Hot property: What Qld buyers want in their homes – realestate.com.au

Queensland summers can be hotter than a razor's armpit, so it's no surprise that pools and condos are at the top of buyers' wish lists, but there's an even hotter issue that's changing the way buyers hunt for property.

The ongoing housing and living price crisis is leading to an increase in searches related to multi-generational living and income streams in Australia, with “dual key” search terms linked to “water view” in Queensland, with a 31 percent increase in the past. 12 months.

Searches for 'dual living', 'grandmother's apartment' and 'dual living' also increased by 23 percent, 18 percent and 14 percent, respectively.

61 Elwood Street, Kenmore Hills, ticks a lot of boxes

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Eleanor Creagh, chief economist at PropTrack, said people were looking for financial comfort on the domestic front.

“With mortgage rates remaining at their current high levels and the cost of living crisis affecting many households, it is no surprise that we are seeing this increase,” Ms Creagh said.

PropTrack Chief Economist Eleanor Creagh Photo: Supply

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With the rental market also getting tougher, the economist added, this probably reflects a growing sense of opportunism among homebuyers looking for tenants to pay off their mortgages.

The latest PropTrack Market Insight report revealed that rents in Brisbane have fallen by 38 per cent since March 2020 to 1.07 per cent.

It was even worse in regional Queensland, where vacancy rates stood at 0.96 per cent – a staggering 52 per cent lower than those recorded in March 2020.

This duplex at 2B Gowrie Street, Mundingburra is listed for offers over $1.25 million.

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Dr Ameeta Jain, associate professor of property at Deakin University, said the search for granny flats was a sign of growing concern about affordability, driven by families looking to support aging grandparents as well as children staying at home later in life.

While the shift to multi-generational living is likely to be boosted by affordability, the researcher says granny flats will not be enough and Australian homes will need to be reimagined for multi-generational living in the future.

A more common way forward was a more likely way forward, although a greater prevalence of dual-dwelling developments with two houses on a traditional house block could come at the expense of the classic Australian dream of a house on a quarter-acre block.

Demographics Group co-founder Simon Kuestenmacher said the search for granny flats showed a growing focus on affordability, but warned they were a “band-aid” solution.

“It's people testing the water,” Mr. Kuestenmacher said. “And that's what happens in a desperate market.”

But not all those looking to buy in Queensland in 2024 were looking for a way to ease housing and housing pressures.

Searches for “tennis court” are up 30 per cent, perhaps pointing to the big money flowing into the Sunshine State from Sydney and Melbourne.

297-299 Monaco Street, Broadbeach Waters, Wimbledon comes with a price tag

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but you might actually need to win Wimbledon—eight times—to pay for it.

It is listed for $16.75 million.

The remaining search terms with the largest increase in eyeballs were “casting” (up 14 percent), “development” (up 13 percent) and “golf” (up 12 percent).

A huge five-storey house in Port Douglas comes with its own green color and is for sale for $6 million.

57 Murphy Street, Port Douglas, has a landscaping

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For those looking to make the leap, a is currently listed for offers at over $3 million.

Award-winning pool at 10 Orient Court, Buderim, listed for offers over $3 million

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A gravity-defying shipping container pool based in Buderim has won the annual Poolz awards, taking out the Most Challenging Pool Construction category.

Searches for “DHA” or Australian Defense Home have also increased by 24 per cent in the past year, the study found.

This DHA home in Towmsville is offered after listing for $525,000

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Just two Australian homes for sale this year ticked every box for the country's most desirable properties.

A four-bedroom federation home in Park Orchards, Victoria and a spacious Upper Brookfield home in Queensland also came with a multi-generational detached home behind.

Lot 8/658 Upper Brookfield Rd, Upper Brookfield ticked every box

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Spinks & Co founder Rachael Spinks handled the Upper Brookfield listing and said the house attracted interest from offshore and local tenants before it sold for $3.4 million.

He pointed out that the shed is probably what other homes are missing that tick the boxes that many homes that don't have a larger lifestyle block also fail to offer a pool.

In the new year, Ms Creagh said she expected affordable search terms such as granny flats to remain in vogue despite expectations of a rate cut.

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TOP 10 WISH LIST 2024

1. Swimming pool

2. Air conditioning

3. Garage

4. Ensuite

5. External area

6. One-story

7. Pour

8. Balcony

9. Dual residence

10. Duplex

RAISE RATES (annual increase)

1. Water Vision +31%

2. Binary Key +31%

3. Tennis court +30%

4. DHA +24%

5. Double occupancy +23%

6. Grandma +18%

7. Double accommodation +14%

8. Casting +14%

9. Development +13%

10. Golf +12%

(Source: PropTrack)