Time for a Change of Scenery for 2023?

According to a study conducted by Real Insurance, more than 2 in 5 people have either considered moving, or have moved, to a regional area in the last couple of years. In addition to going rural, about two-thirds of those surveyed relocated to areas that were close to a coastline.

So what’s sparked the desire to ditch the city and go rural or coastal?

Though the pandemic was the initial catalyst for homeowners to pack up their belongings and move away from the city lifestyle, over time more people have moved to regional areas for a multitude of other reasons.

In this blog, we explore why homebuyers are relocating to regional areas, and where the best regional spots are in our great country.

Coastal Property
Coastal Property

Why are homebuyers going regional?

Hundreds of Australians have flocked to regional areas to adopt a relaxing and peaceful lifestyle. 

In addition to this, homebuyers have made the move to these rural and coastal areas as they are more likely to get support from governments. In multiple states and territories, homebuyers might be eligible for the First Home Owner Grant (FHOG). Additionally, there are multiple schemes that support first homeowners, including those based in regional areas.

With more people working remotely, moving to a regional area that’s quieter and tucked away from noisy cities has plenty of appeal. When paired with the affordability of rural or coastal homes, it’s no wonder that homebuyers are opting for regional locales. Being able to work out of your home while surrounded by picturesque areas makes for a match made in heaven. Living out in regional areas also means you can avoid overcrowded spaces, bumper-to-bumper traffic and a concrete jungle.

Another aspect that’s driving more people to go regional is their family. When going rural, you have the opportunity to invest in a home that has ample space for playing and growing. And if you go close to the coast, you have easy access to a natural playground – the beach! Regional homes give families the chance to explore natural wonders in their own backyard.

Where to from the city?

There are many regional locations around Australia that all have unique characteristics and advantages for living in. 

For the Victorians, places such as Echuca and Cobram are excellent locations to buy in. Both areas line the border to New South Wales (NSW), and have verdant surrounds and wide diversity in produce. 

In NSW, meanwhile, locations like Goulburn provide ample closeness to Canberra while being affordable for new homebuyers. Though if you’re after something along the coast, then keep an eye on locations such as Nambucca Heads – picturesque coastal living at affordable prices!

If you want to migrate up north, then Queensland has a plethora of places for you to investigate. Places like Toowoomba and Gympie both have slow growth rates and can be the sleepy, yet charming location to kick-start your homebuying journey.

And if you’re thinking of going a bit further south, then South Australia (SA) has many affordable locations for you to explore. From the picturesque Mount Gambier to the quiet coastal town of Kadina, SA has plentiful locations that are perfect for your first home.

Chat to a mortgage expert

1st Street Financial can help you out! Our team of mortgage brokers are home loans specialist in Australia that can help you find a loan that’s right for you. Talk to one of our experts today, and we can help you get the finances you need for your regional home! 1st Street Financial home loans South Coast broker Dave Ryman has recent experience in making the move from the city to the coast.

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A word from our satisfied customers

Maxine Zhong
Maxine Zhong
19 October 2023
Amanda has been such an incredible support throughout our very first time going through the home loan process. Her thoughtfulness to regularly check in to make sure all our questions were answered and that all our documents were in place helped to make the whole daunting process feel seamless and easy. I could not recommend her enough - she made sure to keep us informed every step of the way and made sure all necessary documents/processes were completed well ahead of time so we never had to worry about missing any steps. She went well above and beyond her role, and I know we will definitely be coming back to her in the future, as well as recommending her to all of our networks! Thank you again, Amanda!
Mark Nesbitt
Mark Nesbitt
11 October 2023
Greg and the team provide an outstanding service. Highly recommended
Christine Tran
Christine Tran
23 September 2023
Yuval handled my first ever home loan, he did such an amazing job I asked to him to refinance for me 2 years later. Yuval made everything very easy for me, and will give his best recommendation as if it was his own. Would always recommend Yuval :)
David Petrini
David Petrini
25 August 2023
Yuval Bloomfield was an absolute delight to work with. He made it extremely easy for my clients to discuss about their financial situation. With Yuval's strong connections he was able to get the loan my clients wanted in very quick time. Will definitely refer Yuval again.
Sophie Linehan
Sophie Linehan
24 August 2023
Greg and the team at 1st Street were fantastic all the way through the process of getting our financing sorted and buying a new home. They not only secured us the most competitive mortgage in the market but they also gave advice on a number of mortgage-adjacent questions that came up along the way. Their responsive and thoughtful guidance helped make the nail-biting process clear and calm. We would definitely recommend their services.
Gabrielle Scott-Jones
Gabrielle Scott-Jones
18 August 2023
Greg and his team gave me exceptional advice and support. They were timely and detailed in their responses and dealt patiently with me as a first home buyer and all of my questions. The lender at the bank commented on how well I was being looked after compared with other brokers in the market. I’d highly recommend 1st Street to anyone, including friends and family.
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Eli Simic
15 August 2023
Great communication and fast service
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Richard Kuipers
11 August 2023
Jeremy and his team are superb. Negotiated the best deal for us and were an absolure pleasure to work with. Highly recommended, you can't do any better in my opinion.
Jordan Rivkin
Jordan Rivkin
1 August 2023
The team at 1st Street truly are professionals. I can't recommend Jeremy highly enough, he is extremely competent and just a great guy. You're in safe hands with 1st Street!
Yossi Bengida
Yossi Bengida
23 July 2023
Another amazing job by David and Bree. Always available for our questions, helpful and just 10/10 Seriously good work !! See you on the next one :) Yossi and liz