Where you build has a big say in what you'll pay, both for the land and for the house that goes on it. Real estate agents bang on about location for good reason: the same house can cost very different amounts to build, and be worth very different amounts, depending on the block and the suburb.
Most people weigh up four things: comfort, convenience, safety and budget. Locations that tick those boxes tend to hold their value better, but no location guarantees a good sale price.
C1 - Before Buying Land Checklist
Free
Last updated 5 Oct 2026 · Revision 1 · Free updates for life
Checklist Type: Minor
Form Factor: Fillable, print-ready PDF (A4, 10 pages)
When to use: Pre-purchase (before you sign)
A 42-point checklist to compare blocks before you buy. Check zoning, services, soil, overlays and noise so you know what to plan and budget for before you sign.
If you're building purely as an investment, be more strategic. Look at historical price movements, rental demand, planned developments, suburb prestige, how fast the area is gentrifying and the state of the local market.
Lifestyle and convenience
What makes a location "comfortable" varies from person to person. Work out what your family actually needs day to day before you fall in love with a view.
Think about your daily life: distance to work, traffic, the schools you want, family and friends, hobbies and nearby shops and services. Websites like WalkScore show what's within walking distance of an address.
Safety and hazards
Judging how safe a neighbourhood is can be tricky, but crime statistics and demographic data give you a starting point.
Compare crime numbers against the size of the population so you get a fair picture. In new estates the numbers will shift as more people move in, so compare with similar established suburbs too.
Safety isn't only about crime. Check the block for bushfire, flooding, high winds (cyclones if you're up north), reactive soil, termites and borers, and contaminated or salty soil.
That sounds like a lot, but most of it is easy to look up in Queensland:
Flooding: your council's flood overlay or flood report (in Brisbane, the free FloodWise Property Report).
Bushfire and coastal hazards: the overlays in Queensland Globe and your council's planning scheme.
Contamination: a search of the state's Environmental Management Register and Contaminated Land Register.
Easements and covenants: a title search, which will also show what you can and can't build.
Two things you can't see from the street also change your build cost: the soil site class (under AS 2870) and the wind classification (under AS 4055). Reactive clay means a heavier slab, and a higher wind rating means more bracing and tie-downs. A soil test before you buy is money well spent. Most of these hazards can be managed with the right design, as long as you know about them before you sign.
Next step: choosing the block
Once you know what matters to you, use it to shortlist the suburbs that suit your family best.
Then you can focus on picking the best possible block within those areas. The C1 Before Buying Land Checklist above walks you through it.
