New property in Victoria

Victoria is Australia's second most populous state, and most of its new housing is built in and around Melbourne. The city has a reputation for laneway cafes, sport, arts and a strong food culture, and those qualities carry through to many of the suburbs where new homes are going up.

Off-the-plan apartments are common in the inner city, especially in Southbank, Docklands and the suburbs ringing the CBD, where buyers trade space for being close to trams, work and entertainment. Melbourne's tram network is one of the largest in the world, and the metropolitan train network reaches well into the outer suburbs.

On the city's growth fringes to the west and north, suburbs such as Tarneit, Werribee and Craigieburn are delivering masterplanned estates with house and land packages and townhouses. These communities are generally planned with new schools, parks, wetlands and local shopping, with transport links still growing alongside them.

Victoria suits a broad range of buyers. Young professionals often look at inner-city apartments, while couples and young families tend to weigh up the extra room in the growth areas. The State Revenue Office Victoria publishes the current first home buyer concessions and grants, so check the latest details before signing anything.