Making a shift to canopies or the coast

Making a tree change to rural forests or a sea change to a beachside home saw a significant increase during COVID-19 and has not abated despite current market volatility.

Ray White Stocker Preston CEO and Director Mike Tucker said the driving force behind those seeking a rural change was quality of life.

“It’s about having the lifestyle where your dream of owning a property matches with being in a beautiful place,” he said.

According to Mr Tucker, tree changes are popular for providing the acreage for privacy from neighbours, as well as space to garden, build a shed and for families to stretch out.

Haiven Property Managing Director Sean Hughes said similarly, lifestyle factors drove people toward a sea change – namely the sensation of being on a permanent holiday.

“You don’t wake up next to the ocean every day and feel stressed,” he said.

Mr Tucker said popular destinations for both included Busselton, Margaret River, Dunsborough, Nannup and Bridgetown for their proximity to modern amenities while still allowing a good amount of land.

With the ongoing development and expansion in these regions, the buyer demographic seeking out nature is also undergoing diversification.

“Traditionally, it was always people towards their retirement, but we’re now seeing a lot more young families coming down south because of all of those lifestyle reasons,” Mr Tucker said.

“The practicalities of the move are also a lot more viable than they were four or five years ago.

“A big catalyst for the change has been the job opportunities down here, as well as better services and infrastructure.”

The changing categories of buyers don’t stop at just young families, with Mr Tucker saying companies such as Rio Tinto, BHP and Fortescue are beginning to conduct fly-in, fly-out runs from Busselton Margaret River Airport.

“They’re trying to attract these people who are choosing the tree change and bring them into their workforce,” he said.

When it comes to actually making the great escape to the country or coastline, financial viability is often the first roadblock encountered.

But, according to Mr Tucker, greener pastures are providing strong options in today’s market.

“Making a tree change is actually a very good financial decision at the moment while there’s a lot of pressure on housing affordability,” he said.

“You can actually upsize and get a better property for less while downsizing your mortgage and your financial outlay.”

As opposed to rural properties, it may be easy to find a coastal suburb closely connected to the Perth metropolitan area.

However, Mr Hughes said location would greatly affect the affordability of a sea change – for example, City Beach properties would be more of a luxury.

“However, the positive side of WA’s urban sprawl is you can find affordable pockets to live by the sea without breaking the bank, as well as not being two hours from the city,” he said.

“If you go further north to places such as Burns Beach, Iluka or Mindarie, you can discover some exceptional value there.

“There are also good opportunities for people to be by the ocean further south but still afford the area and not be too far from Perth.”

While longer commute times to the city may give some pause if they still desire urban connectivity, Mr Hughes said this could actually be a selling point for oceanic abodes.

He said clients had often told him as soon as they drove up those coastal roads on their way home, they immediately felt more relaxed.

When it came to things sea changers should look out for, Mr Hughes emphasised the importance of building inspections, particularly on older properties.

“While new houses by the beach are being built out of materials which will stand a longer test of time and require less upkeep, all properties need maintenance,” he said.

“You need to get good inspections done because the salt from the sea erodes things at a much faster rate.

“This also helps you understand what you’re getting into in regard to maintenance.”

Mr Tucker said his best advice for those chasing the trees or seas was to secure local assistance, as well as check out the place yourself.

“Find a good agent who knows and specialises in the area, as they can not only give you help with the properties but also tips on the locale,” he said.

“However, what’s really important is to spend time in the place you’re looking to move to.

“Go on holiday there, visit the restaurants and shops, and do the things you usually do day to day to ensure you’re happy with the area.”

As it appeared in the 2024 July 6 edition of The West Australian.