These days, building a new home in a large city or sought-after suburb in Australia is unfortunately beyond the reach of many, especially those trying to enter the market. This affordability crisis, along with a shift in perspective around lifestyle, health and wellbeing priorities, has seen a growing trend towards making the move away from the big smoke to settle in regional towns and cities. Not so long ago, the vast majority of people seeking a ‘tree change’ were retirees; but today, rising city property prices and a desire to enjoy a slower pace of life has seen more and more couples and families opting to move to a rural location too. This trend has been slowly on the rise in recent times, however, in the last 12 months there has been a definite spike, due largely to the financial and health impacts of COVID-19. No matter your age or stage of life, leaving the city for greener pastures is a huge decision. So, how do you know if it’s the right move for you? In this article we discuss 3 key indicators that can point you in the right direction.

Bigger isn’t always better. In fact, when it comes to buying a smart, innovative dream house, sometimes it pays to think small. Now thanks to the Federal Government’s HomeBuilder grant you can live your best life for less, thanks to a cash injection of $25,000 on your new build. 

All around Australia people are adopting the small home trend and electing to downsize their homes. With house prices continuing to rise and the average Australian homes achieving above 13% growth rates annually, there is little wonder why the trend for smaller housing is growing. While downsizing has previously been associated with ‘empty nesters’ and those approaching retirement, it has several key benefits and is now being considered a sensible option for a wide range of people. If you like the idea of saving money, energy, resources and time on the up keep of your home, downsizing to a smaller home may be the answer for you. Here are some of the many benefits to downsizing-

As property prices continue to rise in Australia, owning your own home has started to become a distant dream for many people- especially first home buyers. With Australia ranking the third least affordable country for housing in the world in 2018, the housing affordability crisis continues to be a significant problem. These days the average person is spending 13 times their annual income when purchasing a home. With the average mortgage costs hitting an all-time high there’s little wonder why many first home buyers are finding themselves priced out of the market.

The premise of the 'McMansion' is basically the polar opposite of the small home movement. Largely defined as a large cookie-cutter suburban home built to a generic plan with mass-produced materials, the McMansion was considered the ultimate sign of success from the late 80’s to the early 2000. Before the housing crash, bigger was considered better with buyers looking for the same list of ‘wants’: five or more bedrooms, a three-car garage and lofty ceilings.

The tiny home movement and small home designs have become an increasingly popular trend around the world. There are a number TV shows dedicated to them and a range of articles and videos interviewing those who have decided to downsize the space they live in. Everyone wants to know what it’s like to build, own and actually live in a smaller sized home. But what are the real differences between a tiny home and a small house, and what are the benefits of choosing to downsize?