Our simple, stress-free model
We’re all about simplicity and transparency. Here’s what you can expect when it comes to costs, fees and savings as a homeowner at Lifestyle Communities®.
Cost and benefits of the land lease model
1 . The Weekly Site Fee
The Weekly Site Fee covers the lease of your land, access to all shared community/resort facilities managed by Lifestyle Communities and the upkeep of the community, including day-to-operations, maintenance of front gardens, and council, water and sewerage rates.
2 . 90-year lease
Our homes come with a 90- year lease, providing homeowners with total security of tenure, as well as protection under the Residential Tenancies Act – and let’s not forget total peace of mind! Read more on the 90-year lease here.
3. Deferred Management Fee
The Deferred Management Fee (DMF) covers the cost of improving and contemporising your community over time. As a long-term operator, Lifestyle communities has a 30-year refurbishment plan in place for every community. The DMF allows us to keep the cost of purchasing a home as low as possible and ensures we have a vested interest in growing the value of your property. The DMF is only payable when you sell your home.
- It supports affordability by deferring some costs typically payable upfront, until later, when you choose to sell your home
- The ability to enjoy equity free up when you purchase
- Average capital growth of 9.5% pa over the last 10 years, representing a strong financial return
- A mutual interest in driving capital growth of your home
The Deferred Management fee is capped at 20% after five years, regardless of how long you stay, allowing you to benefit from continued capital growth. You’ll pay 4% of the home value on the sale for each full year. If you sell part-way through a year, you’ll pay a pro-rata amount of the 4% annual increase. Lifestyle Communities has averaged 9.5% capital growth per annum over the last 10 years. With our average house price growth running at 9.5%, this more than covers this meaning that nearly all our homeowners leave with a cash excess when the sell their home and pay the fee.
4. Affordable homes
Our communities offer some very affordable downsizing options, with homes typically priced at 75-80% of median house prices in the local area.
5. Free up cash
On average, we see homeowners free up over $200,000* to spend on the things they really love when they sell their existing home and move to a Lifestyle Community. Whether you use that embarking on a holiday of a lifetime, or purchasing the car of their dreams, the choice is yours. Ka-ching!
