Land Lease vs Traditional Home Ownership

Solana Northern Beaches - Mackay

What’s the difference — and why land lease living feels like the simpler option for many over-50s

When people talk about “owning a home”, they often mean one thing: buying a house and the land it sits on. That’s traditional home ownership — and for decades it’s been the default.

A land lease community works differently. You own your home and lease the land it sits on under a site agreement. That one structural difference changes how costs, upkeep, and day-to-day living can feel.

Traditional Home Ownership: More Control, More Responsibility

With a traditional home, you own the building and the land. You’re responsible for everything that comes with it — the garden, the exterior maintenance, repairs, insurance, and the ongoing costs like council rates and utilities. It’s a great model if land ownership is a priority, but it can also mean more time spent managing the property (and more surprise expenses as the years go on).

Land Lease Living: Own The Home, Simplify The Rest

In a land-lease community, you purchase the home and pay a regular site fee to lease the land and contribute to the maintenance and upkeep of shared spaces and facilities.

At Solana, the site fee contributes to the upkeep of common areas and resort-style amenities, as well as services that help keep the neighbourhood looking its best. Front gardens, lawns and community areas are maintained as part of the broader site management, while homeowners typically look after their own brand new home and private low maintenance outdoor spaces to the rear and side of the home.

This model is designed to reduce the everyday “property load” — the time, energy and organisation that can come with a traditional home.

The Benefits People Notice Most

A lighter maintenance list

Less time spent on ongoing upkeep frees up more time for the things you actually want to do — whether that’s travel, family visits, getting outdoors, or simply enjoying a home that feels easy.

Clearer, more predictable living costs

Rather than juggling multiple property-related bills and maintenance expenses, land lease living tends to bundle the shared running costs into the site fee. It can make budgeting feel more straightforward.

No entry or exit fees

In Solana’s model, there are no entry or exit fees, which appeals to people who want a simpler structure without retirement village-style fee arrangements.

You keep any potential capital gains

Some people worry that because a land lease home doesn’t include the land, it might not hold its value. But in reality, land lease living at Solana works very differently from retirement village models where it is common operators often take a share of capital growth.

At Solana, homeowners keep 100% of any potential capital gains if they choose to sell their home. Your home remains a genuine asset just like in traditional home ownership.

Resort-style facilities that support real routines

Solana communities are built around lifestyle — with spaces designed for movement, wellbeing, and connection. It’s not about being busy every day. It’s about having the option to join in, feel part of something, and enjoy a home base that supports the way you want to live now.

A simple takeaway

Traditional home ownership gives you land ownership and total control, but it can come with more responsibility. Land lease living keeps the important part — owning your home — while making the rest feel simpler, more supported, and easier to maintain.

For many over-50s, that’s the point: less time managing a property, and more freedom to enjoy the next chapter.