home buyers

Price Category: $250,000-$300,000

If you’re a first home buyer, the government will cap you at $750,000 for your total project cost. This will require you to be strategical with where you buy land to ensure you have enough left over for your home. Land located in these suburbs will likely see growth and development. New families from overseas and interstate like to buy in these areas, so new schools, hospitals and roads will emerge too. There is plenty of space and fresh air as well!

Banya

• This is a brand new suburb.
• It’s a Stockland development at the bottom of Caloundra.
• This suburb is set to be the next Springfield Lakes.

South Ripley

• South Ripley has access to Springfield Lakes’ facilities without the price tag.
• It’s surrounded by greenery.
• Future community projects are likely to increase property values.

Holmview

• Will see the development of a new shopping centre soon.
• It’s situated close to the Gold Coast.
• It’s a modern, new and clean community.

Glasshouse Mountains

• As you may know, this area has beautiful views of ancient mountains!
• Developments are set to increase between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.
• It’s a short drive from the beach, so this suburb is one of our absolute favourites!

Springfield Lakes

• An award winning development in the wets of Brisbane.
• Springfield Lakes has seen a number of other suburbs spring up around it.
• Services and facilities are better than ever while property prices are still cheap.

Don’t buy a lemon! There’s no better time get in touch with the experts. Contact Buildi today!

Price Category: $300,000-$400,000

These suburbs are a little closer to the city, and have already seen some communities settle in. Land prices are still likely to increase as more people migrate to these areas. The potential for growth is high!

Upper Kedron

• Upper Kedron feels like the countryside, but it’s actually only 30 minutes from the city centre!
• There are some great views from it’s hilltops.
• Property prices are seeing stable growth here.

Wynnum

• Wynnum is a stable community with every facility you could need.
• It’s next to the water, but not as expensive as many other bay side suburbs!
• Developments in Manly are steadily turning it into an up-market area.

Shailer Park

• It contains the massive Hyperdome Shopping Village and is adjacent to Logan’s business centre.
• It’s adjacent to Venman Bushland Nation Park.
• It has a high rental yield of 6%.

Lawnton

• Lawnton has a relaxed feel, located close to the Redcliffe Peninsula and Lake Samsonvale.
• It has a high rental yield for an outer rim suburb.
• Nearby suburbs are seeing new developments.

Banyo

• Average property prices have steadily increased by 50% in the last 7 years.
• This suburb is close to well-known universities and schools.
• A number of infill lots are likely to be developed, which will benefit the whole suburb.

Price Category: $400,000-$500,000

These suburbs are well established and have all the major services and facilities you could want. Fortunately for buyers, this does NOT mean they are congested or overpopulated! There are plenty of conservation areas and public parks within an hour’s drive of the CBD.

Salisbury

• Property prices here have also steadily increased by around 50% in the past 7 years.
• Salisbury lies next to Toohey Forest and major university campuses.
• Lots of new residents are moving in.

Fairfield

• Fairfield Gardens, Fairfield Skatepark and the Brisbane River make it a great suburb for families.
• There’s easy access to public transport heading to the city and western suburbs.
• With such a great location, high rents mean it’s a good idea to invest here.

Daisy Hill

• Daisy Hill is home to furry residents at the Daisy Hill Conservation Park (they make polite neighbours).
• Some great schools sit next to its natural parks.
• Market demand to live in Daisy Hill is increasing.

Price Category: $500,000 Plus

As we reach the inner suburbs, renting becomes more popular and prices get steep. If you have the extra dough, these areas are quickly becoming trendy places to live. Increasing rent prices make them great opportunities for investment.

Highgate Hill

• Highgate Hill and the rest of South Brisbane are famous for arts, culture and international food.
• This suburb is located right next to the city, South Bank and Woolloongabba.
• It has some of the best views of the city (from close up) and lot’s of public spaces.

Mitchelton

• Mitchelton is surrounded by the Enoggera Forest Reserve and other natural forests.
• For an area with a relaxed, forested feel, it is still close to the city.
• There are plenty of public transport facilities, a school and a shopping centre here.

Chelmer

• Chelmer sits on the south side of the Indooroopilly bridge, so it is walking distance from one of the largest shopping complexes in Brisbane.
• It’s close to the Brisbane Markets and sporting facilities in Tennyson, as well as university campuses in ST Lucia.
• Rent and property prices have been on the rise and demand to live here is high.

Brisbane Hotspots: Where to Invest in Land

Thanks to the New Home Builder Grant, there is now tremendous demand for vacant blocks of land. If you are looking to enter the market, you have to make sure there is the right balance of aggressiveness and risk mitigations. There’s nothing worse than buying a block that’s a lemon because you wanted to win.

As an investor, what’s important to you? Most investors we speak to highlight the below 3 points:

• High rental yield
  • Check what rent prices are for the area. Talk to a local real estate agent.
• Low vacancy rates
  • Low vacancy rates mean your property will always be tenanted
• Good capital growth
  • Smart investors will be able to buy land at or below market value, this will allow for good capital growth

A key lead indicator for growth in a given suburb is increase in population. This can be driven by high capital investment from big business (GE moving its headquarters to Springfield) or government. So, which suburbs are showing all these signs? Here are our top picks for both infill and greenfield investments:

Infield Suburbs

Bridgeman Downs

• This area is seeing good capital growth.
• There is limited supply for land.
• Professional tenants are attracted to this area.

Mount Gravatt

• Property prices have steadily increased for 10 years.
• The population is growing.
• Young renters are liking to move in due to new TAFE and University developments nearby.

Coorparoo

• Young urban professionals have flocked to this area.
• Coorparoo’s image has improved over the last decade.
• Units have a high rental yield.

Greenfield Suburbs

Ripley

• Ripley is adjacent to Springfield and Redbank Plains. These neighbouring suburbs are all expected to grow together.
• Average property prices have gone up around 14% in the last 5 years.
• Rent prices are expected to rise in this area.

Griffin

• Griffin has high rental yield for both houses and units.
• Rent prices for homes have been steadily increasing over the decade.
• Couples with young families make up many of the residents here.

Belivah

• Belivah is a small suburb on the outer rim with potential for positively geared properties (land is cheap).
• More people are expected to move to the area between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
• Scenic Rim properties are often good long-term investments.

Brisbane’s Most Expensive Blocks

In Bulimba, Hawthorne and St Lucia, residents like to talk about how gentrification has made their land valuable. Gentrification is what happens when a whole suburb gets a makeover! It doesn’t happen all at once though… one by one, people start renovating or rebuilding old houses where land is valuable. Over years, lots of flashy new homes begin to line the streets. Due to gentrification, land prices can increase rapidly within a few decades.

St Lucia

• Located close to Brisbane Universities, St Lucia is experiencing high demand from international students.
• There are plenty of hilltop views and golf course that drives prices up.
• In the past six months, a block of land of 405 sqm sold for $785,000.
• A 506 sqm block also sold for $850,000 in the same timeframe!

Hawthorne

• It has some of the best views of the Brisbane River.
• Expensive, modern houses are being built.
• A 506 sqm lot also sold for $850,000 in February.
• A 403 sqm block of land also sold for $1.2 million in February. That’s a whopping $2,977 per square metre!

Bulimba

• A lack of throughfare and plenty of public parks make it an appealing nook.
• A variety of boutique shops and fancy café’s have driven up land prices.
• A 405 sqm block of land sold for $950,000 in February. That’s $2,345 per sqm.
• A 908 sqm block sold for $2,380,000 in March. This equates to $2,621 per sqm. Neither of these properties were located on the riverfront.

Where are people moving after COVID 19?

Matusik Missive believes that the end of COVID 19 will see people flock to inner suburbs and urban areas. This is because so many Australians either moved or stayed out in the country during the pandemic. He predicts there will be a reversal of this migration to the outback in 2021 (https://matusik.com.au/).

Our top 5 tips to avoid buying a lemon block

Tip 1

Slow is fast. In an active market (like the current), it easy to get swept up in the frenzy. Make sure you take the time to research your block before buying.

Tip 2

If you are buying in an infield site, check for infrastructure. There could be a sewer pipe or easement running across your block.

Tip 3

Make sure you have a soil test condition on your land purchase contract. This can be your eject button if things go bad.

Tip 4

Look for trees on or around your block. These may look amazing and add an element of character to your future home, however they can add thousands to your building cost.

Tip 5

Check the flood report. Many blocks in Brisbane are flood affected. This can really throw a spanner in the works if you don’t know about it early enough.

Looking for Land in Brisbane?

If you’re thinking about buying some land, you’ve come to the right place! At Buildi, we’re here to help build your future on solid rock. With thousands of vacant lots in Brisbane, it’s good to have experience on your side when deciding. Here’s how we do the heavy lifting:

1. Free Consultation – We will sit with you to understand what you are looking to accomplish.
2. Due Diligence – We work with you to ensure you’re buying the right block of land at the right price without hidden problems.
3. Builders tender – We will take your requirements out to the market of builders and they will bid to win your business.
4. Present solutions – We will compile the top 3 options and present you with a comprehensive proposal on builders’ strengths & weaknesses along with prices and specifications.
5. Contract Signing – We will work with you and your selected builder to ensure there is full transparency in what you are entering into.
6. Building your home – We work closely with the builder to ensure all service levels are met and your project is on schedule.

Contact us today. Less risk. Less headaches. Less hassle.