Selling
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Buying property in Brisbane
What’s different about buying real estate in Brisbane? Well, some things stay the same no matter where you’re buying, such as finding a good agent and knowing the features you want in your new home. But there are things unique to Brisbane, such as local planning, zoning changes and flood information that influence the local property prices.
The architecture of the property you buy can also impact the price. Find out the difference between a traditional Queenslander, a workers cottage and a reproduction Queenslander.
If you haven’t bought property in Queensland before, we can help by connecting you to organisations and businesses that will advise you about the relevant legal processes and related laws.
Plus there are a few things that can affect Brisbane’s local property prices which you need to know about. If you are new to living in the sub-tropics and in Queensland architecture, we explain some of the different housing styles and what you should look for in your new home to stay cool and comfortable.
Looking to buy in Brisbane?
Use our inspection checklist when you’re looking at various properties. Print out a few spares to take with you when you’re checking out potential new homes. It’s an easy way to remind yourself of the features, benefits and drawbacks of each of the properties you’ve looked at.
If you’re not sure about where in Brisbane you want to live, use Brisbane Suburbs Online. It has everything you need to know, including statistics, demographics, local services and suburb profiles.
Legalities of buying a home in Brisbane
The website for the REIQ has a wealth of information about the legalities and processes of buying a Queensland property. Read the recommended steps when buying and understand the associated costs.
It is usual to get a pest and building inspection prior to buying and acceptance of the contract can be made subject to a satisfactory pest and building inspection. Termites (also called white ants) can be a very real threat and it is best to get the property checked by an expert.
See the list of inspectors offering this service in Brisbane.
The Office of Fair Trading publishes a helpful guide for consumers buying & selling property. Please visit the link below:
http://www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au/property-for-consumers.htm
When you buy or sell a house you need to transfer the property title. This is called conveyancing. You’ll need to budget for the costs of conveyancing and searches when you buy. The ourbrisbane business directory has listings of local conveyancing companies to help you with the legal aspects of buying or selling your property.
Some searches required for conveyancing can be lodged online through Brisbane City Council. You can also search for existing building plans and Brisbane property through Brisbane City Council.
Buyer’s agents – if you would rather someone else did the househunting and tricky negotiations, think about using a buyer’s agent. They can also do research on the property and location or bid at auction on your behalf. Buyer’s agents charge a fee for their services.
What influences Brisbane housing prices?
House prices aren’t just influenced by boom or bust real estate cycles. In Brisbane there are a number of factors that could affect house prices, including:
The South East Queensland Draft Regional Plan as proposed by the Queensland Government, intends to limit development to certain areas of South East Queensland. For updates, check with the Office of Urban Management.
The proposed North South Bypass Tunnel, to be built under the Brisbane River. Depending on the final location of entry and exit points, plus the impact on traffic, this project could influence property prices. Keep up-to-date with the project’s progress.
The Green Bridge– between Dutton Park and St Lucia for bus and pedestrian use may affect prices in those suburbs.
Flooding - Consider getting a flood report from Brisbane City Council for a small fee. It’s a worthwhile investment, particularly if you are thinking of buying in an area prone to flooding.
Zoning changes – The Brisbane City Council Call Centre is probably the best place to find initial information about zoning restrictions on any property you want to buy. Call 07 3403 8888. They can tell you what area the property is in, and any building restrictions.
Architecture
If you are buying a house in Brisbane, real estate agents classify houses using some common terms. Here are our definitions of the main styles of architecture found in Brisbane (as understood by laymen and not architecture experts!). They are:
The Queenslander - a traditional home built of timber, with VJ (vertical join) or tongue and groove walls, tin roof and surrounded by verandahs. Built in this style until mid-1930s, Queenslanders are built on stumps to increase airflow around the house and the floors are of timber that can be polished. Some of the pretty features includes breezeways above the doors, moulded or plaster ceilings, leadlight windows and window hoods. A Queenslander-type house may not be able to be demolished or removed, depending upon the relevant local Council laws and if it is in a demolition control precinct. The Queensland Museum has detailed information about the different styles of Queenslander house and history.
Worker’s cottage - very similar to a Queenslander home but smaller, with usually only a verandah at the front and a single hallway. May have less ornate finishes and be on a smaller parcel of land.
If you are new to living in Brisbane, and you want to live in a traditional tin and timber home, consider a couple of things:
They require maintenance – they need to be painted every ten years and constant attention is required to keep old windows, doors and plumbing functioning properly.
can be noisy – they usually only have single-skin timber internal walls, which means that noise passes through rooms easily. Polished floorboards and lack of insulation in external walls can add to the noise factor from inside and outside.
hidden renovation costs – if the house is unrenovated you may need to pay for a lot of work that won’t be seen, such as replacing old stumps, reroofing and rewiring.
However, they are beautiful, have character and we love them. And compared to brick homes, Queenslanders are relatively easy to lift so you can build underneath, and removing internal walls or building additions (assuming you have a good builder) is usually fairly simple.
Post-war home - a less ornate timber home built in the years following World War II. Simple lines, plaster internal walls, plain timber windows (sometimes replaced with aluminium) and timber floors. There are fewer constraints on a post-war home as it can often be removed or demolished without special permission.
Brick home - common in Brisbane suburbs established in the 1970s. These areas are generally around a ten kilometer radius of the city. Features includes a tiled roof, garage, aluminium windows, fly screens and security. Lots have swimming pools and can be updated to reflect current trends
Reproduction Queenslander - a newly built home designed to look like a traditional Queenslander or worker’s cottage. However they feature new conveniences such as an ensuite, better use of floorspace to suit modern lifestyles, plenty of powerpoints and cabling, insulation, large deck and sometimes airconditioning.
Apartments- warehouse conversions are new to Brisbane, with many apartments being built and renovated in the old industrial areas of Teneriffe, Fortitude Valley and West End. There has also been a surge in building residential units in inner-city areas.
If you haven’t lived in a sub-tropical climate before, find out what you should look for in a house so that it stays naturally cool. For example, which direction does it face and does it have awnings, blinds or gardens that help deflect the sun’s heat? The Green Home factsheets include information for home owners about sustainable living practices.
What’s different about buying real estate in Brisbane? Well, some things stay the same no matter where you’re buying, such as finding a good agent and knowing the features you want in your new home. But there are things unique to Brisbane, such as local planning, zoning changes and flood information that influence the local property prices.
The architecture of the property you buy can also impact the price. Find out the difference between a traditional Queenslander, a workers cottage and a reproduction Queenslander.
If you haven’t bought property in Queensland before, we can help by connecting you to organisations and businesses that will advise you about the relevant legal processes and related laws.
Plus there are a few things that can affect Brisbane’s local property prices which you need to know about. If you are new to living in the sub-tropics and in Queensland architecture, we explain some of the different housing styles and what you should look for in your new home to stay cool and comfortable.
Looking to buy in Brisbane?
Use our inspection checklist when you’re looking at various properties. Print out a few spares to take with you when you’re checking out potential new homes. It’s an easy way to remind yourself of the features, benefits and drawbacks of each of the properties you’ve looked at.
If you’re not sure about where in Brisbane you want to live, use Brisbane Suburbs Online. It has everything you need to know, including statistics, demographics, local services and suburb profiles.
Legalities of buying a home in Brisbane
The website for the REIQ has a wealth of information about the legalities and processes of buying a Queensland property. Read the recommended steps when buying and understand the associated costs.
It is usual to get a pest and building inspection prior to buying and acceptance of the contract can be made subject to a satisfactory pest and building inspection. Termites (also called white ants) can be a very real threat and it is best to get the property checked by an expert.
See the list of inspectors offering this service in Brisbane.
The Office of Fair Trading publishes a helpful guide for consumers buying & selling property. Please visit the link below:
http://www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au/property-for-consumers.htm
When you buy or sell a house you need to transfer the property title. This is called conveyancing. You’ll need to budget for the costs of conveyancing and searches when you buy. The ourbrisbane business directory has listings of local conveyancing companies to help you with the legal aspects of buying or selling your property.
Some searches required for conveyancing can be lodged online through Brisbane City Council. You can also search for existing building plans and Brisbane property through Brisbane City Council.
Buyer’s agents – if you would rather someone else did the househunting and tricky negotiations, think about using a buyer’s agent. They can also do research on the property and location or bid at auction on your behalf. Buyer’s agents charge a fee for their services.
What influences Brisbane housing prices?
House prices aren’t just influenced by boom or bust real estate cycles. In Brisbane there are a number of factors that could affect house prices, including:
The South East Queensland Draft Regional Plan as proposed by the Queensland Government, intends to limit development to certain areas of South East Queensland. For updates, check with the Office of Urban Management.
The proposed North South Bypass Tunnel, to be built under the Brisbane River. Depending on the final location of entry and exit points, plus the impact on traffic, this project could influence property prices. Keep up-to-date with the project’s progress.
The Green Bridge– between Dutton Park and St Lucia for bus and pedestrian use may affect prices in those suburbs.
Flooding - Consider getting a flood report from Brisbane City Council for a small fee. It’s a worthwhile investment, particularly if you are thinking of buying in an area prone to flooding.
Zoning changes – The Brisbane City Council Call Centre is probably the best place to find initial information about zoning restrictions on any property you want to buy. Call 07 3403 8888. They can tell you what area the property is in, and any building restrictions.
Architecture
If you are buying a house in Brisbane, real estate agents classify houses using some common terms. Here are our definitions of the main styles of architecture found in Brisbane (as understood by laymen and not architecture experts!). They are:
The Queenslander - a traditional home built of timber, with VJ (vertical join) or tongue and groove walls, tin roof and surrounded by verandahs. Built in this style until mid-1930s, Queenslanders are built on stumps to increase airflow around the house and the floors are of timber that can be polished. Some of the pretty features includes breezeways above the doors, moulded or plaster ceilings, leadlight windows and window hoods. A Queenslander-type house may not be able to be demolished or removed, depending upon the relevant local Council laws and if it is in a demolition control precinct. The Queensland Museum has detailed information about the different styles of Queenslander house and history.
Worker’s cottage - very similar to a Queenslander home but smaller, with usually only a verandah at the front and a single hallway. May have less ornate finishes and be on a smaller parcel of land.
If you are new to living in Brisbane, and you want to live in a traditional tin and timber home, consider a couple of things:
They require maintenance – they need to be painted every ten years and constant attention is required to keep old windows, doors and plumbing functioning properly.
can be noisy – they usually only have single-skin timber internal walls, which means that noise passes through rooms easily. Polished floorboards and lack of insulation in external walls can add to the noise factor from inside and outside.
hidden renovation costs – if the house is unrenovated you may need to pay for a lot of work that won’t be seen, such as replacing old stumps, reroofing and rewiring.
However, they are beautiful, have character and we love them. And compared to brick homes, Queenslanders are relatively easy to lift so you can build underneath, and removing internal walls or building additions (assuming you have a good builder) is usually fairly simple.
Post-war home - a less ornate timber home built in the years following World War II. Simple lines, plaster internal walls, plain timber windows (sometimes replaced with aluminium) and timber floors. There are fewer constraints on a post-war home as it can often be removed or demolished without special permission.
Brick home - common in Brisbane suburbs established in the 1970s. These areas are generally around a ten kilometer radius of the city. Features includes a tiled roof, garage, aluminium windows, fly screens and security. Lots have swimming pools and can be updated to reflect current trends
Reproduction Queenslander - a newly built home designed to look like a traditional Queenslander or worker’s cottage. However they feature new conveniences such as an ensuite, better use of floorspace to suit modern lifestyles, plenty of powerpoints and cabling, insulation, large deck and sometimes airconditioning.
Apartments- warehouse conversions are new to Brisbane, with many apartments being built and renovated in the old industrial areas of Teneriffe, Fortitude Valley and West End. There has also been a surge in building residential units in inner-city areas.
If you haven’t lived in a sub-tropical climate before, find out what you should look for in a house so that it stays naturally cool. For example, which direction does it face and does it have awnings, blinds or gardens that help deflect the sun’s heat? The Green Home factsheets include information for home owners about sustainable living practices.