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The report revealed almost nine out of 10 (88 per cent) households aged 55 and over have at least one spare bedroom, while two out of three (60 per cent) have two or more. Millions of older Australians are living in huge homes with spare bedrooms sitting empty – and a new report says unlocking them could transform the housing market. The realestate.com.au GemLife Downsizing Australia 2026 report, released today, analyses the housing market and key barriers and motivations influencing downsizers across the country.
This new build is in over 50s community GemLife Pimpama at 118/3 Gemstone Drive, Pimpama. It’s for sale with a price tag of $1.25m. Source: realestate.com.au 18 Chapman Drive, Beenleigh in Queensland is on the market at offers over $1.08m.
Source: realestate.com.au The report revealed almost nine out of 10 (88 per cent) households aged 55 and over have at least one spare bedroom, while two out of three (60 per cent) have two or more. That’s compared to one third (32 per cent) of 25 to 54-year-old households that have only two or more. Currently, 29 per cent of Australians are aged 55 or over, a share predicted to rise to 35 per cent by 2050, according to the ABS.
MORE NEWS: NRL star lists home for $1.15m ahead of club swap Gold Coast AFL star’s $2.55m off-season haven ‘Different speeds’: Aussie reno divide exposed 14 Casuarina Street, Bowen is on the market at $869,000. Source: realestate.com.au Realestate.com.au senior economist Anne Flaherty. “Australia is entering a period of demographic change, as older Australians make up an increasingly large share of the population, but there is a gap between housing supply and downsizing requirements,” said realestate.com.au senior economist Anne Flaherty.
“Encouraging older and smaller households to downsize will ensure we meet the needs of our ageing population and use the housing we currently have more efficiently. “Downsizing is more than simply moving into a smaller home. “For many Australians, it is an opportunity to trade maintenance and unused space for greater comfort, convenience, and freedom.” 23 Palmerston Street, Berwick in Victoria is for sale with a price guide of $1.7m to $1.85m.
Source: realestate.com.au The report draws on the views of more than 2,100 buyers who responded to the realestate.com.au Property Seeker Survey, including a sample who identified as over 50 years old and looking to downsize. It showed how creating communities that offer comfort, convenience and freedom from the maintenance of older and larger homes, can also help to make better use of Australia’s existing housing stock. It revealed two-bedroom homes were the clearest preference for downsizers, cited by around half of respondents, while three-bedroom homes remain important for more than a third of respondents. 126 Estelville Circuit, Cameron Park in NSW is listed for sale at $1.35m to $1.425m.
Source: realestate.com.au Despite this, data showed just under half of homes built from 2016 to 2021 were one to three-bedroom units or houses, reflecting a clear gap between housing supply and downsizing requirements. For most downsizers, low-maintenance living (79%) is a clear priority when looking for their next home, followed by security and peace of mind (62%) and proximity to amenities (61%). Two-thirds of downsizers with adult children (66%) say their adult children have some influence on the move.
But they also face barriers with three in 10 downsizers deterred by the hassle of moving (29%), as well as stamp duty costs (26%) associated with buying a new home. GemLife managing director and Group CEO Adrian Puljich. GemLife managing director and Group CEO Adrian Puljich, who transformed his migrant family’s over-50s resort business into billion dollar empire, said the conversation around downsizing needed to shift to what people gain in the transition.
“People come to the decision at different stages of life, from different places and for different reasons, but they generally have one thing in common – they’re looking for greater freedom to live life on their terms,” Mr Puljich said. “They want lower maintenance living where there’s still space for family and friends, connection, independence, security, and room for the things they enjoy, like travel. “The land lease sector has become one of Australia’s fastest growing housing models as it’s designed specifically to hit those benchmarks, and we need to ensure we continue keeping pace with the significant demand, particularly as our population continues to age.”
Source: Real Estate
