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The rise of regional relocations

Fancy an escape to the country, or what about a retreat to a regional hub? You’re not alone. With the median capital city house price sitting just shy of a million dollars, regional areas are seeing an influx of buyers and relocators.

But what’s prompting the shift, who’s making the move and what should you consider before committing to a regional relocation?

Beyond the city

In 2025, Australia’s median house price hit a high, with PropTrack data indicating the national median was up 8.7 per cent over the year to sit at $873,000 in November.

That high price tag was largely driven by the capitals, who collectively have a median of $979,000, with Sydney leading the charge at $1,239,000, followed by Brisbane at
 $997,000, and Perth at $930,000.

Those prices are creating an affordability crisis. Cotality recently noted it now takes on average 11 years to save a 20 per cent deposit for a property and 45 per cent of household income goes to servicing a new mortgage.

So, if you can’t buy in the capitals, what do you do? For many buyers and investors, the answer lies in looking further afield to regional locations.

And that shift is being supported by the fact remote and hybrid work is now standard for many industries, while regional areas offer the space, lifestyle, community, and reduced commute stress that many buyers seek.

Who’s making the move?

The interesting thing about the great regional relocation is that it’s being driven by people from all walks of life and all stages of the real estate journey.

Buyers include first home purchasers seeking affordability, families prioritising lifestyle and schooling, downsizers looking for coastal or regional living and also investors chasing stronger rental yields and lower entry points.

Regional hotspots

But of course, some regional areas are more popular than others for a whole host of reasons.

Making the top of the relocation list are coastal towns, commuter regions, and well-connected inland centres.

Whether it’s the lifestyle, the employment, or the local services, each of these offers attributes that benefit buyers.

The impact

With regional areas proving more popular, the impact is being felt on the bottom line.

At present the median national regional house price is $685,000, with regional house prices outpacing their city counterparts in terms of price growth throughout 2025.

While the capitals collectively increased in value by 8.5 per cent, regionals were up 9.3 per cent, with regional WA leading the charge at 13.2 per cent followed by Queensland at 12.5 per cent.

That growth shows no signs of abating, particularly in areas with good infrastructure, solid employment, and limited housing supply.

Before you make the regional shift

While the balance sheet might add up in favour of making a regional shift, there’s more to it than just affordability.

If you’re considering making the move, it’s also important to factor in the following:

  • Employment sustainability and income security
  • Access to healthcare, education, and essential services
  • Long-term infrastructure investment.
  • Market volatility and supply risks in smaller markets

The bottom line? Do your research, think long term, and avoid hype-driven decisions. Like any property purchase, buying in a regional area requires due diligence, realistic expectations and comprehensive market research.

How we can help

If you’re considering buying or selling a property and seeking to understand the current market conditions, why not chat with one of our friendly agents to understand how we can help?

Or feel free to enter your address below to get your instant property estimate.

 

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