Darwon's Theory | The Grass Isn't Always Greener

I have a hot tip for any buyer who thinks they've been priced out of their dream suburb. Are you ready for it? It's going to be contentious, but here me out: forgo a yard. 

In 2021, Brisbane claimed top spot as Australia's leafiest capital city. (There's one for your next trivia night!). You've read about my green musings before, but there's even more new data to back it up. If you've struck off inner-city homes because there's no garden, think again. 

Until now, not having a yard was considered a drawback for many prospective buyers. But the thing is, no garden means no maintenance. It also means simplified tenancies, if you're buying to invest. 

The cost of maintaining a yard isn't cheap. If you've needed Sir Walter or Zoysia grass lately, you'll know what I mean. Once it's laid, it's a never-ending battle. Professional lawn mowing costs anywhere from $45 to $120. Weeding is $50 to $100. Pruning and trimming is another $200 to $500.

If you rent out your property, you'll need to ensure it's kept to your standard - which usually involves forking out for a professional gardener every couple of months. Otherwise, all your hard work will be undone. Lawn grub, anyone? 

With Brisbane named as Australia's leafiest city, our abundance of parks and green spaces more than make up for not having your own sprawling yard. Our city is covered in a healthy smattering of large parks, sport grounds, hill and river walks, secret gardens and bushland. In my core area alone, there's the Bulimba Riverside Park, Memorial Park, Waterline Crescent Park, Tugulawa Park, Johnston Park, Merry Street Park, Vic Lucas Park and a long list of grassy patches just perfect for rolling out the picnic blanket.

According to Urbis group director of Future State, Brisbane is undergoing to a transformation to become one of the great green cities of the world. "In a decade's time and beyond, another 10 years after 2032, the city will have been transformed from a green perspective," he's said. 

Until now, it's been a certain type of buyer (often downsizers, or young professional couples) who want to buy in the inner-city suburbs without the added stress of caring for a yard. However, with this transformation well underway, I'd wager a guess that the buyer pool for these types of properties is going to grow - quickly.

I tend to sell family-style homes, but occasionally my team will list a luxe apartment or townhouse. We've also got agents in our wider team who specialise in apartments, so if you're looking to sell and take advantage of this shift, give me a call and I'll put you in contact.

Cheers,

S.D.