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Tree change? Why to think twice about selling up in the city.

By Jen Bishop •

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By Rebecca Jarrett-Dalton

Many metro-dwellers across the country have flirted with the idea of a sea change or tree change at some stage or another. The dream of escaping the rat race, the grind of the commute, the crushing mortgage and just slowing down sounds wonderful doesn’t it?

Mortgage broker Rebecca Jarrett-Dalton says think carefully before selling up and moving to the coast/country.

I too hear the calling and would love nothing more than to relocate to the coast one day, but I do have some real estate decisions for you to consider before packing up everything you own and setting off.

I know that look: the one where your eyes widen at the value for money your real estate dollars will get you in your new regional community. As appealing as the property prices might be, before you jump in and purchase have you considered renting where you want to call home first?

By renting a property in your new suburb you are allowing for some flexibility if you find the town is just not right for you. I’m not necessarily saying that this means you want to move back to the city, but you might have realised that a suburb a couple of kilometres down the road would have been better for you. 

By renting, you are giving yourself the benefit of flexibility until you really find where you want to settle down. It’s also important to consider that the real estate market may be slower in your new region, meaning your property could remain on the market for an extended period of time before it sells should you choose to re-list it.

For Sydneysiders, we have the honour of calling Australia’s most expensive city to live in home. Our property prices are on average, the highest nationwide. For the potential sea changers, it might sound like an absolute winner to sell up while pricing is at a peak and then settle into a new neighbourhood for a fraction of the cost. 

Be really honest with yourself though. What if you don’t like where you move to and isn’t as simple as just moving back? With property prices in our capital cities considerably more expensive than our regional counterparts, you don’t want to see yourself priced out of the option to return to the metropolitan life if you want to.

My suggestion is, if possible, try to hold onto a base that you can come back to. There are a couple of ways you could tackle this: if feasible, why don’t you consider renting out the property you currently own? By offering the property out to rent rather than selling it outright, you are ensuring you have a foot in the door should your situation change and you need to return to the big smoke.

If keeping your current property isn’t an option, maybe you can sell what you have and then purchase an investment property still within your current capital city? OK, if you do it this way it’s not your whole foot in the door, but it is still creating a footprint and allowing yourself an exit strategy if you need it. You don’t want to see yourself with very limited options if you change your mind because you can’t afford to buy back into the city real estate market.

I definitely think there are some major advantages to taking on a sea or tree change, but just take the time to consider all your real estate options before you jump in. By making informed decisions and leaving yourself some wriggle room if you can, you’re ensuring that you get the outcome you want, rather than having to compromise because you are tied in or priced out of the alternatives.

–Rebecca Jarrett-Dalton runs mortgage brokers Two Red Shoes.

Before & after: Front
Before & after: From country cottage to modern coastal
Located in the beautiful bayside town of Mount Eliza, on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, this former country cottage style house was renovated recently by its owner, interior designer Kristy Gathercole of…
AFTER kitchen
Before & after: Country kitchen gets classic makeover
Located in Orange NSW, this kitchen renovation was completed just prior to last Christmas when the project’s interior designer Christine Ghrayche, of One X One Interiors, handed it over to her…

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June 29, 2020

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Did somebody say spring?! 🌼 🌱 ❤️ Here's Did somebody say spring?! 🌼 🌱 ❤️

Here's our @amycollinswalker's picks from the gorgeous new ranges at @linen_house 

All the details on the homepage now via link in bio.

This is giving me Christmas table inspo. How do you decorate your Christmas table? Growing up in the UK it was always traditional green and red but here I go all out fresh and summery!

#springdecor #springdecorating #springdecorations #springdecoration #springdining #springtablescape #springlinen #springbedroom #ginghamcushions #gingham #linenhouse #linenaddict #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #tablelinen #tablecloths
Colour hug, anyone?! A collaboration with design Colour hug, anyone?!

A collaboration with design studio Nexus Designs, this palette from the new @haymespaint colour forecast is perfect for those looking to create a tranquil environment and has a particular focus on darker shades.

“Inspired by the qualities of an intimate reading room, confident and expressive colours such as Florida Everglade have a muted depth that embody this. Balanced and subtle, it’s also invigorating and luscious. Through all over application, paired with contemporary furniture and styling, this colour and the broader palette plays with tactility, translucency, reflection, and form,” says Myra Murtagh of Nexus. 

See the rest of the colour forecast, include collabs with @adairs and TikTok favourites @joshandmattdesign on the blog homepage now, via link in bio.

#haymespaint #colourforecast #painttrends #colourtrends #paintcolours #paintcolors #darkwalls #readingroom #moodywalls #moodyinteriors #interiorsblog #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome
Featuring in a Block "disaster" room nevertheless Featuring in a Block "disaster" room nevertheless paid off for artist @adoni.art 

Slammed for being too small, @kyleandleslie's living room was otherwise praised by the judges for being beautifully styled.

"In terms of using it as a marketing platform it’s been amazing," he said. "Even for people who don’t follow the show it’s validation that they are following an artist that’s levelling up. The exposure has translated to sales, traffic and attention and it’s everything I wanted because I’m about to launch a new collection.”

Read our chat with Adoni and see more of his gorgeous work via link in bio now.

Have you ever bought something you saw on the Block?

#theblockroomreveals #theblock #theblock2023 #affordableart #affordableartaustralia #affordableartonline #australianartist #australianart #livingroomart #livingroomstyle #livingroomideas #smalllivingroom #adoniart #theinteriorsaddict #interiorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #blockshopper
Pink and green should always be seen! From time t Pink and green should always be seen!

From time to time, we stray from our Australian-homes-only rule when we uncover something we really love! This project, by @2lgstudio (and also the interior design duo’s own home) is featured in Ornament Is Not a Crime, a new coffee table interiors book by Sydney-based design writer @rebeccalgross.

Head to the homepage via link in bio to read about this home and see more colourful pictures in an extract.

#2lgstudio #2lg #londoninteriordesigner #londoninteriors #londonhome #londonhomes #brighthome #brightinteriors #funinteriors #colourfulhome #interiordesignersathome #pinkandgreen #pinkandgreendecor #pinkandgreenshouldalwaysbeseen
Real reno: How's this for a luxe bathroom?! Natas Real reno: How's this for a luxe bathroom?!

Natasha from QLD recently finished a major reno of her Queenslander and this is her favourite room of all. We can see why!

She used @beaumont.tiles  Lux Calcutta slabs in gloss the wall and matt for the floor.

 "We have infused a Hamptons style whilst still remaining true to the traditions of old Queenslanders," she said. "Our bathroom is north west facing and captures such great morning light. We wrapped the cabinetry all the way along the vanity for ease of access for the bath, towels and accessories. We tiled all the way to the ceiling to create a more luxurious space. It's my favourite room in the house!"

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Block kitchen week is always a goodie and we got 5 Block kitchen week is always a goodie and we got 5 very different looks last night which was great!

One question that kept coming up was just how important is the butler's pantry? Love to hear your thoughts. Do you have one? And which was your favourite last night? Please share in the comments.

Head to the blog via link in bio to find out who won and what the judges said. 

#theblock #theblockshop #blockshopper #theblockroomreveals #kitchenweek #kitchenpalette #kitchencabinetry #kitchenstyles
Located in Melbourne’s Elsternwick, this stylis Located in Melbourne’s Elsternwick, this stylish home was renovated recently with @keenarchitecture and @studio_esar at the helm. Brimming with fun, functionality and colour, the home is shared by ex MasterChef contestant Peter Kritikides, his wife Erica and their two children. 

Occupied by the family since 2015, the renovation brief called for a sympathetic yet modern upgrade to the heritage listed original home as well as the demolition and rebuild of the back of the residence.

Want to see the kitchen? Head to the blog via link in bio.

#elsternwick #melbournehome #melbournehomes #masterchefaustralia #masterchefcontestant #masterchefcontestants #chefskitchen #heritagearchitecture #heritagehome #heritagerenovation #monochromehome #colourfulhome #bookshelfstyling #bookcasestyling #colourfulbooks #fireplacedecor #velvetcouch #livingroomstyle #livingroomart
GET THE LOOK. All the finer details of Sunday's Bl GET THE LOOK. All the finer details of Sunday's Block master bedroom walk ins on the blog now.

Which was your fave?

Via latest posts link in bio now.

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A home that got all its extra special details AFTE A home that got all its extra special details AFTER handover with stunning results!

When Emma Fuller built her family home five years ago, she went with the ‘basic’ package with a view to elevating the spaces in a more budget-friendly manner down the line. Knowing that she couldn’t afford her entire wish list upfront, she made allowances within the plans so that she could add all the special details later.

“Although the builder could have incorporated every detail we asked for, we knew it would have blown our budget, but that didn’t mean I was going to let the dream go,” says @hamptonsinhighfields 

Patience and hard work have definitely paid off and today on the blog we are showing you how she did it from adding a fireplace, bench seat, wallpaper, french doors, a mudroom, built in bookcases, fretwork, kitchen island trim, IKEA wardrobes and more!

Via link in bio now.

#newbuild #hamptonsaustralia #hamptonsnewbuild #fretwork #benchseat #benchseating #fireplace🔥 #fireplacedecor #ikeahacks #diymudroom #mudroom #kidsroomwallpaper #frenchdoors #frenchdoor #hallwaydoors #frenchdoorpantry #butlerspantrydesign #newbuildupgrades
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About Jen Bishop

Jen Bishop is our owner and publisher and an experienced journalist and editor. Interiors Addict has been her full-time job for more than 10 years. She is mum to two young boys and lives in Sydney.

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