Coronavirus: after lockdown, families seeking space
Families are once again starting to shun cramped inner-city living for the great Australian dream.
Families are once again starting to shun cramped inner-city living for the great Australian dream of a big block in the suburbs, with coronavirus health restrictions forcing many to reassess their priorities and needs when it comes to finding the perfect property.
With the rapid rise in remote working and the threat of a gruelling commute to the office no longer an issue, life in the suburbs is attracting a new generation of young homeowners.
LJ Hooker agent Steve Ford said his Dural office, 34km northwest of Sydney’s CBD, had had a noticeable spike in interest from buyers wanting to relocate from the inner city to the outer suburbs.
“Off the back of coronavirus, people want less-density living,” he told The Weekend Australian.
“It’s twofold. We’re seeing that from a potential health point of view. Also, a lot of employees have realised there is more potential for more people to be able to work from home. It means that little bit of a longer drive is worth it for the lifestyle change you get.”
Not only do buyers now want a house, Knight Frank agent Adam Ross said, they were also looking for homes with several living areas and breakaway zones. “Because of the experience of living in lockdown, they want multiple living areas,” he said.
Housing Industry Association chief economist Tim Reardon said since COVID-19 arrived there had been a dramatic increase in demand for houses with second living spaces. “Almost every customer is looking for an additional study, they don’t want to have to do Skype calls with the kitchen in the background,” said the ACT-based Mr Reardon.
In the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, agent Brenden Purcell of Purcell Property said there had been a definite recent upswing in inquiry from Sydneysiders in a younger demographic moving from city apartments or townhouses to detached houses.
“We don’t typically see this in the Blue Mountains,” he said. “There is a lifestyle factor amid these virus changes and more work flexibility. There are a lot more younger people because it’s cheaper in the mountains; there’s a better lifestyle.”
Megan and Declan Burke said they were in search of wide open spaces for their children — Cian, 5, and Rory, 3 — when they sold their first family home in North Sydney and relocated to Glenhaven, 32km from the city, in March.
Working more from home during the pandemic, Mr Burke said he no longer had to worry about an hour-long commute to work by train and that he was planning to keep a part-time remote working schedule post-lockdown.
“After COVID, my office is allowing us all to work two days a week from home. It’s two hours back in my day,” said Mr Burke who works in financial services in the CBD. “There are some challenges, but I think it’s becoming more accepted. I’m looking forward to having a bit more balance and flexibility in the future.
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