Your Guide to Buying Land at Harlow
Buying land is one of the most exciting milestones, but it can often feel overwhelming. Between finance, government schemes and contracts, understanding where to start might be a challenge. But there’s help available! We’ve put this guide together to walk you through the whole process, step by step, so you can navigate everything with ease.
Sort your finances first
To kickstart the process, we’d recommend having a confidential chat with a broker or lender about pre-approval, so you know realistically what you can spend. You’ll also come across two different deposits: a holding deposit, which secures your land while the details are finalised, alongside a home loan deposit which is the larger sum used in your loan application, impacting things like interest rates and whether you’ll pay Lenders Mortgage Insurance.
Know the government support available
Across Victoria, there’s real support available for first home buyers right now.
- Stamp duty: pay no duty at all under $600,000 and a tapered concession up to $750,000 for your first home.
- First Home Owner Grant: a $10,000 grant for eligible buyers building new, up to $750,000 on the build price.
- 5% Deposit Scheme: buy with as little as a 5% deposit and 2% for single parents, and benefit from no income caps, no waitlists.
- Help to Buy Scheme: the government contributes up to 40% towards a new build, from a 2% deposit with 0% lenders mortgage insurance.
- First Home Super Saver Scheme: helps you save a deposit for your first home using your super. You can add $15,000 per year, with $50,000 the total amount you can withdraw.
Choose your location and lot
Beyond price, it’s worth looking at whether your lot is close to schools, shops and transport, as well as which way your block faces, its size, shape and setbacks. It’s exactly why Harlow’s Tarneit location works so well; Tarneit Station is close by with services into the CBD in around 30 minutes. For the closest schools, Tarneit P-9 College and Westbourne Grammar School are the best options, and if you’re in need of a little retail therapy, Tarneit Shopping Centre is a short drive away.
Understand your land, before you sign
Titled land has a registered title and is ready to build on now. Untitled land is still waiting on infrastructure works to be signed off before its title can register. You’ll come across terms like easements, which are strips of land set aside for services like drainage or power, and the plan of subdivision, the document showing your block’s exact boundaries. It’s also worth asking whether your site costs, so the cost of preparing your block for building, are fixed, or an allowance that can shift once soil tests are done.
The buying process, step by step
Once you’ve found your block, here’s how the process unfolds:
Step 1. Get finance pre-approval.
Step 2. Sign your contract of sale.
Step 3. Exchange contracts.
Step 4. Pay your deposit, held safely in trust until settlement.
Step 5. Appoint a conveyancer.
Step 6. Finalise your loan.
Step 7. Sign the transfer of land.
Step 8. Lastly, the title is registered and settlement takes place.
What happens after you buy
Once the land is officially yours, it’s time to choose your builder and house & land package, followed by any site works to get your block ready. From there, your build moves through five stages tied to your progress payments: base, frame, lock-up, fixing and completion, with each one a great excuse for a drive-by to see how things are coming along!
Why buy land at Harlow, Tarneit
Harlow is where life is all in one place. With 100 hectares of parks and wetlands on your doorstep, plus future schools and a town centre coming soon, Harlow truly offers so much, it’s no wonder over hundreds of families have chosen to put down roots here.
Ready to see what’s available? With limited stock available for Stage 7, there’s never been a better time to call Harlow home. View our land for sale to find out more.