News Corp Australia
First published 5 Jun 2025, 5:00am
The cost of living is fuelling interest in larger homes, with adult children who are unable to afford to live alone moving back in with their parents.
LJ Hooker selling agent Shaun Roberts said he was having no trouble selling homes with five bedrooms or more, with more families interested in multigenerational living to bring their individual household expenses down.
“With the costs of living, it (interest in large homes) is definitely something that is increasing,’’ Mr Roberts said.
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The Wynn Vale home at 1 Napier Court has seven bedrooms.
The home also has two kitchens.
The bedrooms are split over two levels.
“If people (families) can all live under one roof that can help with finances, absolutely.’’
He said there had been strong interest in a seven-bedroom, four-bathroom home he has listed at Wynn Vale, which is due to be auctioned later this month.
As well as those seeking to live with their adult children, there was also interest from buyers who were caring, or planning to care, for ageing parents at home, he said.
With house prices soaring, Harris Real Estate selling agent Arabella Hooper said some parents and adult children recognised they could only afford to buy a better-quality home if they sold their existing, separate dwellings and pooled their finances.
In other instances, selling two existing homes and buying one larger residence also provided leftover funds that could be used to pay off debt, she said.
The Hahndorf property at 109 Echunga Rd has eight bedrooms.
There are four bedrooms in the main house and four more in a cottage on the property.
The residences are on a sprawling 15.68ha property.
“There are definitely some (multigenerational families) who see (buying a larger home and living together) as a way to get out of debt or to live more comfortably (by sharing living expenses),’’ she said.
“People are combining and conquering in terms of their assets pool.’’
Ms Hooper said adult children also recognised the benefits – both financial and otherwise – of having grandparents at home to look after young offspring rather than use childcare.
Money aside, she said the Covid pandemic had prompted a greater desire to be closer to family.
Ms Hooper, whose current listings include an eight-bedroom home at Hahndorf and a six-bedroom home at Mylor, as well as Manoah House, a sprawling 28-bedroom estate in Upper Sturt, said buying properties with numerous sleeping quarters, especially when spread over multiple dwellings, provided an attractive rental income stream.
The Mylor home at 762 Strathalbyn Rd has six bedrooms.
The bedrooms overlook lavish gardens.
The Upper Sturt property at 9 Manoah Drive has 28 bedrooms.
The property includes a stone manor with stables, two renovated Airbnb cottages, and six tenanted home units.
“There are more people (buying properties) that are thinking about income production through Airbnbs and things like that,’’ she said.
“Especially when it’s two houses like that one on Echunga Road (at Hahndorf, which has a four-bedroom home and a separate four-bedroom cottage) – people will look at that for its ability to also produce an income.’’
– by Lauren Ahwan
English (US) · 