There comes a point in every homesowner's life when a big family home stops making sense.
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The kids are gone, the space feels excessive, the maintenance list keeps growing and you're left with spare bedrooms that only get used twice a year when the family visits for Christmas.
The garden that once felt manageable has become a tedious weekend commitment. The gutters need cleaning. The fence needs painting. The hot water system is making that dodgy noise again.
But for what?
So you can maintain four bedrooms, two living areas and a backyard you barely use?
More and more Adelaide homeowners over 50 are asking themselves this question, and the answer is leading them toward new apartments in Adelaide that offer something the family home no longer can: less work, more freedom and a lifestyle that doesn't include constant property maintenance.
Is maintaining a large home still worth it?
When the kids were home, extra space made sense. You needed the bedrooms, the yard, the storage for all the things that come with raising a family.
But now?
According to research from REA Group and GemLife, more than 85% of Australians aged 55 and over live in homes with two or more spare bedrooms.
That's a whole lot of square meterage being heated, cooled, insured and maintained for very little return!
Meanwhile, rates and expenses keep climbing.
Insurance premiums go up every year. Utility bills don't get cheaper just because you're using less of the house. And every few years a big-ticket maintenance job usually pops up, often costing thousands.
The financial side is only part of it, though.
The bigger issue is time. Weekends that used to be spent with family or on hobbies are now being spent on property upkeep.
You're didn’t retire to mow lawns and clean gutters, right?
But when you’re an empty-nester in a large home, that's how it can start to feel. And it’s quite sobering to ask yourself whether that’s how you want to spend the next 20 years.
So when it comes to downsizing, it comes as no surprise that the same research also points towards lower-maintenance living and retirement as top motivators.
What's happening in Adelaide's property market right now?
Adelaide's apartment market looks very different than it did even five or six years ago - and not just in the CBD.
Unit prices right across the city have jumped over 8% over the past 12 months, which tells you there’s plenty of demand for space-efficient living.
But the more interesting change is in what's being built where… and who's buying it.
Empty nesters are now one of the main groups selling up, and the apartment projects coming to market are being designed them in mind.
You're seeing more master-planned communities popping in established suburbs - areas that give off that ‘homely neighbourhood’ feel, rather than just generic apartment blocks in new sub-divisions.
Cedar Woods' Glenside development in the eastern suburbs is a great example.
Heritage buildings, mature trees and proximity to parklands mean new residents can move in and start enjoying their new lifestyle immediately, as opposed to waiting months (or years!) for amenities to be built up around them – perfect for retirees looking for modern conveniences alongside plenty of pre-existing character.
It’s also important to understand how current market conditions can benefit downsizers financially.
As of December 2025, the median unit price in Adelaide sits at around $651,039 compared to $955,832 for houses.
A difference of that size gives downsizers loads of options.
Sell the family home, buy something smaller, and you're left with substantial equity that can be funnelled into super, shares, travel… or simply reducing cost-of-living pressure!
Why are new apartments the perfect downsizer solution?
There are a number of very practical reasons why popularity for new units and apartments is skyrocketing. Here are just a few:
Fewer maintenance issues
Strata fees often get a bad rep, but what most people don’t realise is that they were already covering those costs anyway. Think building insurance, garden maintenance, external painting and pest control.
When your apartment is covered by a body-corporate, you won’t find yourself calling around for quotes on a Sunday morning because the hot water system packed it in, or mowing the lawn on the council verge.
Everything's within easy reach
As you get older, having your GP, chemist, supermarket - and a really good coffee shop - within easy reach becomes more important, which is why Adelaide city planners are encouraging development in areas that already have services and infrastructure nearby.
And the stats back up this idea, with around 47% of downsizers prioritising proximity to medical and health services, compared with just 27% of all buyers.
And the best solution for limited space? Apartments!
For instance, the new Glenside lifestyle apartment development sits adjacent to the city parklands with Frewville Shopping Centre and Burnside Village nearby, and plenty of public transport offering direct access to the CBD.
Layouts designed for how you'll use the space
Forget three spare bedrooms and a formal dining room that doesn’t get used.
What downsizers need is plenty of storage, secure parking, minimal maintenance and stylishly simple, open plan interiors that stay functional as they age.
That’s why today, all good apartment developers are considering future resident mobility and, as a result, including these things as standard.
Lower running costs
When you're on a fixed income post-retirement, energy costs matter more.
In fact, according to REA Group's research, 55% of downsizers view things like eco-friendly solar and water systems as being highly desirable features.
Newly built apartments often tick those boxes, with better insulation, double-glazing and efficient heating built in.
Lock up and leave minus the stress
One of the most underrated benefits of apartment living is being able to walk out the door without worrying about break-ins, or arranging someone to water the garden.
Secure entry, dedicated parking and a well-managed complex mean you can take that three-week trip overseas or head up the coast for winter without an empty house weighing on your mind.
What are the biggest concerns about apartment living?
A few common worries tend to surface when downsizers start thinking about apartments. Most are based on fear of change rather than the reality of what apartment living offers.
"The hassle of moving feels overwhelming"
The thought of packing up and decluttering decades of accumulation in a larger home stops many people in their tracks. But most people find that once they begin, it's less overwhelming than they feared. Plus, there are professionals out there who can handle everything for you!
"I'm emotionally attached to this house"
Emotional ties to the family home are one of the biggest barriers. It’s understandable - you raised your kids here. You've got decades of memories within these walls.
But staying in a house that no longer suits your needs won't save those memories. The memories will always come with you… it’s just the maintenance that stays behind.
"Nothing I've seen really suits my needs"
Many downsizers haven't found a smaller home that fits, but this often comes down to rethinking what you actually need versus what you're simply just used to.
So flip the narrative. A downsized home can mean upsized benefits.
Four bedrooms and a huge backyard? Unnecessary. Weekends spent strolling the beach instead of cleaning the gutters? Yes please.
"I'll lose my community connections"
Fear about moving from a suburb you’re familiar with is common, but new apartment developments across Adelaide's inner and middle-ring suburbs mean you don't have to move far.
More importantly, many downsizers build new social circles through shared amenity spaces and simply being in a building where people are at similar life stages.
"I'm worried about losing space"
The fear of giving up space holds people back, but when you really think about it, it's often only unused space you're worried about losing.
A well-designed two-bedroom apartment with proper storage is far more functional than a four-bedroom house where three rooms sit empty.
And when it comes to your furniture, you probably can’t bring all of it, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Downsizing forces you to be intentional about what you keep. The furniture that fits will be the pieces you love most, and will actually use.
So, is downsizing to an apartment right for you?
There's good reason downsizers and over-55’s are increasingly choosing to move into new apartments rather than staying in the family home.
A larger house serves its purpose, but new apartment developments across Adelaide, including our Glenside Apartments, are offering something better for those looking for a more laid-back lifestyle - less upkeep, easy access to everything you need and lodgings that better suit the stage you’re at now.
And you know what? Most people who make the move wish they'd done it sooner!
Cedar Woods Properties is a leading, national developer of residential communities and commercial developments.
We strive to create quality homes, workplaces and communities that people are proud of.
With award-winning projects in Western Australian, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia, we continue to place great importance on understanding our customers and their lifestyle, producing design solutions to enrich their lives.
For more than 30 years we have worked hard to think ahead, evolving our designs to always respond to the changing world in which we live and creating meaningful places that inspire connection and help us grow.
We work with our customers every step of the way to create a solid foundation for their future.
Because at Cedar Woods we know we are developing tomorrow, today.