One of the first steps you will want to take will involve figuring out your budget and from there, how much of a deposit you will need in order to take out a home loan. Having an idea of your budget is also great as it means you’re less likely to overspend on extras in your new home that you may not necessarily need, such as an additional bedroom or bathroom.

Once you have a figure in mind, you can then determine how much you will need. The preferred amount set aside for a deposit is 20% (of the price of the home you intend to build), but this isn’t feasible for everyone – anywhere from 5% and upwards is enough. However, unless you reach that 20% deposit, you will also pay lender’s mortgage insurance (LMI), which can add considerable cost when building your first home. If you are a first home buyer and find yourself in this situation, it may be worth applying for the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme, which is a government incentive to help first home builders get into their property sooner by removing the need to pay lender’s mortgage insurance with as little as a 5% deposit.

If you haven’t already decided on purchasing a block of land before building your house, you can consider a Ready by Brighton package. This means you will only be making repayments on a single loan, rather than separate loans for house and land, which is more cost-effective. In the case of a Ready by Brighton package, the house is pre-built. This means that you won’t have the same ability to build the exact home you want, but it tends to cost less than purchasing a pre-established home.

Choose your home Design

This is arguably one of the best parts of being a first time home builder! Finding the right home design to suit your lifestyle and envisioning the completed project is so exciting, and you have plenty of options to choose from. Whether you prefer a single-storey home or a larger two-storey home – or even an impressive property to suit an acreage – there’s certainly a home out there for you

Once you have selected your home design, it’s time to sign the builder’s contract – detailing what has been agreed upon when it comes to house design, expected time frames, and the terms and conditions of payment. With a deposit paid on the building, your builder will arrange for a soil test and land survey in order to ensure that your block of land is suitable to build on. Keep in mind that, while your builder is responsible for building your home, they are unlikely to cover things such as pools, driveways, fencing, landscaping, and more.

You will also be signing paperwork from your mortgage broker around this time, including loan approval documents and progress payment forms for the lender. A solicitor will then organise land settlement on your behalf, and once the settlement of your land purchase is complete you officially own your land.

First home builders may not know that you are required to pay in installments as the building of your home progresses, rather than paying for the full cost of the home upfront.

These stages are:

• Stage one: deposit (5% payment)
• Stage two: base (10% payment)
• Stage three: frame (15% payment)
• Stage four: lockup (35% payment)
• Stage five: fixing (20% payment)
• Stage six: finishing (final 15% payment).

Once all payments have been made, the house has been completed, and all final inspections are completed, you’re ready to move into your new home!