House-and-Land Nears $1M in Outer Suburbs as Buyers Look for Lower-Cost Way into a New Home

The cost of new house and land is approaching $1 million even in traditionally more accessible outer suburbs, with new figures showing buyers can reduce the purchase price by almost $200,000 by choosing a townhouse.

Place Advisory analysis found a new townhouse advertised for $770,000 in Kallangur was $192,600 less than a comparable house-and-land package priced at $962,600.

In Logan, a new townhouse in Loganlea was advertised for $805,000, compared with $999,700 for house and land in nearby Logan Reserve, a difference of $194,700.

Place Advisory spokesperson and Place Projects Director Bruce Goddard said the figures showed how significantly the entry point for a newly built detached home had changed.

“House and land approaching $1 million in outer suburban markets shows just how difficult it has become for buyers to secure a brand-new detached home,” Mr Goddard said.

“Townhouses are not cheap, but they can reduce the price by close to $200,000 while still providing the bedrooms, secure parking, outdoor space and modern finishes many buyers want.”

One current example is Marrambi Estate at 185–205 Marsden Road, Kallangur, where three and four-bedroom townhouses are priced from $795,000.

Positioned alongside a natural koala reserve, the townhouses will include 2.5 bathrooms, double-car garages, premium finishes and EV-ready garages, with completion scheduled for late 2027.

“We’re seeing the Australian dream evolve,” Mr Goddard said.

“For many buyers, it is no longer necessarily a detached house on a large block. It is a well-designed home that gives them the lifestyle they need at a price they can manage.”

The price gap comes as attached-dwelling values rise sharply. Since FY21/22, median values have increased by 103.4 per cent in Kallangur, 153.1 per cent in Logan Central, 176.3 per cent in Woodridge, 149 per cent in Beenleigh and 129.8 per cent in Eagleby.

The figures combine apartments, townhouses and other attached dwellings, with historical medians also influenced by the age and condition of older resale stock.

Place New Farm agent Alex Rutherford said the appeal was also growing closer to Brisbane’s CBD.

Over the past six months, Mrs Rutherford has sold three townhouses within the same Windsor complex and seven across Windsor and surrounding suburbs during the past year.

“Townhouses are becoming increasingly popular with owner-occupiers who want space and privacy but cannot justify the price of a detached home in the same area,” Mrs Rutherford said.

“They are attracting first-home buyers, young families and downsizers who still want multiple bedrooms, a garage and outdoor space, without the maintenance or price tag of a house.”

Mr Goddard said townhouses were increasingly filling the gap between older attached properties and new detached housing.

“They provide a practical middle ground for buyers who want a new home without making the much larger financial leap into house and land,” he said.