A growing number of older Australians are choosing to leave large family homes behind in favour of inner-city apartments, saying the lifestyle advantages, from easier access to transport and medical facilities to freedom from heavy maintenance, more than compensate for the extra costs involved. Their experiences highlight a complex picture of a housing transition that many retirees consider but far fewer ultimately make.
From the Family Home to Apartment Living
John Turner, 72, is a convert to inner-city apartment life. After two knee operations, the last thing he wanted was a lawn to mow. He and his wife Kathryn made the move eight years ago when they retired, leaving behind a family home on an 850 square metre block where they had lived for four decades and raised their children.
Their two-bedroom Brisbane apartment won them over quickly. Proximity to public transport, markets, cinemas and, importantly, a hospital made the transition feel natural. When the couple travel, they also enjoy greater peace of mind about home security, something a freestanding house could not offer as easily.
Just across Brisbane, 78-year-old Bryan Worn reached a similar conclusion after moving from a large Queenslander to a two-bedroom apartment about a year ago. Living alone in a big house for five years, and with adult children growing concerned about his situation, the maintenance demands of an older Queensland home finally tipped the balance. Storm clean-ups were a particular burden he does not miss.
Having previously lived in an apartment and worked in finance, Mr Worn entered the move with his eyes open about ongoing costs such as strata fees. He believes clearer and more accessible information about potential future building expenses, such as levies for major repairs, could encourage more older Australians to follow a similar path.
Costs and Surprises Along the Way
Neither the Turners nor Mr Worn found stamp duty or strata fees an insurmountable barrier, but the experience has not been without its shocks. The Turners were caught off guard by how sharply their strata fees rose over the years. They were also unprepared for the scale of development that sprang up around their building, including significantly taller structures that changed the neighbourhood's character.
There are other small compromises too. Despite loving their apartment lifestyle, the Turners still make the long drive south of Brisbane to visit their old family doctor and Kathryn's hairdresser, reflecting the personal and emotional ties that do not dissolve with a change of address.
For many other older Australians, those emotional connections are precisely what prevent the move from happening at all. Housing advocates point to deep attachments to a long-term home and community as one of the most significant barriers to downsizing.
What Experts Say About the Bigger Picture
Professor Steven Rowley from Curtin University, who directs the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute's Curtin Research Centre, says the reality is that most older Australians choose to remain in their homes for as long as they possibly can.
"There's those emotional ties to a dwelling, and also just a lack of housing choice," Professor Rowley said. "You just don't have the options available to really allow a quality downsizing move for a lot of people who want to downsize in their local area."
His comments point to a structural problem: even when older Australians want to downsize, suitable properties in familiar neighbourhoods are often simply not available. Experts argue that building larger apartments, which more closely replicate the space and liveability of a family home, could help unlock more movement in this segment of the housing market.
A Lifestyle Choice, Not Just a Financial One
For those who have made the leap, the verdict is largely positive. The stories of the Turners and Mr Worn suggest that while the financial side of downsizing deserves careful planning, including budgeting for hidden and ongoing costs that can accumulate over time, the lifestyle dividend can be substantial. Less maintenance, better access to services and a sense of security in later life are proving persuasive for at least some of Australia's older generation.
