Is It Better To Buy Land or Choose a House Design First?

When building your dream home, there are a number of important things you need to consider in the planning process. One such question is whether it’s better to buy land or a house first. The location and design of your home are two of the most important aspects of your home build, making the choice of which one to prioritise that little bit harder.

In this article, we’ll run through the various pros and cons to buying land before you choose a home design, and vice versa. By giving you a better idea of the considerations each method involves, Eden Brae enables you to make an informed decision when choosing between buying land and building a house using our award-winning home designs.

Should You Buy Land or a House First? 3 Things to Consider

Whether it is better to buy land or a house first will depend on your individual needs and preferences. Factors such as finance, availability and special offers may all influence your decision one way or the other. Alternatively, you may have a particular desire to look at blocks of land, or cross-shop different home designs. Your decision ultimately depends on three factors:

1. Financial capability: Buying land and building a house are both significant investments that require upfront capital. Financial planning may dictate that you purchase your land before finalising a deal on your preferred home design.
2. Timeline: The timeline of your move may also influence the order in which you buy land and build your home. In a time crunch, it can pay to have a home designed and ready to build for when you find the perfect block of land.
3. Location preferences: If you have your heart set on a particular neighbourhood, you may be better off looking at land before building your home to ensure your dream property is built in exactly the right location. 

Buying Land to Build a Home: Pros and Cons

Buying land and building a house on it has generally been the accepted process for homebuilders. Building your new home this way has a number of financial benefits, however it can cause logistical complications if you are on a tight schedule to have your new home built and ready to move into.

Pros

1. Freedom of design: When you buy a block of land prior to confirming your home design, you are free to customise the design exactly to your preferences, and incorporate unique touches that fit within the dimensions of the property.
2. Staggered costs: Buying land first allows you to spread out your expenses over a matter of time, enabling you to budget for the eventual construction phase.
3. Location selection: Buying land first allows you to focus on neighbourhoods of interest for your dream home. This is particularly important in newly-opened estates, where land often sells out quickly.
4. Future investment: Just like finished homes, land appreciates over time. Therefore, you may be able to make money just by purchasing and holding a block of land, even if you never build on it.

Cons

1. Clearing and construction expenses: Clearing your block may cost more if you do not already have a home design selected, as the entire property may have to be cleared for potential use.
2. Extended timeline: Finalising your home plans, obtaining permits and constructing your new home all add to the amount of time taken to build your new home. These delays can be costly, especially if you have taken out a mortgage on your property.
3. Financial complexity: Separate loans or updated agreements for your property and home build adds to the complexity of the financing process.
4. Interim housing: Temporary accommodation costs can soon add up if you experience the above delays in the time between buying a block of land and moving into your new home.

Choosing a Home Design First to Build a Home: Pros and Cons

Deciding on a design for your new home before purchasing a block of land has a unique set of advantages, offering a simplified construction process and easier visualisation of the finished home. However, this method can have its disadvantages, costing more upfront and reducing the level of available customisation.

Pros

1. Better visualisation: Having a predetermined home design can be a great help when inspecting potential blocks of land, making it easier to find a property that will fit the layout and orientation of your house.
2. Streamlined process: A preselected home design may include a building contract, simplifying the amount of time taken to build your new home once you find a block of land.
3. Speed of execution: Choosing a home design allows you to skip the design phase once you buy a block of land, leading to prompt commencement of construction and, potentially, a quicker move-in date.
4. Site flexibility: If you aren’t sure what to look for in a block of land, having a home design already selected makes the inspection process far more streamlined, as you can choose a block that fits the requirements of your home.

Cons

1. Site constraints: The downside of the last item in the list of ‘Pros’ is that choosing a home design first limits the number of blocks that will suit your property. You may miss out on blocks in ideal locations simply because they do not fit the requirements of your design.
2. Potential incompatibility with land: Another issue that could crop up if you select a home design first is potential incompatibility with hilly or uniquely-shaped blocks of land. The design may have to be modified to fit the parcel of land, leading to increased costs and additional delays.
3. Reduced customisation: While many builders can customise homes after the design has been finalised, there is less flexibility in what can be achieved to adapt the house’s layout or appearance to fit your chosen block.
4. Unforeseen costs: Additional costs can arise if utilities need to be adapted to connect to the pre-selected home design. 

Why Choose a House and Land Package When Buying Land to Build a Home?

House and land packages offer a cost-effective alternative to designing and building your new home from scratch. Taking advantage of these package deals remove the need to purchase a vacant block and select a home design individually.

Eden Brae offers a continuous rotation of house and land packages in desirable locations. For more information, and to arrange a viewing of our display homes, please see the page linked above.

Build a Beautiful Home on Your Land

Whether you end up buying land to build a home first, or you fall in love with a home design before you have found a vacant block, Eden Brae is your trusted home building partner. Our award winning builders help make your vision a reality, whichever way you choose to build your new home.

If you already have land ready to be built on, our critically acclaimed home designs offer something for everyone. Alternatively, you can choose between our display homes if you plan to buy land first or house and land packages that simplify the home building process. Whichever option you go for, an Eden Brae home is guaranteed to provide enjoyable living to you and your family for years to come. Contact us for more information on our options for buying land and building a house today.