One of the interesting and unusual aspects of 'Chesapeake Estate' is that of the survivalist leanings of the original owner, Donald McDonald. The survivalist (aka 'prepper') theme has been around for some time in the U.S real estate market. It became somewhat topical again due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Here in Australia, a more recognised factor is that segment of the property market that has been labelled 'sea-changers' or 'tree-changers'. These are city residents who move to regional locations usually within two to three hours drive of a capital city. There are a number of factors driving this trend including the quality of the physical environment, as well as developments with regards to online commerce and work opportunities.
Many articles concerning this topic have appeared in the media - mainly in relation to NSW coastal towns - acknowledging the boom that is occurring in relation to purchases by city dwellers. Given that Airlie Beach is further removed from a capital city, the extent to which these trends occur in the local real estate market remains to be seen. But my guess is that it will affect the local market more than most would currently envisage.
Some examples of these related articles now follow:
Crime time: 5 home security features you need right now (22 August 2023)
Heritage-listed WWII site in Qld hits the market (4 November 2022)
Covid 2022: How pandemic changed Aussie ‘relationship with property’ and what it means for year ahead (29 December 2021)
The Great Relocation: Why Aussies are fleeing in the thousands (14 December 2021)
Regional property prices keep soaring, NSW ‘lifestyle’ market leads gains (news.com.au) (18 May 2021)
The tree-change suburbs where homes are selling at record speeds (21 April 2021)
All eyes on regional homes as COVID lifestyle shift continues (10 February 2021)
Thousands of Aussies desert capital cities with Sydney losing the most, new ABS figures reveal (2 February 2021) Queensland is gaining the most people from other states
Regional markets dominate sales volume growth in 2020 as millennial reshuffle changes property landscape (17 January 2021)
Rental vacancy rates drop in coastal towns due to sea-change trend (9 January 2021)
Australia’s ‘doom boom’: COVID-19 inspires city-slickers to prepare for the end of the world (30 December 2020)
Sea and tree change suburbs are Australia's top sellers for 2020 (28 December 2020)
Aussie expats packing bags and buying property (26 November 2020)
‘Relocation of the nation’ expected to spike next month (25 November 2020)
As Winter Approaches, Caribbean Islands May Be a Lure for Both Investors and Second Home Seekers (18 September 2020)
Lockdown lifts luxury home sales: ‘Top end of the market is on fire’ (25 August 2020) Australia
Treechange: Auction that proves regional Australia is booming (17 August 2020) Australia
Property searchers hunting for home offices en masse, with staggering surge in numbers (17 August 2020) Australia
Homes selling unseen in holiday hotspots (14 August 2020) Australia
Queensland underground bunker company 'overwhelmed' with interest amid coronavirus pandemic (10 August 2020)