The popularity of new housing<\/a> estates continues unabated in most Australian capital cities.<\/strong><\/p>\n For many young couples, families and first homebuyers, a house in an estate is one of the only affordable avenues into the housing market, if they want a substantially sized home on a decent block of land.<\/p>\n But not all housing estates are created equal, and choosing the right one for you can be a real challenge.<\/p>\n Here are some of the things you need to consider.<\/p>\n For many young couples, families and first homebuyers, a house in an estate is one of the only affordable avenues into the housing market \u2013 but their quality and lifestyles on offer<\/a> can vary greatly. Picture: Getty<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Of course, the number one factor that will determine an estate\u2019s suitability for you and your family is the amenity both within and near the estate.<\/p>\n Independent estate agent Craig Currie, who markets properties in Melbourne\u2019s south-east, says many potential residents are no longer prepared to wait for the area surrounding their new estate to \u2018catch up\u2019 in terms of amenity \u2013 they expect those features now.<\/p>\n \u201cA significant one, which probably isn\u2019t a big surprise, is shops, cafes and schools. They\u2019re all things that people are chasing, as well as open space, which is what a lot of the good developers are putting in place. They\u2019ve got really modern parks, really good outdoor basketball courts and things like that,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the biggest things that\u2019s changed in the last 10 years or so would be the massive attraction to wetlands or lakes in estates. Particularly if they\u2019ve got walking tracks around them, there\u2019s no question that buyers of all demographics and ages are highly attracted to those features.\u201d<\/p>\n Currie says often the discussion for buyers is whether they want a greater range of community features within their estate, or are prepared to sacrifice some of those things in order to achieve a cheaper price.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you took the same home and the same block size from one estate (with a multitude of surrounding amenity) and then put it in another development that is just houses<\/a> and really no infrastructure, it might be in the same town and may only be 1km away, but it would be nothing to see a 10-20% difference in price,\u201d Currie says.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s very significant.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s harder to get into a community or an estate development that has all that infrastructure and all of these things up and running, in comparison to something that hasn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n But Currie also says homes in many of cheaper estates are actually larger and have better appointments, which is an attraction for some buyers.<\/p>\n \u201cThey attract someone that would prefer to see better value in the property -maybe get a bigger home or a more highly appointed home that\u2019s not in one of the (prime) locations \u2013 rather than sacrifice on those points.\u201d<\/p>\n Eco-friendly<\/a> features are in demand. Picture: realestate.com.au\/buy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Creating a sense of community in a location where every house and resident is new is an extraordinary challenge.<\/p>\n But Currie says some estates do it much better than others.<\/p>\n He says it\u2019s important to investigate whether there are active residents\u2019 groups in the estates you\u2019re considering, as it\u2019s a good indicator as to whether your new neighbourhood will be an inviting place to live.<\/p>\n \u201cResident groups put on different events and community gatherings. Big events happen every second month in one of our developments. There wouldn\u2019t be a month go by when there isn\u2019t a significant community event put on.<\/p>\n \u201cFor instance, in February there\u2019s \u2018Movies in the Park\u2019, with outdoor screenings and food trucks.\u201d<\/p>\n Some estates do community fostering better than others, such as outdoor screenings and food trucks. Picture: Getty<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Choosing the right developer can be as important as choosing the right suburb when it comes to new housing estates.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a common complaint from residents that their developer made sweeping promises about upcoming infrastructure improvements like public transport, only for those promises to remain unfulfilled years later.<\/p>\n Currie says it pays to do your own research.<\/p>\n \u201cBe mindful of who the developer is. If you\u2019re dealing with some of the bigger brands or bigger operators, they tend to follow through and don\u2019t tend to quote something that\u2019s not going to happen, as opposed to the ones that come in to do an estate and then fly out again. They tend to be far more liberal in what they say will happen versus what ends up happening,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n When it comes to housing estates,\u00a0choosing the right developer can be as important as choosing the right suburb. Picture: Getty<\/p>\n<\/div>\n There\u2019s arguably no better reference for what life inside an estate is really like than to ask the people who actually live in it.<\/p>\n Currie suggests taking a weekend drive and asking residents for their opinions.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be afraid to knock on doors yourself and ask homeowners in an area you\u2019re looking at what they do like and what they dislike about where they live. They\u2019re the best and purest examples that you\u2019re going to get an honest answer from, versus an agent who\u2019s trying to sell you something.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n <\/p><\/div>\n Realestate au <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"new](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.realestate.com.au\/blog\/images\/1024x768-fit%2Cprogressive\/2017\/06\/28130109\/builder_couple_getty_a-1024x768.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nAmenity, amenity, amenity<\/h2>\n
Cost vs features<\/h2>\n
![\"new](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.realestate.com.au\/blog\/images\/800x600-fit%2Cprogressive\/2017\/12\/01155125\/new-estates_800x6001.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nA sense of community<\/h2>\n
![\"food](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.realestate.com.au\/blog\/images\/1885x1414-fit%2Cprogressive\/2018\/02\/08170238\/food-truck-for-community_2000x1500.jpg?resize=1885%2C1414&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nResearch the developer<\/h2>\n
![\"Parks.](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.realestate.com.au\/blog\/images\/1024x768-fit%2Cprogressive\/2017\/06\/28130127\/estate_park_getty_a-1024x768.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nKnock on doors<\/h2>\n