Choosing a master planned community means looking beyond the home itself. The location, surrounding amenity, open space, housing options and future plans all shape what everyday life could look like.
Our first article explored what makes master planned communities attractive. This guide takes the next step, looking at how to compare different communities and work out which one best suits the way you want to live.
Start with your household and the lifestyle you want your new neighbourhood to support.
Set your budget and preferred home type, then think about the things that affect everyday life. That might include your commute, schools, access to family and friends, parks and recreation, public transport, shops, healthcare, accessibility or simply having places nearby where you can meet other people.
Priorities will change depending on your stage of life. A first home buyer may want room to grow. A family may place more weight on schools, parks and places to be active, while a downsizer might prefer a lower-maintenance home with shops, services and social opportunities close by.
Write those priorities down before visiting communities and use the same criteria each time. It will make it easier to compare the things that are likely to matter once you live there.
Think of the community as somewhere to live, not simply a collection of homes.
Parks, playgrounds, walking and cycling paths, sporting facilities and places to meet can all influence how residents spend their time. Amenities outside the community can matter just as much.
A nearby shopping centre, train station, school, medical precinct or employment hub may play an important part in everyday life. Consider how those places fit together and how easily you could reach them.
Test the location in practice. Visit at the times you would normally be there. Try the peak-hour commute. Walk to a nearby park or shopping area. If schools are important, check the relevant catchments independently.
Different settings will suit different households.
Williams Landing in Victoria is a 275-hectare, transit-oriented community that brings together residential neighbourhoods, workplaces, retail, parklands and a major transport hub. Bushmead in Western Australia offers a very different setting, with more than two-thirds of the site retained as natural bushland.
The better fit is the one that reflects the lifestyle you want.
Master planned communities are usually delivered over time, so find out what you can use today and what forms part of the longer-term plan.
Check which parks, roads, shops and community facilities are open, what is under construction and what is planned for later stages. Find out who is responsible for delivering the features that matter to you. The developer may deliver some infrastructure, while schools, public transport, retail and other services may involve government agencies or private operators.
The project sales team can help you understand that distinction.
Sales consultants can explain current stages, future plans and the surrounding area in more detail. They may also be able to point out nearby services and infrastructure that are not immediately obvious from the masterplan.
For buyers considering land or a house-and-land package, the sales team can point you towards builders active in the community and explain which types of homes may suit the lots currently available.
Use that local knowledge as one part of your research and independently confirm anything that is particularly important to your decision.
At Flourish in South Maclean, Queensland, for example, more than 30% of the site is dedicated to green space, with parklands and walking trails forming part of the community. A community park and childcare centre are also proposed. Buyers interested in those features should ask what is available now and how the remaining parts of the community are expected to develop.
Once you are comfortable with the wider community, look closely at the property itself.
For land or house-and-land, consider the lot size, orientation, design requirements and any site characteristics that could affect the home you want to build. Discussing the lot with builders familiar with the community can also help you understand what may work best.
For townhomes and completed homes, look at the layout in practical terms. Think about storage, parking, outdoor space, natural light, privacy, accessibility and whether the home can adapt if your household changes.
Apartment buyers are likely to weigh some different priorities. Internal space, balconies or outdoor areas, storage, parking, natural light, outlook, lift access, shared facilities and surrounding amenity can all affect how well an apartment suits your lifestyle.
Glenside in South Australia is one example of a community where current development is focused on apartment living. Bloom, comprising 119 one, two and three-bedroom apartments, was designed specifically for downsizers seeking a lower-maintenance home while retaining conventional property ownership. For buyers considering this type of community, access to established parkland, nearby services and the practical design of the apartment may carry more weight than they would for a family looking to build a detached home.
The property and the community need to work together. Even a great neighbourhood cannot make the wrong home right for your household.
Look at what the developer has already delivered, not only what is proposed for the project you are considering.
Where possible, visit an established community from the same developer. Look at how the streets, landscaping, parks and shared spaces have matured and whether they appear to be well used.
Pay attention to what happens after people move in as well.
Ask whether the developer runs resident events, community development programs or other initiatives that help people connect. Look at how it communicates with existing customers and whether it supports local schools, sporting clubs, resident groups or community organisations.
Cedar Woods, for example, has operated its Community Grants Program since 2009, supporting more than 150 community groups across Australia. The program provides funding to organisations including local schools, sporting clubs and volunteer groups operating in and around Cedar Woods communities.
Customer feedback can provide another perspective. Read recent testimonials and independent reviews, including Google reviews where available. Avoid judging a developer on one unusually positive or negative comment. Look instead for recurring themes across several reviews and, where possible, across more than one project.
Completed communities, customer experiences and ongoing community involvement give you more to assess than a brochure for a project that is still taking shape.
Once you have narrowed down your choices, return to the priorities you identified at the beginning.
Does the location work for your normal routine? Does the community support the lifestyle you want? Are the amenities you value already available, or do you understand what is planned? Does the home itself suit your household? Have you spoken with the local sales team and checked the information that matters most to you? Can you see evidence that the developer creates and supports established communities?
Visit your preferred communities again if you can. Compare the homes or land currently available and speak with the relevant sales team about the local area, future stages and the questions that matter most to your household.
The right master planned community is the one where the home, location and neighbourhood come together in a way that works for how you want to live.
Explore Cedar Woods communities and property opportunities across Australia, or speak with the relevant sales team to learn more about a community and its surrounding area.
This article provides general information only. Property availability, plans and proposed amenities may change. Buyers should conduct their own research and obtain independent professional advice where appropriate before purchasing.