A RESURGENCE of granny flats could be happening in Wagga's real estate market as one agent says the small abodes are no longer just for elderly parents.
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Professionals Wagga director Paul Irvine said dual occupancy has been a growing trend in urban markets that is starting to creep into regional areas like Wagga because rather than downsize, homeowners can use the space as another source of income.
Secondary residences are no longer just for an elderly parent to live, but can be used to rent and help pay mortgages or giving teenagers independence while still keeping them closer to home.
However, Mr Irvine said the problem is that there are not a lot properties with "genuine free-standing granny flats" to meet the demand.
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"When we do bring some on the market, the demand is very high for the reasons already mentioned," Mr Irvine said.
Currently Professionals Wagga has a Springvale property on the market with a granny flat, which Mr Irvine said interested buyers are either looking to pool their finances with parents to afford a larger property or build a boundary fence and lease out the smaller residence for extra cash.
He said more homeowners should explore the idea of building a secondary home if there is enough space to do so.
"If I had a house on the market that offered dual occupancy, the value of that far exceeds the house next door that doesn't. It adds value to our asset and gets you another stream of income," he said.
Wagga builder Wayne Carter said the city needs more residences and this style of housing could assist. However, he said there are "a few roads to cross" before a homeowner could build a granny flat on their property, the first being enough land for construction.
"You would not do it out at Gobbagombalin because it is not big enough," he said. "But, there are pockets of areas in Wagga that lend itself to dual occupancy.
"Turvey Park, for example, there are existing residences at the front, but really big backyards ... with plenty of room for another residence, which would half the area a homeowner would have to maintain."
Mr Carter said granny flats will not require additional services to be installed such as sewerage water, gas and power, which is expensive.
"A lot of that is already in place so, it is just a matter of tapping into it," he said.