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Foundations and Footings

January 26, 20240

Foundations vs. Footings: What Is The Difference?

It is natural for future home builders to explore the options out there and research what is involved with the build process. As a result, you might be feeling a little overwhelmed by all the jargon. One of the biggest questions you might have is: what’s the difference between foundations and footings? Grab a cup of coffee, and let’s break it down!

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Setting the Stage: Foundations and Footings

First things first—let’s talk about what these terms actually mean. You can think of the footing as the unsung hero that literally supports your entire home. It’s what stands between the weight of your house and the ground beneath it. So, what does this component do? Well, footings have a few essential roles:

  1. Distributes Loads: Footings spread the weight of your home evenly across the ground.
  2. Anchors Against Winds: They keep your house stable, even when those gusty winds come knocking.
  3. Moisture Protection: Footings help guard against moisture from the soil coming into your home and help prevent movement due to changes in the moisture content of the soil.
Preparation for Waffle Pod footings at Prestwood Estate

Getting your footings right is crucial for ensuring your home is safe and sound for years to come.

Now, let’s chat about the foundation. This is the actual soil or rock that your home sits on. Sounds simple, right? But it’s super important to test the foundation to ensure it can handle the weight of your future abode. Developers typically start by evaluating the soil to determine what they’re working with. This helps in designing footings that are tailored to the specific conditions of your site.

See what Homecorp is developing across Australia

How Can Soil Type Impact The Build?

Did you know that the type of soil on your property can significantly impact your home’s stability and what it costs to build? For example, if your footings rest on bedrock, you’re in luck! There’s minimal settling there so what you build doesn’t generally move much from today to tomorrow or ten years down the track. Sandy soil on the other hand is quick to settle and then stable.

New build homes in Adelaide South Australia
Early development at Roberts Farm, South Australia

Now, let’s talk about the trickest soil, which is in fact clay. It can expand or shrink dramatically depending on moisture levels. This means that during heavy rains, clay can swell by up to 50%! And when it dries out, it can shrink just as much. This constant movement can put stress on your footings, leading to cracks in surfaces in your home over time.

While many builders can gauge soil conditions just by stepping onto the site, it is crucial to get a geotechnical report. This report provides detailed insights into your soil type and behavior, helping engineers design a home that can withstand its unique challenges.

Gold Coast quality builders

Types of Footings in Australia

Now that we’ve laid the groundwork (pun intended!), let’s dive into the different types of footings commonly used in Aussie homes:

  1. Strip Footings: These continuous lines of support are typically placed in a shallow trench and reinforced with steel. They’re perfect for light loads, like walls in residential properties.
  2. Stumps: Also known as piles in New Zealand, stumps are great for supporting timber-framed homes. They can be made from timber, concrete, or steel and need a solid footing beneath them for stability.
  3. Raft Slabs: Raft slabs distribute the building’s weight evenly to minimize movement. There are two popular types of raft slabs in Australia:
    • Waffle Raft: Built with waffle pods made of polystyrene, these are laid out carefully based on your home’s design and ground conditions.
    • Stiffened Raft: This is an economical option but it’s best for non-reactive soil. The bottom of the slab rests on an unreinforced strip footing or mat foundation with edge beam stiffening and concrete reinforced with rebars to provide strength and stability.
Watch a Waffle Pod Slab being laid

How Deep Do Footings Need To Be?

One of the biggest questions in construction is: how deep should your footings be? The answer isn’t one-size-fits-all. It depends on several factors, including the type of structure, soil conditions, and even local climate influences.

Preparation of a Stiffened Raft Slab

The proper depth will help ensure that your home’s weight is distributed evenly, preventing issues like uneven settling or structural damage.

In Australia, where we have all kinds of soil types and weather conditions, making sure your footings are able to handle everything from frost to water tables is key.

Pods being positioned prior to the concrete slab pour

Wrapping It Up

Building a home is no small feat, and understanding the difference between foundations and footings is just the beginning. At Homecorp, we take care of all the nitty-gritty details, including geotechnical reports and engineering checks, so you don’t have to.

A big part of our business is creating House and Land Packages to make it easier for Australian’s to get into the property market and invest in housing. These Turn-Key Packages include plans that we know perform well under local conditions. They are also carefully curated to be sustainable, easy to maintain and cost-effective to retrofit down the track.

Curious about where we’re developing next? Don’t hesitate to reach out to the Homecorp team! We’re here to help you every step of the way. Happy building!

Experienced property developers in Adelaide
House and Land

Infrastructure Spend: WIP 2025

January 21, 20240

Before selecting areas for house and land estates, Homecorp does a lot of digging. By this we mean hundreds of hours of ground work, in terms of research into the potential for growth in an area, has been done before buyers get to see an estate.

Homecorp considers a range of factors when developing house and land estates, like the infrastructure spend outlook for 2025

New infrastructure or upgrades to existing amenities can influence the desirability of a suburb and the increased workforce can drive demands, enhance business and even flow through to the property market.

2023 was a busy year for the Australian engineering and construction industry and 2024 was equally busy.

“There was cautious optimism surrounding 2024,” explained James Lawrence, Group Manager for Customer & Markets at Coates. “While residential construction is declining, nationally the market remains in an upward cycle driven by concurrent booms in road, railway and renewables construction.”

“If businesses can successfully navigate challenges and retain the talent to deliver on demand, the next decade will be a rewarding time to be working in this industry.”

Here’s what engineering and construction businesses can expect from the year ahead:

Current trends and market conditions

Despite challenges, the overall position of Australia’s construction markets remains strong.

State-based demand

The value of construction work is a key indicator of the health of economies and, based on current forecasts, Queensland and WA are expected to outperform NSW and Victoria in coming years on a percentage growth factor.

“These states have relatively strong foundations for demand this decade, with growing populations, mineral and renewable resources, relatively low debt and major events like the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane stimulating further opportunities,” Lawrence said.

Homecorp is developing land across Australiat
Homecorp house and land packages

Growth sectors

Nationally, the construction of transportation, utilities, renewables, transmission, industrial, road and rail infrastructure projects will continue to drive significant activity in 2024, and provide longevity for engineering and construction businesses.

“We’re seeing considerable expansion into social institution infrastructure in areas like health and education, particularly in regional locations,” Lawrence said.

“We’re also starting to see the return of private investment, in large scale multi-dwelling projects, which will be essential for meeting the needs of Australia’s growing population.”

House and land packages by Homecorp
Homecorp investment properties

Renewable energy infrastructure will surge significantly in 2024, notably in the Eastern states. Industry research and forecasting company Macromonitor recently forecast spend on renewable energy infrastructure to rise 49 per cent to reach $5.2 billion in FY24, and grow to $12 billion in FY26.

The proposed Integrated System Plan (ISP) from AEMO2, Australia’s independent system and market operator, indicates there will be continued escalation in infrastructure for large-scale renewable generation, distribution and storage, and a contraction in traditional sources of power generation. The impact of this investment will be truly national as indicated on the ISP project roadmap.

Challenges

Market capacity, capability, cost and carbon reduction remain key focus areas for construction in 2024.

Capacity and capability

As the pipeline of construction work continues to exceed the availability of skilled and unskilled labour, workforce challenges will remain.

Cost inflation

A slight resettling of costs and the completion of the Federal government’s infrastructure review will bring more surety to the industry.

Carbon

Navigating changing environmental regulations and the need to deliver on carbon reduction targets and strategies is another factor that will shape construction activity and the cost of delivering construction projects in 2024 and beyond.

“Initiatives and legislation, such as the Sustainable Buildings SEPP3 in NSW, are shifting from reducing operating emissions to reducing embodied carbon – that is the carbon associated with construction materials, their transport to and from site, and the construction process itself,” Lawrence said.

“Construction businesses will increasingly need to consider embodied carbon in the early stages of the project life cycle.”

Opportunities

Across all sectors and geographies, there is potential for construction businesses to improve productivity and ease cost and capacity constraints.

Utilising technology

Technology has a role to play in easing labour pressures and offsetting rising construction costs. Homecorp is investing in further development of its Build Portal which allows stakeholders, owners and suppliers to track build progress online, anytie.

Embedding more sustainable practices

While the path to net-zero presents significant challenges for the industry, it also offers opportunities. Embedding circular economy principles – such as reusing materials, designing structures for disassembly and reducing waste – can yield significant benefits including increased efficiencies that can lead to cost savings and reductions in embodied carbon.

Homecorp offers home designs that achieve stringent 7 Green Star ratings to ensure we are not only building the best homes for today but also for the future.

Take a look at Homecorp House and Land opportunities or talk to the team about your needs today.

Essence Estate has undergone an impressive transformation from piles of soil, pipes and gravel to lush landscaped boulevards and level lots.

Words don’t do the process and transformation justice. The best way to really appreciate the hard work that has gone into creating this new community is from the air.

Take a moment to watch the progression of each site visit captured in the video below.

From the early earthworks to the homes that have already taken shape in Stage 1. Fly over the beginnings of boulevards and see them become sealed streets. We are proud of the tremendous team effort that has transformed Essence from bare land into a boutique estate.

Toowoomba Takes Off

With the initial stages built or commencing construction, Homecorp are now preparing lots in Stage 2 and Stage 4 at Essence Estate for release to market to meet demand.

Essence is rapidly developing into an inspiring community. The dedication of our team is creating an estate people are proud to call home.

Toowoomba offers many advantages including housing affordability, employment opportunities, education, health services, open spaces, sport, and culture.

It is one of the most liveable regions in Australia, supported by one of the nation’s most diverse and healthy economies.

A surge in activity has broadened the economic base to include manufacturing, along with education, transport, logistics and information communication sectors.

As a result, Toowoomba was one of Queensland’s top performing property markets for 2023.  

New house and land packages are being released in Toowoomba's Essence Estate

Homecorp Hot Spots

Homecorp’s assessment criteria for development locations is something we have fine-tuned over decades in the industry. 

Our track record speaks for itself with five of Homecorp’s key development locations – Toowoomba, Logan Reserve, Ipswich, Rockhampton and Adelaide – featuring on hot property lists for 2023.

Essence Estate Toowoomba is ready for new houses to be built by Homecorp

Want to know more? Take a look at Homecorp’s plans for Essence Estate or talk to our team today.

CONTACT HOMECORP

Site Visit: Essence, Toowoomba

January 18, 20240
Homecorp Queensland house and land packages
Sustainable Building

Demand Increases For Energy Efficient Homes

January 5, 20240

Energy efficiency is more important than ever for those looking to buy, rent or invest.

In the September 2023 Residential Audience Pulse Survey, 68% of consumers said that energy efficiency ratings were important when looking for a home. A third (34%) of respondents said they were extremely important. This is an increase of 6% compared to last year.

Reduce Costs And Help The Environment

Three-quarters (73%) of respondents cited reducing energy bills as the reason they viewed energy efficiency as important. Half of survey respondents (51%) also wanted to do good for the environment.

Homecorp builder developer in Queensland and South Australia

Searches for energy-efficient features on realestate.com.au revealed solar panels were the most in-demand feature. A total of 77% of all energy-efficient related searches related to solar.

Solar panels were the most searched energy-efficient feature in all states except the Australian Capital Territory, where property seekers searched simply for energy efficiency the most.

Queensland Goes Green

Given its reputation for sunshine, it is no surprise that Queensland had the highest volume of searches (48%) for properties with solar panels.

Queenslanders were more interested in water tanks than other searchers and were also interested in properties that are “off-grid”.

“Off-grid” homes are completely disconnected from the energy grid. This means they solely rely on solar power and energy stored in batteries. Nearly 30% of “off-grid” searches came from Queensland.

Toowoomba Essence Estate house and land for sale

Queenslanders were also the largest searchers for properties with batteries, which allows them to store the unused energy generated from their solar panels.

Whether it is to save money or reduce environmental impact, more property seekers are taking home energy efficiency seriously. This means the value of homes with high energy efficiency is likely to increase. Features such as solar panels and glazed windows will continue to be important, as well as new technologies such as electric vehicle chargers and batteries for storing surplus energy.

Homecorp takes sustainable building seriously offering house and land packages that meet the stringent 7 Green-Star rating.

What is Green Star?

Founded by Green Building Council of Australia in 2003, Green Star is an internationally recognised rating system setting the standard for healthy, resilient, positive buildings and places. Developed for the Australian environment, Green Star has certified thousands of sustainable fitouts, buildings, homes and communities right across the country.

  • Reducing the impact of climate change
  • Enhancing our health and quality of life
  • Restoring and protecting our planet’s biodiversity and ecosystems
  • Driving resiliency in buildings, fitouts, and communities 
  • Contributing to market transformation and a sustainable economy
Homecorp house and land packages offer the benefit of our experience and network

The Future Homes program is a Green Star Homes Standard to assess the health, resilience and energy efficiency of our homes.

The Green Star Homes standard will be used to assess Australian homes against three key criteria to help us build homes of our future:

  • Positive: net zero in energy, fully electric, draught sealed, efficient and powered by renewables
  • Healthy: ventilated, comfortable, with products that are better for you
  • Resilient: water efficient and climate change ready.   

To learn more about what Homecorp are building, connect with our team today.

The Verge is a Homecorp house and land estate in Logan Reserve
House and Land

Queensland Homes Hit All Time High

January 4, 20240

Key points:

  • Property in almost every part of Queensland has hit all time high prices overtaking COVID-era peaks
  • Analysts say a combination of affordable regions and fewer homes on the market is driving up prices
  • Housing advocates warn that as prices rise, those already struggling will be under even more pressure

Queensland Property Prices 

Property analysts CoreLogic found that every regional centre in Queensland – aside from the Sunshine Coast and Townsville – are now at their peak and continuing to rise.

In the south-east, homes in Brisbane’s south, inner city, along with Logan and Ipswich, are now at their highest-ever median price.

House and land for sale Brisbane growth corridor Toowoomba, Ipswich, Gold Coast

Affordable Regions In Demand

CoreLogic founder Tim Lawless said it is no surprise that homes in regional Queensland were rising fast.

He said they are still comparatively cheap and did not experience the same boom as the south-east.

“They didn’t see the same trends as south-east Queensland saw through the pandemic.

“Most of those markets are still showing immediate value well below $500,000.”

In contrast, the average price of a home on the Sunshine Coast now tops $965,000.

“That’s rivalling some of the more expensive markets in Sydney,” he said.

House and Land packages, like those at Essence Estate, open the door to Toowoomba’s hot property market

Prices on the rise

Mr Lawless said homes in South East Queensland’s lifestyle regions went up around 60 per cent through the COVID era. Many then saw dips in value once COVID restrictions eased but prices are rising across the board and demand is strong.

The Outlook in Gympie, Queensland, is readying the next stage of development to meet market demand

More Rental Properties Urgently Needed

Lawless also noted with low vacancy rates, housing supply and more overseas immigration, “it’s hard to see prices going backwards over the near term”.

Looking ahead to the next 20 years, Logan City will continue to be one of the fastest growing cities in Queensland. The population is expected to increase by up to 200,000 within the next 20 years and Logan’s objective is to create at least 53,000 jobs to support this population growth.

Logan Reserve property growth and population growth

Homecorp is developing House and Land estates in Logan Reserve, like The Verge and Prestwood Estate, to help meet demand.

Logan Reserve is a property hot spot offering easy family-friendly living with city conveniences close at hand:

30 minutes to Brisbane’s CBD
25 minutes to Ipswich
35 minutes to the Gold Coast
It’s one hot location, location, location!

Stage 5 at The Verge has just been released and it is the final house and land release in this thriving development.

With limited lots remaining, the time to invest is now! Talk to the team at Homecorp to find out more.

Homecorp new build investment properties
Property Investment

Why invest in property?

December 5, 20230

Australia needs rental properties. Our population is continuing to grow and the number of households renting is also increasing each year. The bulk of renters live in homes provided by private landlords. This creates plenty of opportunity to use property as a way of building your own wealth.

Tangible Investment

For many investors property is appealing – when you invest in a rental property you have an asset that you can see and feel.

It is very reassuring to be able to drive by or click on Google Maps and take a look at how your investment is going. Because we all understand how a rental property works, it can be easier to relate to investing in a home than in something less tangible such as shares.

Smart Investment

Property investment is also one of the few investment vehicles where you can use other people’s money to achieve your goals – so long as you meet the lending criteria, there are a range of banks happy to help you make a smart investment.

Where to invest

You know you want to be a property investor. But where do you want to invest?

Some people choose to buy investment properties in their own neighbourhoods because they know them well. They know which sorts of properties are popular, understand what tenants are looking for and know the things to watch out for when selecting a place to purchase. Buying an investment near your home can be helpful if you’re planning to manage the property yourself, too.

Other people look further afield, to other cities and states, particularly if they are investing in several properties.

Diversification gives potential investors a broader exposure to the market and there are often great opportunities in areas further from home or in areas you might not know so well.

Homecorp has house and land packages geared for property investing in South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland.

Full turn-key packages are designed to make building an investment property easier and low stress. At Homecorp, an expert team pair each piece of land with the ideal house plan and facade to maximise the potential of the lot.

Every Homecorp estate is thoroughly researched against our selection criteria for investment potential. We consider factors like access to amenities like schools, transport and healthcare.

Homecorp began from a single plot of land in 2004 and have been building ever since. To find out more about the best current investment property opportunities across Australia, talk to the team at Homecorp.

Essence Estate house and land development by Homecorp
House and Land, Property Investment

Toowoomba Hot Property: House and Land

November 23, 20230

Toowoomba is enjoying strong population growth which is driving property demand. Hot property house and land opportunities in the area include Essence Estate by Homecorp. With Toowoomba having some of the fastest selling property in regional Australia, Essence is proving to be a regional winner for property investors.

Regional Property Hot Spots

CoreLogic’s Regional Market Report shows Queensland’s market is flourishing stoked by southern-state buyers chasing sun, space and affordability.

With around 123,000 residents, Toowoomba is the second most-populated inland city, behind Canberra, and is known for its architecture and rich streetscapes, which includes the art deco picture palace, the Empire Theatre, and a grand city hall.

 

Toowoomba Hot Property: House and Land opportunities include Essence Estate by Homecorp

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The Grange Greenbank by Homecorp
Property Investment

Australian Construction Trends

August 12, 20230

At Homecorp, we believe it is key to not only deliver but to go beyond expectation. Our purpose is to develop the best property product, processes and outcomes. As part of our process, Homecorp consider the Australian construction industry outlook and how it impacts what we are developing and where.

Australian Construction Industry

The Australia construction market is expected to grow from USD 163.34 billion in 2023 to USD 213.31 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 5.48% during the forecast period (2023-2028).

Investment in the industry has always been a key driver of the market. Technological innovation is now also driving growth and increasing productivity.

  • The Australian construction industry generates nearly 360 billion in revenue (9% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)) and has a projected annual growth rate of 2.4%.
  • It employs approximately one in 10 workers which is 9.6%% of the total workforce.
  • Australian Government Statistics indicate the construction industry workforce is 1,322,100.
  • The Australian government has a strong vision for developing smarter communities powered by cutting-edge technology solutions. New technologies in the construction industry are disrupting traditional models for planning, staffing, monitoring, and delivering projects as the physical world becomes increasingly digitized.

    Homecorp are already advancing digitization within the business and our strategic ownership by Prime Life Technologies, a Toyota and Panasonic company, puts us in the driver’s seat to tap into advancing technology in the construction sector.

Australian Construction Trends

Increase in Infrastructure Construction

The value of construction in the non-residential segment is continuing to grow. Investments in the non-residential sector focus on schools, hospitals, offices, warehouses, and hotels.

With government-led projects in the energy sector and transportation ramping up, the construction industry is optimistic about seeing a growth rate during the forecast period.

Improvement Strategies

Cost Management

Embracing innovative construction methods, such as prefabrication and BIM, can optimise processes and reduce costs. The adoption of sustainable materials and strategic procurement practices can also contribute to cost management.

Skills Training

Collaborative efforts between the government, educational institutions and industry bodies are key. Options include increasing apprenticeships, providing targeted training programs for mature-age workers and establishing pathways for international talent.

Regulatory Clarity

Regulatory reforms should aim to simplify and clarify regulations. Consistent enforcement will also help reduce uncertainty for businesses. Engaging with industry stakeholders and learning from successful regulatory frameworks in other countries can guide these reforms.

Despite facing challenges, the opportunities for growth abound. By investing in skills training, embracing innovation, and fostering strong relationships with stakeholders, the Australian construction industry can thrive and will play a vital role in driving economic growth and development.

Interested in finding out more about how we work or collaborating with us? Drop us a line today.

CONTACT HOMECORP

Queensland: House and Land

June 8, 20230

Queensland house and land opportunities offer a way into a market that is already building towards Brisbane 2032.  You may have seen some of the headlines about the growth predicted in Queensland but the numbers behind those headlines are staggering.

A recent report by property experts RPM Group says Logan is a hot spot that needs to get growing.  RPM’s SEQ Property Report for September 2023 is predicting 54,145 new dwellings will be needed in Logan by 2066.  The current average is around 700 per year so the time to start building is now!

Homecorp has been fine-tuning a unique approach to Queensland house and land development for over a decade.  Before we select locations for development we undertake in-depth research.  Our assessment criteria includes looking at infrastructure investment as well as proximity to transport, shopping and health care amenities.

Queensland House and Land: Logan Reserve

Logan Reserve ticks all of these key boxes.  This is why The Verge is one of Homecorp’s key house and land estates.

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Introducing Eve Residences. This luxury tower stands proudly at the gateway to Southport’s Golden Mile with unobstructed views of the Broadwater that can never be built out.

Gold Coast Luxury Waterfront Living

In real estate, the old adage is location, location, location and Eve Residences has that is spades, spades, spades. Eve Residences is the whole package:

Introducing Eve Residences

May 4, 20230