Buying land in South Australia

Buying land in Adelaide

1. Types of Land in SA

• Residential land: For building a house. Check zoning laws.

• Rural/farming land: May come with water rights or restrictions.

• Commercial/industrial land: For business or warehouse use—higher costs & regulations.

• Vacant lots in subdivisions: Common in new housing developments.

📍 2. Choose Your Location

Think about:

• Infrastructure access (power, water, roads, sewerage)

• Zoning regulations (Check SA Planning Portal)

• Land contour (flat is cheaper to build on than sloped)

• Soil testing (some areas need extra foundations or treatments)

Popular land-buying areas in SA:

• Outer suburbs of Adelaide (e.g., Mount Barker, Gawler, Aldinga)

• Coastal: Yorke Peninsula, Fleurieu Peninsula

• Country towns: Clare, Barossa, Riverland

💸 3. Work Out Your Budget

You’ll need to factor in:

• Land price

• Stamp duty

• Conveyancing

• Site works & connection fees (NBN, electricity, etc.)

• Council rates & levies

• Builder deposit (if building)

Use the RevenueSA Stamp Duty Calculator to estimate costs.

📝 4. Zoning and Planning Checks

Before buying:

• Visit the PlanSA portal to check zoning

• See if land is titled or not (untitled = longer wait to build)

• Check bushfire, flood, heritage, or environmental overlays

🧑‍⚖️ 5. Engage a Conveyancer or Lawyer

A local conveyancer helps with:

• Title search

• Vendor’s Form 1 review (disclosures)

• Contract review

• Settlement process

🏗️ 6. If You Plan to Build

• Check if the land is tied to a specific builder (common in estates)

• Get a soil report and site classification

• Apply for council approval (DA – Development Application)

• Apply for utilities (power, water, sewer, NBN)

🏁 7. Final Steps

• Pay deposit (usually 10%) from $5,000

• Settlement (often 30–90 days later)

• Title transferred to your name

🧾 Additional Tips

• First Home Owner Grant (FHOG): Still applies if you’re building your first home on the land.

• Check for easements (areas where utilities might be buried—limits building options)

• Speak with a builder early to avoid unexpected site costs.