What’s the plan – Know Your Suburb

Choosing an area that isn’t yet built up? Make sure you check what else the surrounding land is going to be used for and whether there are plans for development. Depending on commercial or industrial activity and road construction, there could be high noise levels and general disruption to your living, but you could greatly benefit long-term.

What the future holds

Whether you pick your builder first or your land first is up to you, and both have their benefits. So if you’ve chosen your homebuilder, have no fear – they often build in many areas around Western Australia, so you’re sure to find a selection of suburbs that suit your family and your budget.

Quality improvements

Firstly, what do you want from your location? If shops, the freeway, NBN connections or public transport are important to you, then check whether they are already in the area, or planned for the future. The Department of Planning has statewide responsibility for the planning for future communities and plays a vital role in improving the quality of your lifestyle.

How your council are involved

It’s time to check with the local council and the Department of Planning for details of the facilities and amenities planned for the area, such as schools and parks, as well as details of any restrictions on building on the property. Your builder should have all this information, but for specific details and a better understanding, the council can provide everything you need.

It’s easy to access planning schemes, codes, legislation, policies, forms and information sheets online.

Your health is important

Don’t forget to also check out health and environmental issues and requirements related to planning and developing in your favourite Perth locations. Information on specific soils, asbestos, noise, pollution and sustainable building design is also all available.

Results – both good and bad

Remember, future plans can have cons as well as the pros long-term and they may affect when you plan to move into your new home, and could have numerous repercussions on the future. Make sure your pros outweigh your cons below.

Pros:

• Possible new transport links
• Your property value could increase
• You may get access to more local amenities
• Further benefits for future family plans – schools, doctors etc
• More activities in your local surroundings.

Cons:

• Sound pollution/noise levels during build, whether it be commercial or residential
• Increase in local population
• Busier roads or increase in traffic
• May decrease in property value
• Could change the feel/atmosphere of the neighbourhood.

Know exactly what you’re getting

As long as you know what changes the area will be going through and that it will work in your favour long-term, then it is usually a safe bet. Why not take a look at the locations of our house and land packages, or visit one of our display homes and get to know the area a little better?

Article Source: What’s the plan – Know Your Suburb

6-Star Guide - Save Money Long-Term

Discover how following the 6-Star Guide to building an energy efficient home will not only be beneficial to the environment, but will help you save money over the lifecycle of your home.

Achieving a 6-star energy rating doesn’t have to be expensive. Features like orientation, ventilation and insulation can dramatically increase your energy efficiency. It’s all about the affordable, sustainable features to not only make your home more energy efficient and reduce your carbon footprint, but to allow you to enjoy the benefits of reduced energy costs for years to come.

What is a Star rating?

Just as household appliances have star-rating systems that measure their energy efficiency, the energy and thermal efficiency of a home also has a nationally recognised star rating system.

On a scale of one to ten, the stars rate the thermal performance capability of homes, or the natural comfort levels one can achieve.

The higher the star rating, the more energy efficient the home is, meaning it has a lesser need for artificial heating or cooling throughout the year. This can dramatically lower energy use, power bills and greenhouse emissions.

At a glance: What a 6-star rating means for you

COMFORT:
Your new home will be up to 5°C warmer in winter, and 10°C cooler in summer.

ENERGY SAVINGS:
Up to 25% increase in energy efficiency.

HOUSEHOLD BUDGET SAVINGS:
Savings of up to $107 per year on energy bills.*

How much will I save?

Exact savings and costs will depend to a degree on block orientation – remember, any investment made to secure a well-orientated block is likely to be less than the cost of installing evaporative air conditioning.

The following are some of the savings estimated for a typical Western Australian 6-star home in comparison to a similar typical 5-star home.

• 1,090 megajoules (MJ) of gas saved per household per year. In dollar terms this means a saving of around $39 per year (at today’s cost of 12.79c per unit, where 1 unit = 3.6MJ).*
• 985 MJ (or 274 kilowatt hours – kWh) of electricity saved per household per year. In dollar terms this means a saving of around $68 every year (at today’s cost of 24.88c per kWh which includes a carbon charge of 2.25c per kWh).*

The Bigger Picture

It’s always important to remember how sustainable, energy efficient homes improve our quality of life. Sure, they can save us money, but think about the bigger picture – the added benefits of using less artificial heating and cooling, and relying on natural elements to keep your home comfortable.

• An improvement in indoor air quality and more constant temperatures year round.
• The improvements to lighting, ventilation and temperature in more sustainable homes is known to positively affect common physical ailments such as loss of concentration, headaches, eyestrain and feeling tired.
• Embracing the winter sun in your living areas has a direct relationship to family unity, with families coming together to spend more time in the most comfortable part of the home.
• Your family will enjoy a greater understanding of how to be more energy efficient around the home.
• Last but not least, don’t underestimate how good it can feel knowing you are doing your bit to reduce your carbon footprint and look after the earth.

How to achieve a 6-star rating on your home

Achieving a 6-star rating is the culmination of numerous design elements working together. Here are just some of the ways we will increase your home’s energy efficiency.

• We will consider how the home is oriented on the block and where possible face indoor and outdoor living areas to the north.
• The bigger the home, the more difficult it is to get higher star ratings. Avoid complex floor plans that can increase the external wall area.
• We will maximise north windows and minimise western, southern and eastern windows. We will also consider glazing and shading devices, such as verandas and awnings.
• Insulate ceilings and walls.
• Floor tiles and concrete floors will increase thermal mass, aiding natural heating and cooling.

At The WA Housing Centre, we take our responsibility to the environment seriously. We have a commitment to providing affordable, sustainable homes, and every home we build has a guaranteed minimum 6-star energy rating.

Our experienced team can help you with all the information you need to ensure your home is as environmentally friendly as possible, just ask.

Article Source: 6-Star Guide - Save Money Long-Term

One Stop Shop for Your Home Finance Needs.

Need some advice on how to get started with your own home but don’t know where to get started? Get some no hassle advise from one of our experts – face to face interaction from someone who helps people just like you on a daily basis.

We understand that it is difficult for first homebuyer to make sense of all the difficult options available and what may work for you and your family. Fortunately, there are all kind of ways you can get finance approval for your new home—and we can help.

Introducing our new House & Land Finance Hubs.

As part of our commitment to helping first-time homebuyers get into the property market, we have set up two centres where you can get access to expert advice regarding financing. Located in Alkimos and Baldivis, these centres have friendly specialists who can answer any questions you have and help you find the right loan. No office just a lovely laid-back display home.

​Even if you think you may not qualify, you should come see us because we could still help make your dream of home ownership come true. The centres are open on Mondays and Wednesdays from 2pm to 5pm, and Saturday and Sundays from 12pm to 5pm. Stop by any time during these hours for a casual chat about how we can make your dream of owning a home into a reality.

​And you should act fast, because for a limited time, our experts can help you access a low deposit home loan through Keystart thanks to their recent policy change. They are well informed about the best ways to take advantage of these new opportunities.

We’ll help you get started with Keystart.

The State Government has announced a change to Keystart eligibility that has made home ownership possible for over 11,000 households. They’ve increased the income limit for their low deposit home loans by $15,000 (singles and couples) and $20,000 (families).

​Now the really great thing about a Keystart loan is that it doesn’t require a huge deposit at the beginning. When most of us get a home loan from a bank, we end up having to hand over all our savings as a deposit and, as a result, spend a year living on instant noodles just to get out of the financial hole. Fortunately, Keystart only requires a deposit as low as 2%.

​On top of that, you don’t have to waste your cash on expensive Lenders’ Mortgage Insurance when you get a Keystart loan.

See what it’s like to live in one of our homes

These two displays aren’t just some fancy, one-off designs that look amazing, but aren’t actually affordable for first home buyers.

The Tivoli(Alkimos) and The Zone(Baldivis) locations are each based off of two of our most popular designs—so you can build the same style home as you are walking through. You’ll be able to see and feel the different finishes and features that you can include in your home. And unlike the pressure of being in some office, you can relax and sit down with one of experts in a no-pressure environment.

Visit us this week!

It’s a great time to buy and take advantage of some of the amazing offers available for first home buyers. Speak to one of our team members and they can get you started on the journey to finally owning your own home. Act quick though! The increase to Keystart’s income limit will only last until December 2019. After that, it’s reverting back to the way it was. So don’t wait until it’s too late. Visit one of our Home & Finance hubs this week. You can see where they’re located by clicking here.

Article Source: One Stop Shop for Your Home Finance Needs.