Sue Stubbs
A survey conducted by HSBC has revealed that the Australian dream is still alive and well, but looks a little different these days. HSBC’s Great Australian Dream Home survey of 2,000 people investigated Australian’s attitudes towards all aspects of home ownership, including their aspirations for their ideal homes and how they plan to achieve their dreams. The study is part of HSBC’s annual Beyond the Bricks campaign which looks at home-buying habits and attitudes across the world.
Independent social researcher and futurist, Mark McCrindle, said of the survey results,
“This research shows that the great Australian dream is embedded deep in the national psyche. Our homes are more than our abodes. They express our identity, highlight our aspirations, facilitate our lifestyle and are the hub of the priorities of family and friends.”
A single-story Scandinavian-style home with luxury kitchen and bathroom designs, a backyard, Hills Hoist clothing line and a barbeque has been identified as the new Australian dream home. The research also revealed Australians no longer see pools, spare bedrooms or bathtubs as important features of their dream home. Another big shift in culture is that of those surveyed, the majority of men preferred a wine fridge or wine cellar over a shed.
Four out of five of the respondents preferred a nice view over a pool, and 69 per cent of respondents would prefer pet-friendly accommodation to living in a school catchment zone. Sixty-one per cent of survey respondents named high tech amenities, a large modern kitchen, marble bathrooms, entertaining areas and walk-in wardrobes a priority in their dream home.
Interestingly, two thirds (67%) of respondents said they share their home with uninvited occupants, including but not limited to, creepy crawlies, ghosts, squatters and mother-in-laws, rising to 79% among Queenslander.
Sadly, the survey also revealed that the equivalent of more than one in four Australians (27%) are not proud of their current homes, but many people aren’t yet able to realise their home dreams, citing money, work and family commitments as the main barriers. Very few respondents see their current abode as being their ‘forever’ home, and although Australians are spending an average of $582 a year on home décor and $897 a year on fittings and fixtures, most of us claim to have a low level of guilt about purchasing unnecessary or frivolous items for our houses.
This story originally appeared on Better Homes and Gardens.
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