Isolated city slickers look to escape to the country

REAL ESTATE: City Slickers are offering to trade trendy inner city homes for an escape to the country. They are using down time while social-distancing to look for more “isolated” homes in highly sought after tree change areas like the Sunshine Coast hinterland. 

John McGrath of McGrath Estate Agents recently predicted a surge in demand for homes away from the bustling, high density suburbs of the major capital when the country bounces back from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Local Real Estate agents, including Mike Burns of Burns Property Palmwoods agrees: “We’ve had a number of buyers from Sydney and Brisbane looking for just that type of property. They’re looking for a ‘food forest’. They want to escape the city and grow food for the family. I have had buyers from the heart of the city recently communicating on this subject from Brisbane and Sydney.  For the price of an average home in the metro you can get some great land, water, soil etcetera and have a food forest. And literally live off your land. The kids will grow just like the vegies. 

“They were saying the kids don’t have a backyard where they are. One family had four kids in a tiny little house so they want to get into a different environment and be able to run with a stick, rather than spending all day on Xbox. They want their kids to be able to do the things we used to do. Have a raft, swim in a dam and do all that stuff.”

Brent Dickson, McGrath Estate Agents, predicted a wave of buyers post COVID 19. 

“Our strong feeling is that as  the Sunshine Coast and Hinterland will experience a wave of buyers from the southern markets looking to distance themselves from the capital cities to a more spacious, affordable and relaxed lifestyle,” Mr Dickson said.

“Enquires have already increased as buyers use their isolation time  to do their homework and re-evaluate their lifestyle choices.”

Mr Dickson said a record 10.7 million Australians viewed ads on realestate.com.au during March. “It’s clear that interest in property hasn’t waned.”