The emphasis is on community at new estates like Harvest which opened its sales office at Chisholm on Wednesday.
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The sales and information office is designed in part to highlight the estate's lifestyle benefits as more developers compete for buyers' hearts and minds.
"The sales and information centre further demonstrates that we're doing things differently," Harvest project director Nathan Huon said.
"By creating a hub where purchasers can come together to share stories of their building experience, we're sowing the seeds from which a strong community will grow."
Harvest will contain 400 lots, 9.6km of footpaths and bike tracks, and vistas across Four Mile Creek.
Raised garden beds surround the new site office since the developer Investa promised a community garden.
At nearby Thornton, Defence Housing Australia's Wirraway estate will contain 450 lots and boast 16 hectares of open space as well as aviation-themed play equipment.
On a larger scale Huntlee promotes lifestyle too with a $10 million town park planned that will include a lake.
"I have seen this trend in the last five years where developers are really marketing the community aspect of their developments," HIA Hunter region executive director Craig Jennion said.
The developers even throw community events like Christmas carols in these parks in places like Sydney and Melbourne.
"These are all inclusions that make it feel like these are places people can live and enjoy life," Mr Jennion said.
"This is very different to 10 years ago or even five years ago for that matter."
Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison helped open the sales centre and said that vital infrastructure was only part of the challenge developers now face.
"They're really looking at the social side of the this development and I'm looking forward to coming back here to see how the community develops," she said.
Harvest is a 50 hectare development off Raymond Terrace Road worth $100 million.
Property developers Investa officially opened its Harvest sales office on Wednesday just in time for the next land release-stage this weekend at Chisholm.
The sales office and information centre features 16 feet-high ceilings and a vertical garden as space for families to meet and discuss progress on their homes.
Investa has sold all but two of the 74 lots in the first release.
The next stage, Vintage Hill, will contain lots from 500 square metres up to 1150 sq m.
The stage two release begins 10am Saturday.
