Demand for land to build on has skyrocketed since the Federal Government introduced its HomeBuilder grant and the State Government introduced its Regional Home Building Boost grant, both of which have been extended until the end of March.

Flat housing development approvals in the lead-up to the grants being introduced and an extremely tight rental market have also contributed to the gap between supply and demand.

Tom Quaid from the Far North Queensland zone Chair for the Real Estate Institute, told Tropic Now there’s virtually nothing left to build on.

“A lot of the land estates that are currently advertising land, it’s not titled land, it's months away from being ready,” he said.

“So there’s a difference between what’s available for sale and what’s actually available to build on."

SO WHAT IS AVAILABLE TO BUILD ON?

Yvonne Rowlands is the Principal and Licensee of Cairns Key Real Estate, which has a partnership with Kenfrost Homes and Residential Estates.

She said while Northern Beaches properties have been snapped up, there are still blocks available to the south of the city.

“Endeavour Estate at Trinity Beach completely sold out in a very, very short time,” she told Tropic Now.

“We’ve still got house and land packages at Mount Peter Estate, we’re at stage seven at Mount Peter and we’ve got an estate at Redlynch available in June or July.

“Even with all the private sales there’s been some properties that have been up for sale on the Tablelands for years and years that have never been sold and now they’ve been sold because all the people from Sydney and Melbourne are buying them sight unseen, which we haven’t seen in years.

“Everyone’s been trying to buy land and make the most of the grant but once that runs out it will slow down.”

Another development to the south of the city is Avalon at Goldsborough Valley, which has one-acre blocks starting from $199,000.

Developer Edward Earl told Tropic Now it’s a good option for commuters to Cairns with the Bruce Highway upgrade set to cut the trip to less than half an hour.

“We’re selling fast, we’ve sold half of the first release over the last three months – that’s 13 lots,” he said.

“It’s in a particularly good spot, it’s on Ross and Locke, the swimming area, a very popular area.

“The blocks are fairly unique because they’re elevated with spectacular views of the mountain ranges, but they’re mostly level lots.”

An hour north of Cairns, in Port Douglas, there is plenty of development occurring.

The man who put the seaside village on the map, John Morris, is currently building the luxurious Escape Villas beside the Mirage Golf Course.

The homes aren’t tiny, either – you can purchase a villa of up to five bedrooms and four bathrooms, with private pools.

About five minutes to the south, lots in stage one of New Port Estate are also being sold.

David Cotton is the Director of selling agent Rain and Horne Port Douglas and said it’s an exciting time for the region.

“We have seen a lack of land available in the area,” he said.

“This will give many families, young and old, an opportunity to purchase a block to build their dream home.”

The first stage has 32 allotments, with other stages to be added over coming years.

A REMINDER

Once the land purchase has been sorted, building contracts will need to be signed by the end of March to take advantage of grants.

The next big challenge could be finding a builder, with almost all trades already flat out with the building boom.

SOURCE : https://www.tropicnow.com.au/2021/february/25/where-you-can-still-buy-land-around-cairns-right-now