MAJOR home builders have rejected claims they’ve hiked prices ahead of new Queensland Government housing incentives, insisting they remain committed to helping first homebuyers get a foot on the property ladder.
The response follows concerns raised by Independent Redland City Councillor Paul Golle, who warned that some developers were already inflating prices by up to $5000 in anticipation of the Government’s extended $30,000 First Home Buyer Grant and stamp duty concessions, which take effect from July.
“This is not just theory – it’s already happening in places like South Ripley, and we’re likely to see the same in Redlands,” Cr Golle said.
He pointed to a recent development release of 15 terrace homes, where only three were offered to first homebuyers.
The remaining 12 were allocated to investors and, according to sales agents, all 15 homes sold online within hours – most for more than $700,000.
“The three lots offered at $694,000 to first homebuyers were also purchased by investors under certain conditions,” Cr Golle said.
“It’s a worrying sign that first-time buyers are not being prioritised, despite government policy designed to support them.”
Cr Golle also took aim at the broader development model, arguing that inflated land values – fuelled by the subdivision of larger Greenfield sites into 200sqm lots – are making homes unaffordable.
He noted that developers contribute about $28,000 per lot in infrastructure charges but sell properties at significantly marked-up prices.
“With the actual build cost around $200,000, the rest is land value and profit,” he said.
“The system disproportionately affects first homebuyers, who end up subsidising the developer’s upfront infrastructure costs without seeing the benefit.”
Cr Golle is urging the State Government to take coordinated action and closely examine the disconnect between housing policy and the realities of the market.
“This isn’t about halting development – it’s about ensuring fairness,” he said.
“If we don’t act, genuine first homebuyers will continue to be priced out while investors dominate the market.”
A Metricon spokesperson said the builder had not adjusted pricing in response to the State Government’s announcement.
“No, we haven’t made specific pricing changes in response to the announcements,” the spokesperson said.
“We’ve worked hard to offer turnkey packages under the $750K cap.
“It’s a tight margin, but critical for helping first-time buyers break into the market.”
On the split between first homebuyers and investors in recent projects, the Metricon spokesperson said interest from both first homebuyers and investors was strong.
“In one recent terrace project, 13 homes sold – six went to first homebuyers, three to other owner-occupiers, and four to investors,” they said.
“We don’t exclude any buyer, but we’re deliberate about making sure first homebuyers get real access – through targeted design, marketing, deposit terms and finance partnerships.”
Meanwhile, G.J. Gardner Homes CEO Trent Gardner said the company was committed to supporting first homebuyers amid ongoing affordability challenges.
Mr Gardner said more than a quarter of all lead enquiries across the builder’s network now came from first homebuyers, with 22 per cent of Queensland sales in 2025 attributed to this group.
Mr Gardner said the family-owned franchise network based its pricing on actual job costs – not market conditions or policy changes – to help preserve the intent of government grants.
“We welcome clear mechanisms that ensure long-term affordability and protect incentives for genuine first homebuyers,” he said.
