New housing not what many buyers want

MELBOURNE is not building the housing people want and can afford - especially semi-detached townhouses and apartments - new research released today shows.
A survey of 706 people across Melbourne and Sydney shows most people want to live in a large detached house.
But when factors such as housing prices, income and location were considered, people made ''trade-offs'' between the size and type of housing and location, the report by the Grattan Institute ascertained.

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The survey found most people want to live in a large detached house. Photo: Wayne Taylor

The report found ''a clear mismatch'' between Melbourne's housing stock and the mix respondents would choose.
Melbourne's shortfall of the type of housing people would opt for was 200,000 fewer semi-detached homes and 125,000 fewer apartments in buildings of four storeys or more.
The Property Council's Victorian executive director, Jennifer Cunich, said Melbourne lacked housing choice. ''What this report is getting people to think about is it is not all about the four-bedroom house on the quarter-acre block,'' she said.