New cars, $10,000 cheques and free home size upgrades: Six spring incentives from house-and-land developers and builders

Ahead of an expected pick-up in residential sales activity in the established housing market in spring, developers and builders are offering a range of incentives to encourage new home buyers.

Incentives include cash handouts, new cars, free house upsizings and zero deposit home loans.

The freshest offering, commencing on September 1, is a $10,000 cheque Stockland and participating building groups will give to buyers in four of its NSW residential communities.

Buyers will be able to spend the money as they choose, following research by social research group Ipsos Mackay that – among other things – found that childcare and healthcare costs are a growing burden and that government handouts and hand-ups are going to the wrong places.

“Stockland’s spring offer reflects this ‘real’ mentality by letting buyers chose how and when they wish to use $10,000. Unlike other offers on the market, it is completely flexible so customers may choose to pay bills, top up their savings account or take a much-needed holiday,” says Matthew Mears, Stockland’s general manager of NSW residential development.

Here’s a round-up of some of the more prominent special offers from new housing developers and builders:

 Stockland’s $10,000 “reality cheque”

From September 1 to October 21 new buyers in four Stockland NSW residential communities – McKeachies Run in Maitland, Murray’s Beach on Lake Macquarie, Brooks Reach in the Illawarra and Bayswood at Vincentia on the NSW south coast – will receive $10,000. The money will be paid on settlement comprising $5,000 from Stockland and a further $5,000 from participating builders, including Barrington Homes, Clarendon Homes, Eden Brae Homes, Huxley Homes, Masterton, McDonald Jones Homes, Perry Homes and Trevelle Homes. A home-and-land package (three-bedroom, two-bathroom home with garage) starts from $323,950 at Brooks Reach.

Free Toyota worth up to $40,000 from Peet

Listed property developer Peet has extended its offer of a free Toyota car to September 2 to house-and-land buyers who purchase select blocks of land in one of five Queensland communities and one of eight communities in Victoria. Developments include Flagstone Rise in the Brisbane south west suburb of Jimboomba, with house-and-land packages from $345,000. A Toyota Yaris worth $19,000 is being offered on select blocks of land in this development starting from $162,000 for a 685-square-metre block. Other more expensive select blocks in other estates come with a free Toyota Kluger ($40,000) or Rav4 ($29,000).

Devine to pay new buyers up to $10,000 on completion

Listed developer Devine will double the deposit paid on any new Devine house-and-land package or on a Devine home built on the buyer’s own land up to a maximum of $10,000. The offer is valid for approved purchasers who sign an unconditional contract for sale with Devine for a new Devine house up until September 30, 2012. Devine will pay the buyer the value of their deposit within 10 days of completion up to a maximum of $10,000. Buyers still need to obtain finance for the full balance purchase price in order to settle.

Free upsize offer valued up to $16,000 for buyers of some Burbank Homes

Queensland and Victoria home builder Burbank is offering new home buyers a free size upgrade from a 28-square-metre home to a 31-square-metre home in 21 display locations up until November 1. Homes that qualify for a free upgrade include the Ascent design, where buyers can save around $10,000 on an upgrade and the Scarborough design, where savings are up to $16,000. Other homes included in the promotion are the Attenborough, Evolution, Clemson, Freeman and Durham designs.

$0 deposit offer from Perth builder HomeStart

HomeStart is offering a no deposit home loan to new home buyers sourced through credit provider Harrisdale Pty Ltd trading as The Loan Company. The Perth home builder offers house-and-land packages starting from $230,000. HomeStart is part of the privately owned Buckeridge Group of Companies (BGC), one of the largest home builders in WA.

Carlisle Homes offering $10,000 incentive on select purchases in Warralily

Victorian builder Carlisle homes is offering a $5,000 discount for buyers who purchase a Hansen, Westbury Mk2, Savannah & Ascot home and build in the Warralily masterplanned residential community, a  joint development by Casey Capital Partners and Newland Developers near Geelong. In addition, Warralily Estate will also offer a $5,000 rebate on selected lots in Warralily Estate.  First-home buyers can save up to $17,000 if they qualify for the $7,000 Victorian government first-home buyers' grant.