Sea change, tree change or change for change’s sake. Whatever the reason, the number of Australians seeking lifestyle changes and affordable housing outside major cities has stayed strong post-pandemic—and developers are capitalising on the growth as new markets emerge.

Pre-pandemic, regional areas had been experiencing steady but slower population growth compared to capital cities. The onset of the pandemic triggered a surge in people leaving the capitals motivated by lockdowns and the rise of remote work opportunities.

Today, regional areas continue to experience significant growth compared with pre-pandemic levels.