Moving closer to family is something I’m seeing more and more at the moment.
Suburbs like Highton, Belmont, Geelong West, Herne Hill, Manifold Heights… there’s a real pull back into these areas.
And it’s not just about location.
It’s lifestyle, support, and making life easier.
A big driver behind it
People want to be closer to family and friends.
Especially aging parents.
We’ve almost gone from the “bank of mum and dad” to the “mum and dad childcare program” haha
But in all seriousness, it makes a difference.
With the cost of living where it is right now, especially childcare, families are leaning on that support more than ever.
So the move isn’t just emotional, it’s practical.
What I’m also seeing is that these buyers aren’t first home buyers.
This is usually their second or third move.
They’re stepping into areas with better schools, better lifestyle, parks, walking tracks, cafes, everything that comes with those inner Geelong suburbs.
And they’re thinking longer term.
But this is where I think people need to slow down and think about the plan.
Because moving too often is expensive.
Stamp duty alone adds up quickly, and a lot of people underestimate how much it costs over time.
So instead of buying something just for now, more families are looking at properties they can turn into their long term home.
Buy well in a good location, then renovate, extend and grow into it.
This is where your loan structure becomes really important.
If you know there’s a chance you’ll renovate or change the property, you need flexibility.
One structure I talk through a lot is fixing a portion of the loan, for example 75 percent, and keeping 25 percent variable.
The fixed portion gives you certainty around repayments.
The variable portion gives you flexibility.
If you’ve got equity from a previous property, or you plan to renovate, that variable split gives you room to move without locking yourself in.
And this ties into something I’ve had a lot of enquiries about lately
Fixed rates.
In a time where there’s a bit of uncertainty, people naturally look for something to fall back on.
There’s a lot going on in the world, rates have moved a lot over the last couple of years, and people don’t want to be in a position where things shift and they’re exposed.
No one wants to feel like they could lose their home if something takes a turn.
So having a fixed portion of the loan, where you know exactly what your repayment is going to be every month, gives people a level of clarity and comfort.
It gives you something stable to work around.
And that’s why I think a split loan works well in a lot of these situations
You get that dependability on one side
but still keep flexibility on the other
And this is a big one people don’t realise
Not all lenders are the same.
Some don’t do construction loans.
So there’s no point locking in a great fixed rate with a lender that doesn’t actually support your next step.
If your plan is to renovate or build, your lender needs to align with that.
Otherwise you end up having to refinance or restructure later, which costs time and money.
Another trend I’m seeing
A lot of families moving from areas like Grovedale, Leopold and Armstrong Creek into these more established suburbs.
But at the same time, there’s still strong demand in areas like Mount Duneed.
I’m seeing plenty of people choose to stay or build again there because they love the area.
The parklands, the facilities, the proximity to Geelong, the highway, and the Surf Coast
It’s a great balance.
At the end of the day
If you’re making a move like this, it’s not just about buying the next property
It’s about having a proper plan
Understanding how often you want to move
What you want the property to become
And making sure your loan actually supports that
Because getting the structure right upfront can save you a lot of money and stress down the track
If you’re thinking about making a move or just want to understand how this would look for you, happy to run through it
just a proper conversation around your options and what makes sense for your situation
