Beginner's Guide to Your Home Buying Timeline

How Long Does It Actually Take to Buy Your First Home

Most first home buyers in Robina underestimate how long the process takes from start to finish. From getting your finances in order to settlement, expect three to six months depending on whether you're buying an established home or building new.

The timeline splits into three phases: preparation, property search, and contract to settlement. Preparation includes saving your deposit, gathering documents, and securing pre-approval. The property search phase varies wildly depending on how competitive the market is and how specific your requirements are. Contract to settlement typically runs 30 to 60 days for established homes, longer for off-the-plan or new builds.

In Robina, where a mix of established homes, townhouses, and new apartments are available across precincts like Robina Town Centre and the quieter residential pockets near Skilled Park, the timeline can shift depending on what you're chasing. Off-the-plan purchases might add months to the settlement phase, while a straightforward established home can move quickly if your finance is already locked in.

Getting Pre-Approval Before You Start Looking

Pre-approval tells you what you can borrow before you start attending open homes. It's valid for three to six months depending on the lender, and it gives you a clear budget so you're not wasting time looking at properties you can't afford.

A home loan application for pre-approval requires payslips, bank statements, tax returns if you're self-employed, and proof of your deposit. Lenders assess your income, expenses, existing debts, and credit history. The process takes anywhere from 24 hours to a week depending on how quickly you provide documents and which lender you're working with.

Pre-approval is not a guarantee. The lender still needs to value the property and confirm nothing has changed with your finances before they'll release funds. But it does give you confidence when you're ready to make an offer, and in a suburb like Robina where stock moves quickly, that confidence can mean the difference between securing a property and missing out.

Deposit Requirements and Where First Home Buyers Stand

You can buy with as little as 5% deposit under the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme, which is available through 31 participating lenders with no income caps and no annual place limits. The scheme covers properties up to $1,000,000 in Brisbane, and Robina falls within that cap.

Without the scheme, you'll typically need at least 10% deposit plus enough to cover stamp duty and settlement costs. Lenders Mortgage Insurance applies when your deposit is less than 20%, and that premium can add thousands to your upfront costs. The 5% Deposit Scheme removes LMI because Housing Australia guarantees the difference between your deposit and 20% of the property value.

Consider a buyer purchasing an established townhouse in Robina. With a 5% deposit and the scheme in place, they avoid LMI and can move forward without needing to save for years. The same buyer using a 10% deposit outside the scheme would need to factor in LMI, which increases both the loan amount and the upfront cash required. Stamp duty concessions in Queensland apply to established homes up to $700,000, with a partial concession extending to $800,000, so depending on the property price, that can reduce the cash needed at settlement.

First Home Owner Grant and Stamp Duty Concessions in Queensland

The Queensland First Home Owner Grant is $15,000 for new homes valued under $750,000 for contracts signed from 1 July 2026. It does not apply to established homes. If you're buying an established property in Robina, you won't receive the grant, but you can still access stamp duty concessions.

Stamp duty on established homes in Queensland is fully waived up to $700,000, with a partial concession applying up to $800,000. On new builds, the full transfer duty concession applies with no price cap on residential land from 1 May 2025. If you're buying an apartment off-the-plan or building a house, the combination of the grant and the stamp duty waiver can save tens of thousands.

Robina has a solid supply of both established homes and new developments, particularly around the town centre and along Varsity Lakes borders. Buyers need to decide early whether they're chasing the grant or the flexibility of an established home, because that decision affects the timeline, the upfront costs, and the deposit structure.

What Happens Between Contract and Settlement

Once your offer is accepted, the contract is signed, and the cooling-off period passes, the clock starts on settlement. For established homes, settlement typically occurs 30 to 60 days after the contract date. For off-the-plan purchases, settlement happens when the property is completed and titled, which can be months or even years depending on the development.

During this period, the lender conducts a formal valuation of the property. If the valuation comes in lower than the purchase price, you may need to increase your deposit or renegotiate with the seller. Your solicitor or conveyancer handles searches, checks title, coordinates with the seller's legal team, and prepares for settlement.

Your home loan moves from pre-approval to full approval once the lender is satisfied with the valuation and confirms nothing material has changed with your income or credit. You'll need to arrange building and contents insurance before settlement, and your solicitor will confirm the settlement date with all parties. On settlement day, funds are transferred, keys are handed over, and the property is yours.

Choosing Between Fixed and Variable Interest Rates

Your interest rate structure affects your repayments and your flexibility. A fixed interest rate locks in your repayment amount for a set period, typically one to five years. A variable interest rate moves with the market, which means your repayments can go up or down.

Fixed rates offer certainty, particularly if you're on a tight budget and can't absorb repayment increases. Variable rates usually come with features like an offset account or redraw facility, which let you reduce the interest you're charged by parking savings in a linked account or accessing extra repayments when needed.

Many first home buyers split their loan, fixing a portion for security and leaving the rest variable for flexibility. In our experience, buyers in Robina who plan to make extra repayments or expect their income to increase over the next few years tend to lean toward variable or split structures. If your income is stable and you value predictable repayments, a fixed rate might suit you during the early years of ownership.

When to Start the Process If You Have a Target Move-In Date

If you want to move in by a specific date, work backwards. Settlement takes 30 to 60 days, property search can take one to three months depending on how quickly you find something that works, and preparation including saving, pre-approval, and document gathering can take another one to three months.

If you're aiming to move in six months from now, start preparing today. Get your finances reviewed, work out what deposit you can access, and secure pre-approval within the first month. That leaves you three to four months to find a property and another month or two to settle.

Robina's market moves at different speeds depending on what you're buying. Established homes in high-demand pockets can attract multiple offers within days of listing. New developments might have longer settlement periods but give you more time to finalise finance and prepare. The timeline is not something that happens to you, it's something you control by starting early and staying organised.

Call one of our team or book an appointment at a time that works for you. We'll walk you through what your timeline looks like based on your deposit, your borrowing capacity, and what you're looking to buy in Robina.

Frequently Asked Questions