Kathrine Frich
Finding a place to live has always involved a delicate balancing act.
Most people start with a dream location in mind and slowly chip away at it when reality bites.
But as the market keeps turning the screws, house hunters are redrawing their maps entirely.
Expanding the map
Buyers are officially stretching their search zones. A new survey of more than 2,000 property seekers shows that the accepted distance for a move is hitting record highs.
The research from realestate.com.au tracked changing habits in the new homes market. It found house and land buyers now plan to settle an average of 32 kilometres from their previous address.
That is a noticeable jump from the 26 kilometre average recorded just two years ago. Apartment hunters are making a similar leap, expanding their radius from 22 to 28 kilometres.
For some, the shift is even more drastic. The number of apartment buyers willing to pack up and move 50 kilometres or more has nearly doubled since 2024.
Prices push limits
Money is the obvious force behind this migration. House prices across Australian capital cities climbed by 6.4 percent in the last year, pushing the median price just past the one million dollar mark.
According to REA Group senior economist Angus Moore, this explains the outward push. He noted that buyers are simply trying to make their money work.
“With affordability at very challenging levels, we have been seeing more outlying, more affordable areas perform a bit better,” Moore told realestate.com.au.
He added, “That’s consistent with buyers looking a little further afield to help manage the otherwise very difficult state of housing affordability.”
Seeking local life
Budgets are certainly feeling the strain. Average spending limits for new houses now sit at $1.048 million, while apartment budgets are approaching $988,000.
Yet moving further out does not mean giving up on community. The data reveals a growing demand for the so-called 20 minute neighbourhood.
Almost half of all buyers now insist on having daily essentials within a short walk from their front door. The concept first gained traction in the United States, but it is now a priority for local buyers.
People might be willing to leave their old postcodes behind. They still demand nearby grocery stores, parks and medical clinics when they finally unpack.
Sources: realestate.com.au
