Muval, has released its Family Relocation Report examining six years of data on where Australian families are moving to and from, revealing significant shifts away from major cities toward regional and coastal areas.
Muval Co-Founder and CEO, James Morrell said the data shows families are increasingly prioritising lifestyle, space, and affordability when choosing where to live.
“We’re seeing more and more families downsize, move out of expensive inner-city areas, or relocate to more affordable parts of the country,” Mr Morrell said.
“In fact, over one in ten family moves are into smaller homes with fewer bedrooms, and one in four are selling properties worth significantly more than the homes they’re moving into.”
The report identified the Sunshine Coast as Australia’s most popular region for family relocations, with an inbound-to-outbound ratio of 3.28, meaning more than three families move in for every one that leaves.
Regional Western Australia and Greater Perth also proved highly attractive to families, with inbound-to-outbound ratios of 2.15 and 1.88 respectively, indicating significant migration to these areas.
In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced the highest family exodus, with an inbound-to-outbound ratio of just 0.31, meaning more than three families leave for every one that arrives. Sydney’s City and Inner South recorded the lowest ratio nationwide at 0.18.
Mr Morrell said remote work flexibility has been a major driver of these migration patterns.
“Remote work flexibility has been a major driver of this trend, allowing more families to move away from city centres while still maintaining work-life balance without the burden of long commutes,” he said.
The research also revealed that while most families (85.3 per cent) move from one house to another, a significant proportion are downsizing or making financial trade-offs.
“These aren’t always lifestyle moves; for many, it’s about making finances work in a challenging economic climate,” Mr Morrell said.
The housing affordability crisis appears to be impacting homeownership rates, with 16.8 per cent of families shifting from owner-occupier to renting when they move – nearly three times the number moving in the opposite direction.
When it comes to home features, families have clear priorities that differ from non-family households.
Ensuite bathrooms (66.5 per cent), walk-in wardrobes (62.4 per cent), and built-in wardrobes (55.2 per cent) top the list for families.
Entertainment areas and double garages are also highly valued by families, who are twice as likely to prioritise these features compared to non-family households.
“Families are seeking homes that better align with their needs — whether that’s more bedrooms, a backyard, or proximity to nature — which is influencing where they choose to relocate,” Mr Morrell said.