Homebuyer wishlist: The hottest home features buyers can’t get enough of in your state

Homebuyers are seeking out new places to live where they can go for a swim, park their car and enjoy the outdoors, new figures show.  

Keyword search data from realestatate.com.au has revealed ‘swimming pools’, ‘garages’ and ‘outdoor areas’ as the top search terms across Australia over the past year.  

‘Single storey’, ‘air-conditioning’ and ‘ensuite’ were also popular, in addition to ‘balcony’, ‘pet-friendly’, ‘study’ and ‘shed’.  

REA Group senior economist Eleanor Creagh said swimming pools and garages were perennial favourites when it came to hunting for a new home in Australia. 

“Many buyers really value those amenities when searching for a home, and we consistently see swimming pools and garages at the top of the list,” she said.  

Swimming pools can add value to a home for the right buyers such as established families and buyers looking in more expensive neighbourhoods, but pools can also deter other buyers such as families with young children who are concerned about safety.  

What homebuyers want: Australia's most popular buyer search terms

Take a look at the top 10 search keywords in your state

Garages were popular with home buyers because they provided security and storage, allowing them to lock up their cars and store items out of sight. 

The top searches varied depending on the location, reflecting the different priorities that buyers have across the country. 

‘Swimming pool’ was the most searched keyword in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.  

Swimming pools are the most searched home feature in Australia. Picture: Realestate.com.au/buy

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‘Garage’ was the most popular keyword in Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT, where colder climates limited pool use. 

Professionals Real Estate chief executive Katherine Gonzalez-Cork said the top search keywords were popular features among home buyers across the country.  

“A pool, garage and outdoor entertaining area top search lists for their blend of lifestyle, security and social appeal – reflecting Australia’s love for relaxation, flexibility and seamless indoor-outdoor living,” Ms Gonzalez-Cork said.  

'Garage' was the second most popular search term nationally over the past year. Picture: Getty

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Property features on the rise  

The keyword search data also uncovered features that home buyers increasingly wanted over the past year.  

Searches for ‘New York’ increased by 147% nationally over the past 12 months, rising more than any other keyword, according to the data.  

While 'New York’ might look out of place here in Australia, it refers to a popular style in apartment living, particularly with open-plan layouts, high ceilings and large windows.  

New York loft apartments are known for high ceilings, big windows and industrial features. Picture: Getty

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‘New York’ styling can also include features such as exposed brick walls, timber floors, structural columns and roof trusses, which are common in loft apartments in former industrial buildings throughout the Big Apple.  

Once again, the features that buyers were increasingly searching for differed by location, reflecting some of the broader trends seen across the country.  

Investors and developers have been hunting for opportunities in the states where home prices have been gaining to take advantage of the strong market conditions.  

Top buyer keywords with the largest year-on-year growth

Searches for ‘invest’ increased 97% in Queensland, where investors have been flocking to. Home prices grew by more than 13% in Brisbane and almost 11% throughout the rest of the state during the year to September.  

The number of searches for ‘development’ jumped by 109% in South Australia, and 107% in Western Australia – both of which have also seen surging interest from property investors and developers.  

Home prices have soared more than 22% in Perth and over 13% in Adelaide year-on-year.  

Adelaide-based real estate expert and managing director at Ouwens Casserly Real Estate Nathan Casserly said development was gaining interest as a way to unlock value in the housing market.  

“It reflects the very high demand for housing here, and one way to unlock that extra value is to turn one home into two or more homes,” he said.   

“We’ve had more people coming into Adelaide than leaving the city, so demand is higher, and investors and developers believe they can get good returns here.” 

This Adelaide home is being promoted for its potential development opportunities. Picture: Realestate.com.au/buy

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Real estate experts have echoed similar sentiments about the Queensland and WA markets, which have also seen droves of investors and developers head to those states too.  

‘Mortgage’ searches soar  

Homebuyers were also increasingly searching for ‘mortgage’ over the past year, up 286% in Victoria and 190% in NSW.  

Ms Creagh said the rise of ‘mortgage’ as a keyword was likely people searching for mortgagee, or distressed, home sales. 

REA Group senior economist Eleanor Creagh said homebuyers searching for 'mortgage' were likely looking for mortgagee sales.

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Mortgagee sales occur when a homeowner defaults on their mortgage repayments and the lender repossesses and looks to sell the property as quickly as possible to recover the debt owed.  

It comes as households come under growing financial pressure amid higher interest rates and living costs, pushing some mortgage holders to the brink.  

Housing affordability is also at record low levels, driving many buyers to consider creative ways to get onto the property ladder such as looking at distressed sales.

“Buyers could be looking for a bargain and looking opportunistically at mortgagee sales,” Ms Creagh said.

‘Deceased estate’ searches have also grown significantly – up 231% in Queensland and 212% in Victoria over the past year – and have likely been driven by bargain hunters looking for motivated sellers.  

Top homebuyer search keywords by location