Five of the best new homes to take advantage of the first-home buyer's grant

Luckily for first-home buyers, the Queensland government has extended its First-Home Owners’ Grant until the end of the year, meaning you can still get $20,000 from the government to buy a new house or apartment.

By far the easiest way to take advantage of the Palaszczuk government’s generous offer is to buy a brand property, either by finding your own block of land and building or buying off the plan, although there are special circumstances providing eligibility for “substantial renovations“. 

Domain has rounded up five of the best Brisbane properties eligible for the $20,000:

Park Central One, Woolloongabba

Price: $350,000 – $690,000

Agent: Nikki Scott

Up to 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms

Park Central One is touted as the first residential building as part of the Park Central precinct in Woolloongabba and is aimed squarely at young people and first-home buyers.

Any of the units available, from the cheapest to most expensive, are eligible for the grant and are within walking distance to most necessities, which would be handy while you’re saving every cent to pay back your mortgage.

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Collier’s International’s Rachel Hutson said the project was priced competitively in an effort to stand out in the market.

“When we priced the building we priced them to be competitive in the market,” she said. “This is some of the best buying you’ll get within the five-kilometre ring.”

103/65-71 Depper Street, St Lucia

Price: $728,000

Agent: Tim Davis and Skye Parker

3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1 car park

For a three-bedroom home in St Lucia, $728,000 isn’t a bad price. Obviously it’s eligible for the grant, so it’s an opportunity for a first-home buyer to get into the market, if they’re willing to sacrifice proximity to the CBD.

It’s also pretty generous with space, so it has the potential to be a family home down the line too. There are also more affordable options available in the Quattro building.

Mosaic at Enclave, Bridgeman Downs

Price: From $699,450 to $734,950

Agent: CJ van Peppen

4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 car parks

All 29 houses on offer in Mosaic at Enclave are of a similar four-bedroom, two-bathroom build, but they all offer differences in facades, floor plans and land sizes.

Mosaic managing director Brook Monahan said the location added to the appeal of the homes.

“This relatively young suburb has successfully combined residential and prestige acreage blocks in a setting of undulating hills with a rural aspect, more recently transitioning into a leafy urban residential area,” Mr Monahan said.

Mosaic is marketed as another great place to raise a family, and with four bedrooms it would be a while before an upgrade becomes a necessity.

Lot 115 Paterson Street, North Lakes

Price: $746,000

Agent: Andrew and Ray

5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 car parks

North Lakes is an established suburb and was designed to be close to schools and shops, so it’s a bit of a no-brainer for first-home buyers, given its history as a master-planned community.

New homes are still being released, and this one in Patterson Street is pretty good value – five bedrooms and any closer to the city would leave you with a much larger mortgage.

Lot 79 Canvey Road, Upper Kedron

Price: $749,800

Agent: Lawrence Mather

5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 car parks

Upper Kedron is a bit less established than North Lakes, but is a growth corridor in the years to come.

The house in Canvey Road is another particularly large home, five bedrooms, with a large open-plan living area downstairs. The house is very modern and striking, so there’s no need to compromise on looks to have a home that fits a big family.