Building your first home in Western Australia is an exciting milestone, but the journey from dreaming to owning can feel overwhelming without a clear plan. This first home buyer checklist will walk you through essential steps and considerations to help you navigate the property purchase process in WA with confidence, from budgeting and research to financing and finalising your purchase.
1. Understand Your Budget and Financial Position
A helpful first step is speaking with a mortgage broker to understand your budget and financial position. A broker can help you review your savings and determine how much you may be able to contribute toward a deposit, typically ranging from 5% to 20% of the purchase price.
While saving a larger deposit can reduce borrowing costs, some WA schemes such as Keystart Low Deposit Home Loan or the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme may allow eligible buyers to purchase with a lower deposit and no lenders mortgage insurance. Assess all income, expenses and debts: lenders will use these to calculate how much you can borrow.
Explore government grants and incentives available in WA:
- Under the First Home Owner Rate, eligible first home buyers in WA may pay no stamp duty on vacant land valued up to $350,000, with concessional rates applying up to $450,000 (subject to current government policy)
- The $10,000 First Homeowner Grant (FHOG) is available to eligible buyers building a brand-new home, with value caps currently applying up to $750,000 in Western Australia.
- The First Home Super Saver Scheme is also available to first home buyers wanting to use some eligible super contributions to help save for your first home.
2. Get Finance-Ready and Build Your Support Team
Once you have an understanding of your budget and borrowing capacity, the next step is to ensure you’re ready to act quickly when you find the right block.
When purchasing land at Atlantis Beach, buyers are required to provide a letter of eligibility from their lender. Having this prepared in advance helps streamline the purchasing process and allows you to act with confidence when the right opportunity arises.
At the same time, it’s important to assemble your support team. Alongside your mortgage broker, a settlement agent will guide you through the contracts and legal requirements associated with purchasing land, helping ensure everything progresses smoothly through to settlement.
Having the right support in place can make the journey to homeownership much simpler and give you confidence as you move through each stage of the process.
3. Research the Location and Community
Not all suburbs, or all estates, are created equal. This is your chance to think carefully about where you want to build your life, not just your home.
Research suburbs that align with your lifestyle, commute and budget. Consider proximity to schools, transport links, shops and open spaces. For first home buyers especially, masterplanned communities are very appealing because they’re designed with liveability in mind and offer a strong sense of community from day one.
Atlantis Beach is one of Perth’s most exciting coastal masterplanned communities. Located just 60km north of the Perth CBD, it offers direct beach access, a range of spacious homesites, quality schools and a genuine community atmosphere, delivering exceptional value and a lifestyle that makes the most of your budget.
Explore the Atlantis Beach masterplan →
4. Secure the right block of land
You’ve found the right community, now it’s time to choose your block. While price is an important consideration, it’s also worth understanding the factors that can influence your home design, building costs and overall lifestyle outcomes.
- Block size and frontage: Consider how these align with your preferred home design, lifestyle and budget. If you’re looking for more room to grow, a larger block may suit a bigger home design and outdoor space for entertaining. If you’re after low-maintenance, a smaller block may be more suitable. Many builders offer a range of home designs to suit different lot sizes and frontages, making it easier to find a combination that works for you.
- Building codes: It’s important to understand the regulations that apply to your preferred block including requirements such as setbacks, bushfire ratings and site coverage which will influence your home design.
- Location: Whether that’s being close to parks, walking distance to schools and shops, or a quieter setting within the community, your location can help shape how you live in your new home.
HOT TIP: Building in a masterplanned community like Atlantis Beach can help simplify the build process. All lots are already retained and levelled, ready for construction and include free fencing and front landscaping, helping to reduce upfront costs.
View available land at Atlantis Beach →
5. Choose your Builder & Home Design
Once your land is secured, it’s time to bring your home to life. It’s a good idea to start exploring home designs while you’re still considering land options, so your overall budget stays aligned your chosen lot suits the home you want to build.
Compare designs against your budget, block specifications, and must-haves:
- Consider how the design sits on your specific block; orientation, setbacks and access all matter.
- Review inclusions carefully. Fixed-price contracts offer certainty; make sure you understand exactly what is and isn’t included.
- Think about liveability, not just aesthetics; storage, flow between rooms, and outdoor entertaining space all affect how much you’ll love the home long-term.
- If you’re building through a house and land package, your builder is already matched to your block, which simplifies the process considerably.
- It can also be helpful to visit nearby display villages for inspiration and to get a feel for layouts, finishes and design features you may not have considered.
View available House & Land Packages at Atlantis Beach →
6. Finalise Finance and Prepare for Settlement
Now that you’ve selected your preferred block in your ideal community, chosen your builder and home design, and have your support team in place, you can move forward with the purchase process. This includes signing two Contracts of Sale – one for your land and one for your build – and paying a deposit to secure your lot with the developer.
From here, your broker will help you finalise finance approval so everything is in place ahead of settlement. Your settlement agent will then manage the legal process and coordinate the transfer of ownership once titles have issued on your block.
7. Start Building Your Dream Home
With settlement complete and your block secured, it’s time to bring your vision to life and begin building your dream home. As construction gets underway, don’t forget to apply for your free fencing and front landscaping package available at Atlantis Beach.
Final Thoughts
Ready to take the first step?
Building your first home doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right team and a community you’ll love waking up in every day, it’s one of the most rewarding decisions you’ll ever make.
At Atlantis Beach, we’ve helped hundreds of first home buyers find their perfect block and start building their coastal life in Two Rocks. Whether you’re ready to secure land now or you’re still figuring out your budget, our team is here to help. Get in touch via our website or visit our sales office this weekend at 5 Constellation Entrance, Two Rocks.
Explore land for sale: atlantisbeach.com.au/land-for-sale-perth/
Browse house and land packages: atlantisbeach.com.au/house-land-packages-perth
