Are House and Land Packages in Queensland Worth Investing In?

House and land packages continue to surge in appeal among home buyers and investors - in January 2026, 8 out of 10 searches for new property purchases were for house and land packages (CFMG Capital).

While affordability, convenience, and shorter build times are the most obvious factors driving the preference for house and land packages, the question about potential as property investments remains largely unexplored.

To provide more clarity for investors, we’ve compiled evidence from Queensland’s property market to identify key markers for the investment potential of house and land packages in Queensland.

The State of Queensland’s Property Market

Queensland is facing a critical undersupply of housing amidst the rapid expansion of regional centres like Townsville, Cairns, and Mackay.

Townsville, Cairns, and Mackay's vacancy rates were at 0.6%, 0.76% and 0.67% respectively, each lower than the 1.2% average national vacancy rate of April 2026 (SQM Research).

These combined factors have resulted in strong and continuous property value growth throughout Regional Queensland. In February 2026 Cotality's Home Value Index recorded Regional Queensland as having the second highest annual growth (12.2%) in any regional market. 

In the last five years, median dwelling values have grown by 77.1% in Regional Queensland.

With all signs pointing to opportunities for property investment in Queensland, are house and land packages worth investing in?

Do Queensland House and Land Packages Make Good Investments? 

The general consensus is yes. There are many reasons why house and land packages in Queensland are ideal for investment (in many cases, more so than an existing property).

Cost-Effective  

House and land packages are built to maximise value for buyers and are innately cost-effective for investment purposes.

With a house and land package, stamp duty is only payable on the land component rather than the combined purchase price, saving on the upfront cost of investment.

The ongoing costs of investment for a house and land package will also be lower. A new build is much less likely to require maintenance in the early years of ownership, compared to older properties that may need plumbing, roofing, or electrical work within the first year.

New builds in Queensland are covered by an additional layer of assurance for buyers and investors. The Queensland Home Warranty Scheme provides up to 6 years and 6 months of coverage for defects and required maintenance work.

Tax Benefits

House and land packages benefit from greater depreciation advantages than existing homes.

When the house is first built, investors are entitled to depreciation on the building structure (up to 40 years) and all of its associated fixtures and fittings (e.g. Washing machine, blinds and floor coverings, which usually depreciates over 5-15 years).

Depreciation can save thousands of dollars each year throughout the eligible period, adding considerably to savings on tax that are part of the returns of an investment property.

These make house and land packages an attractive option for investors in higher income brackets who can benefit the most from tax claims. 

Rental Appeal & Returns

A move-in ready new home with little to no maintenance concerns appeals strongly to tenants.  Tenants are more likely to be willing to pay higher rent, resulting in higher returns for investors.

Potential Appreciation

Rapidly developing regional locations give house and land packages a high ceiling for future capital growth. 

The median price for a house in Mackay has increased by 82.68% in the five years to January 2026, from $407,439 to $744,302.

This would mean an investor that bought a house and land package in Mackay in 2021 would have seen an average capital gain of $337,000.

Mackay's median house price has increased by a further 17.17% in the 12 months to January 2026, so there is a very real opportunity for capital gain when investing in a house and land package.

This example extends across most parts of regional Queensland where the house prices have experienced consistent growth over the last 5 years. 

Builder Direct offers house and land packages in Mackay and Cairns that are handpicked for investment potential and designed to deliver high returns for investors. Get in touch with out team to find out how we can build your next lucrative investment.