Housing market expert Dr Andrew Wilson looks at the pros and cons of regional living.

Transcript:

Well obviously regional centres are more affordable.  Well below the medians in the major capital cities.  Perhaps less crime.  Larger properties and just the connection to a coastal environment in a rural environment.

A lot depends on the performance of the local regional economy, but generally, growth rates are just slightly lower than what capital city growth rates are.  Those adjacent capital cities to rural centres.

I guess one of the pitfalls for living in a regional area is that amenity and facilities and infrastructure aren't at the same level or quality as you'd expect in a capital city market.

But look, with growing demand for coastal or rural lifestyles, with the growth in regional centres, that will increase economic activity and of course amenity and infrastructure will follow as a result.

Well I think it's important that you do remain with a strong connection to a capital city market for its facilities and that means that at least you're within a one hour drive from say a major regional airport.  It just keeps that connection there.  And I think that also you want to go into a regional community which has a mix of economic opportunities as well.