Crowning contentment: Australia’s happiest homeowners revealed

Home satisfaction is high on the Apple Isle, a report has found.

---

CHOOSING the right place to settle down is crucial to being happy with your home, according to Great Southern Bank’s No Place Like Home report.

When Australian residents were asked to rate their home against factors including its location and condition, Tasmanians were revealed as the happiest with their overall living situation (54 per cent), ahead of next best Australian Capital Territory (46 per cent), South Australia (43 per cent) and Queensland (40 per cent).

The southernmost state also led Australia on another happiness metric, with 74 per cent of Tasmanian residents believing homeownership is key to their overall happiness.

Burnie-based mortgage broker Adrian Feltham said it was unsurprising that Tasmanians are some of the happiest Australians when it comes to their current living arrangements.

The Smart Mortgage Services director described life in Tasmania as reasonably inexpensive when compared to other states and territories.

“It means residents can enjoy their lives more because they have a higher disposable income,” he said.

Mortgage broker Adrian Feltham, left, with his client Kaleb Crossey. Picture: Supplied

---

Mr Feltham said it would be quite common for a NSW or Victorian homeowner to have a mortgage that is four times higher than someone living in Tasmania.

“Housing affordability is definitely driving people to purchase, especially first-home buyers who are making the most of the government schemes available to them,” he said.

“For someone with a budget of $500,000, they could be looking to get a stand-alone dwelling, with four bedrooms, two bathrooms — and, if they’re lucky, some ocean views.

“Tasmanians are also compromising less on the things that matter most, things like space are much more abundant here.”

MORE: Write the next chapter for this sandstone Midlands inn

Soak in the modern luxury of this historic Bath St beauty

Battery Point Circus home sold fast as lightning

Great Southern Bank’s No Place Like Home report.

---

Great Southern Bank’s No Place Like Home report.

---

Great Southern Bank chief customer officer Megan Keleher said clearly Tasmania is not only a beautiful state, but a great place to live.

“Lifestyle may be playing a big role in where homeowners are most happy,” she said.

“While there are challenges to homeownership, this report shows that it also puts you on a path towards a happier future.”

Great Southern Bank chief customer officer Megan Keleher. Picture: Marigold Meagher

---

The report revealed that over half (54 per cent) of homeowners were happy with their living arrangements, compared to 27 per cent of long-term renters.  

Over 80 per cent of Australians declare their home is their happy place, with 85 per cent of aspirational first-time buyers believing that owning their own home will increase their happiness.

Insights showed a link between home happiness and age, with 55 per cent of Baby Boomers stating they are happy with their current living situation, compared to Gen X (39 per cent), Millennial (34 per cent) and Gen Z (32 per cent).

The No Place Like Home research report can be read here.