The way we are living is dramatically changing.
PropTrack has released data on the terms entered in realestate.com.au searches for SA homes, and they indicate a fundamental shift in how we look to live, and how we seek property.
According to the data, the term to have had the greatest increase over the past 12 months was “tenanted” – up 106 per cent.
Searches for “brand new” are up 97 per cent, while “accessible car park” was up 78 per cent and “yard” was up 76 per cent.
Reflecting a change towards multi-generational living, and a forward-thinking approach towards housing that supports owners into older age, the next search terms to have had the greatest uptick were “wide doorways” (possibly to accommodate mobility aids like wheelchairs) at 74 per cent, “elevator” at 72 per cent, “dual living” at 71 per cent, “step-free entry” at 70 per cent, “single-storey” at 59 per cent and “two-storey” at 54 per cent.
Wide doorways for wheelchair users are on buyers’ wish lists.
Harris Real Estate sales agent Tom Hector said buyer attitudes had changed profoundly in recent years.
“More than ever before, people love flat land – anything flat that people can add onto is where there are lots and lots and lots of buyers,” he said.
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“With health issues and so many people having bung knees, stairs are becoming a problem and people are struggling with sloping blocks.”
He said people were, more than ever, looking at properties as their forever homes, rather than a home for the next five, 10 or 15 years.
Lifts are more in demand than ever. Picture: iStock
“The biggest killer at the moment people are considering is stamp duty – the buying and selling costs are becoming so expensive.
“People are realising it’s so difficult to buy a home right now that they’re choosing to renovate or make decisions for the future, because it’s all relative, if your house is worth a lot then the next house is going to be worth a lot too.
“Finding good stock is becoming more and more problematic.
“The market for floorplans in 2025, I’ve found, if it has four bedrooms, two bathrooms, two living areas and a double garage on a flat piece of dirt – I’ve never seen so many buyers in my 15 years of real estate wanting to buy.
“Everyone’s about practicality, because the older-style homes have got floorplans all over the place, but the more modern ones are more popular.”
Multi-generational living is on the rise.
Independent auctioneer Brett Roenfeldt said multi-generational living, and multi-family living had risen sharply, initially driven by multiculturalism, but more recently out of necessity.
“There are families now where their kids are all grown up but perhaps the kids are not in rental accommodation or they want to provide some sort of space for them if and when they return,” he said.
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“And of course, we have an ageing population and I think there are more and more looking for flexibility from a floorplan point of view to accommodate extended families, aged parents and all that sort of thing.
“There are some really strong ethnic cohorts that look to buy homes for their extended families to accommodate them all in the one home, and there are a lot of these communities that are buying properties together – they’re pooling their money together – and they’re buying properties that are ultimately going to be redeveloped down the track, and there’s a lot of that going on.”
What SA buyers are looking for is changing.
He said in some instances, for people who stay at home, rather than go into care, their homeowners could be entitled to some support.
“If a person qualifies for it, there’s the potential there to for people can get care packages and all of those sorts of things that you can access rather than them going into a nursing home or a retirement village,” he said.
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