The New Upsizing: Why Families Are Buying for Ease, Not Just Prestige

Families are rethinking what it means to upsize, with the move increasingly driven by the demands of daily life and not purely aspiration.

Properties with the scope and location to support a busy schedule of school, sports timetables, social lives and work commitments, particularly near elite schools and transport, have progressively become prized assets.

The trend is most evident among buyers with children transitioning from primary to high school, RT Edgar director Sarah Case says. “That time is when the really big shift occurs,” she explains. “Families are prioritising homes that allow children to travel independently to and from school activities, to reduce the daily burden of coordination and commuting.

“This reflects a broader change in buyer behaviour; the move is less about upgrading lifestyle and more about reducing friction. Homes that once worked for young families are increasingly falling short, not just in size, but in functionality.”

Multiple living zones, additional bedrooms, study areas, and flow between flexible living spaces are essential at this stage of life. Equally important is proximity to schools, public transport and key amenities that families rely upon.

This was the scenario facing the vendors of 79 Chomley Street, Prahran, who sold through Case in February this year. They bought the residence more than 10 years ago and completed an upmarket transformation by architects Cera Stribley, retaining the classic façade and adding a second level.

Pictured:79 Chomley Street, Prahran

However, three-and-a-half years after the renovation, with their two children approaching senior school, the single-fronted house with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a small garden, finite living space and no off-street parking was inadequate. They upsized into Malvern, setting themselves up for the next seven to ten years, Case says.

“Their next move was driven by practicality: securing a larger home with five bedrooms, multiple living zones, off-street parking, and a substantial backyard, all within close proximity to schools and public transport,” she says. “They made a long-term decision that focused on functionality, flexibility, and ease of daily life - not prestige.”

Pictured:24 Mayfield Street, Abbotsford— the ultimate upsizer, currently on the market.

Homeowners in Melbourne’s inner-east, bayside and outer-east suburbs will find strong capital gains give them the power to upsize. The top four areas with the highest median house resale profits over the second half of last year are Boroondara ($1.133 million), Stonnington East ($1.1 million), Bayside ($898,000) and Manningham East ($844,250), according to Domain.

Case says families who have outgrown their first home are ready to realise those gains, but supply is not keeping up with demand.

Parents are delaying empty nesting and retaining the family home for five to ten years longer than previous generations, research shows. This is exacerbated by the overwhelming number of smaller floorplans. Of all houses in Australia, 28 per cent have four bedrooms and only six per cent have five or more (the same proportion as studios and one bedders), compared to 18 per cent with two bedrooms and 42 per cent with three, Cotality's The Great Mismatch report shows.

Source: Cotality

With limited stock taking longer than ever to come to market, Case says vendor education is key. “This particular segment of the market will find there is strong competition for their home. It’s important to help them understand that if they have a very good family house, with four to five bedrooms, off a premier road, there will be demand.”

In a constrained market, long-term relationships are crucial to unlocking supply, Case says. “Some of these listings we last sold 15 years ago, and I know the children have moved out home and the parents are spending more time at their farmhouse or beach house. It is imperative to get in touch with them and say, ‘We can get a premium for your property’.”

Explore our collection of family homes across Victoria here.