What Do Australians Want from Their Home?

Over the last few months we’ve spent an unprecedented amount of time at home. It’s given us the opportunity to become more in-tune with our living spaces, to really figure out what our needs are. So, has coronavirus changed everything? What do Australians want from their home?

In a nutshell, yes. According to research done by Westpac, there’s been a shift in priorities. We’ve always had an appreciation for space here, but we’ve now developed new boxes we’d like ticked, please.

Westpac surveyed 1,176 Australians aged 18 and over, and these were some of their findings:

– 34% would like to live somewhere less populated;

– 31% want to be closer to parks and shops;

– 20% are looking for a suburb with bigger properties;

– 37% believe outdoor features are a priority;

– 18% want an entertainment area;

– 20% think a separate study is important;

– 15% would like their kitchen to be bigger.

Another stat coming out of the survey is that 77% of respondents said they’d rather live in a house than in high-density living. The clear trend is that, above all else, space is a priority. This is in line with our global cities, such as London, where an expected mass-movement out of the city to surrounding country areas has already driven demand up.

The distinction between workplace and home has become somewhat blurry. And thanks to available technology and an uncertain post-pandemic future, this is something that will continue. We want our homes to accommodate our professional lives and will be looking for places with the space to do this.

There’s also a growing tendency to regard our homes as a ‘lifestyle hub’ rather than just a place to rest our heads at night. There’s a renewed focus on health and wellbeing in Australia, and this is coming through in our property needs. Outdoor space is important, but so is a place to exercise, with 27% of respondents wanting a space for a home gym.

In a social interaction sense, people are dining more from home and socialising at home more. Features like fast internet, bigger backyards, swimming pools and entertainment areas have taken on bigger importance and appeal.

These are interesting times for sure, and we’re fascinated to see whether these changing priorities of Australian buyers actually translate into purchasing trends. Once the dust settles on the mind-blowing year that was 2020, we’ll check it out again next year! In the meantime, please get in touch with us at Ristic Real Estate with all your real estate questions.