The world has changed in the last year, and what we want in a home has also changed.

A home office was once a luxury that only those who had more money or space could afford. Now it is a necessity.

What has the impact of these changes on the property landscape? What is the dream home for house hunters?

Home office

Searches for a “study” were up 45% over the same period last year. People are looking for more workspace, whether it’s for themselves or their children.

Despite the number of people in each household remaining steady, demand for larger homes and extra bedrooms has been rising for years. Research from realestate.com.au found this trend has accelerated in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Consider your home insurance if you are creating a home office. GIO recommends that you update your contents insurance to reflect any improvements. You may need to update insurance to cover any changes you make to your home, such as new technology or works of art.

Outdoor space

The desire for more space is not limited to the walls of your home.

The third most searched keyword was ‘outdoor space’. Although there has not been a significant increase in searches for this exact term, searches of ‘outdoor space’ have increased 45%, while searches for “courtyard” were up an astounding 80% year-on.

The biggest upturn in any search term during the past year was for ‘courtyard.

Although the lifestyle benefits of an outdoor space are obvious, there is another reason that courtyard-hungry house hunters might be interested in allowing pets to live with them. According to realestate.com.au, the term “pet friendly” is currently the sixth most searched keyword.

Granny flats

In keeping with the theme of more space searches, the term “granny” is up 49%. We can only assume that “granny” is a precursor to “flat”, right? (At the very least, we hope so!)

Granny flats are sought after for many reasons. You could have more space for yourself or your family, and it could be an additional bedroom or office, or even a place to invest in. A granny flat can be an asset in any way you want.

Beach lifestyle

One thing is certain: Australians love water.

Although swimming pools’ is still the most searched term, it’s only one part of the equation. The most searched terms for ‘waterfront’ and beach’ rank high on the list (8th and 10th respectively), while ‘beach” has seen a 34% increase in searches compared to last year.

The term “beachfront” saw an increase of searches in the past year (45%), along with “water view” (39%), “waterfront” (37%), and “ocean view” (36%).

Are you surprised to find a country that boasts one of the most beautiful coastlines anywhere in the world?

Add some style

It’s not only lifestyle and size-related terms that are gaining popularity, and “Art deco” saw a 45% increase of searches while “character” received 40% more searches. It is fair to say that stylistic details are increasingly important to buyers.

These terms and any other architecturally or aesthetically inclined terms did not make it into the top 10. It seems that there is still a preference for practicality and functionality over style.