First-time buyers are bypassing Adelaide’s inner suburbs and heading south – where the property ladder is still within reach and lifestyle remains a priority.
Bordered by the Adelaide Hills to the east and the coast to the west, the city's south has always been appealing.
However, it's a dynamic that has resulted in constrained supply and kept demand in the region persistently high. Available land is snapped up fast, leaving buyers, particularly those chasing a new detached home, with limited options and time to act when something does come to market.
Mark Devine, Peet's State Manager for South Australia, says the imbalance between supply and demand in the region is now as acute as it's ever been.
"There's definitely high demand for new housing in the south," he says.
"A lot of people who grew up there want to stay, and there are also people looking to move into the area because of all its benefits. Unfortunately, land supply is heavily restricted, so it's very hard to acquire land to build a new home south of Adelaide."
However, a new offering is opening up this area to buyers, as Peet partners with Tokyo Gas to bring South at Onkaparinga Heights to the market.
As part of a wider 235ha growth corridor approved by the state government, this first release represents one of the most significant opportunities in the southern corridor in recent years.
South is a new masterplanned community in the growing suburb of Onkaparinga Heights.
A new master-planned community leading a southern growth corridor
With 316 homes across a thoughtfully designed 17.8ha site, South on Main St in Onkaparinga Heights delivers on a constant inclusion on buyer wishlists – traditional detached housing.
According to Mr Devine, South has been planned to allow buyers to create homes where people genuinely want to belong, not just a roof over their heads.
Lots average 350sqm, with flexible 10 to 15m+ frontages. These are suited to a vast range of home designs from a buyer's choice of builder, but the blocks are not so large that they become financially out of reach, making them appealing across the board.
"Young couples, young executives, and first-time buyers will all be able to get an allotment, choose their own builder, and construct a home that suits their own preferences," Mr Devine explains.
The pricing of land within the community ranges from $355,000 to $530,000 – a competitive bracket when compared to land offerings elsewhere in the Adelaide metropolitan area.
Mr Devine says South in Onkaparinga Heights is a "sweet spot" for buyers who want location and lifestyle without breaking the bank.
Communities like South are surging in popularity for buyers looking for larger homes at an attainable price.
Everyday life at South: Nature, coast and connection on your doorstep
South is a community that's planned to not only attract residents, but to serve them long-term as their family grows and their lifestyle changes.
Within walking distance of South is a range of convenient retail, cafes, and a childcare centre.
Adjacent to the community, a larger Activity Centre is proposed, which will cover all the essentials homeowners need, such as a full-service supermarket and specialty retail stores.
Mr Devine says that the area will "transform" as more housing comes online and will fast become a thriving location that many people will never want to leave.
Access to Onkaparinga's beaches is just one of the benefits of a home at South.
Why buyers are looking south
There's no doubt the biggest drawcard of the southern corridor is lifestyle.
Just a quick 35-minute drive from the Adelaide CBD with direct access to the Southern Expressway, it's an easy and accessible location.
There are also some significant lifestyle perks on the doorstep.
Both McLaren Vale wine country and nearby beaches are just a short drive away, as well as Onkaparinga Gorge, set within the national park, which offers plenty of walking trails to keep the family busy all weekend.
Mr Devine says it's the kind of natural amenity that's hard to find in newer growth corridors further north.
He adds that South's masterplan has been deliberately imagined to reflect this natural environment, incorporating walking tracks, gardens and green spaces throughout.
"The trails, the parkland, it really speaks to those things that buyers genuinely want and are looking for," he says.
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